Perhaps we need better trained bicycle riders. The great thing about bikes are that one can ride them anywhere, avoiding any potential hazards in the path ahead. I think most in our community strongly support the streetscape project, with the coming streetcars, and the improvements they are bringing along with them.
Tell that to the girl I saw a few weekends ago. She flipped over her handlebars and face planted into a parked car.
I'm an excellent cyclist (10 mile RT commute each day) and have come close to eating it a few times- a couple times when there is fast moving traffic. I now avoid H but lots of people don't know better.
I'm a huge streetcar supporter but the layout of the tracks, with no bike lane and no shoulder, is really a problem. I'm truly afraid there will be a serious accident or fatality due to the streetcar tracks that will stop this development.
During the streetcar construction they replaced all of the utility pipes and they were in pretty bad shape. So even if there is never a streetcar, it was a good thing albeit an expensive one.
And seriously if you take a spill on your bike on these tracks you're just not a very coordinated biker. I've ridden on them countless times with no problems.
If you've got anything under 30s or so all it takes is getting sandwiched between the rail and the curb when a curb cutout ends at the same time traffic from the previous light is catching up to you. There is VERY little room for error there.
I've ridden in city traffic nearly every day for 10 years, and have participated in numerous road races. If you're on a bike with narrow tires at the wrong time on H, it's extremely dangerous.
Bike lanes are planned for I and G streets. I know at least that a lane on I is scheduled for this year (I live on I St.), at least that's what DDOT told me when I contacted them. You really shouldn't be biking on H anyway, because even if you have CaBi-wide tires the tracks get slick in anything but 100% dry weather. I don't see any reason to complain about the tracks, if there are alternate streets one block away.
Why would I ride down G or I street - no one would see my nice single speed with streamers, and besides, there are no bars on G or I. I only ride to be seen and bar hop.
hardened city cylist here. i too got caught in the tracks doing evasive maneuvering to avoid hitting a car that cut me off. didn't fall, but had to put my foot down to prevent a fall, because my tire was jammed. happened pretty quickly. i do recommend either riding on i, g, or the sidewalks during rush hour. when traffic is light and visibility is high, i don't have problems riding on h, though.
and i support the streetcar, if for no reason other than empirical data shows that people will ride the streetcar who won't ride other forms of public transportation. whatever gets folks out of their cars and onto PT...better for the environment, lessens traffic, will make parking easier for residents, etc.
Please DO NOT ride on sidewalks! That is a hazard to pedestrians and cyclists alike. I and G are decent alternatives but not ideal given the stop signs at every intersection.
13 comments:
I'm sure glad we had all of that construction to put in a hazard to bicycles!
that was the intent all along anon. it's all part of a reverse master plan to rid the city of young white people. you heard it here first
Perhaps we need better trained bicycle riders. The great thing about bikes are that one can ride them anywhere, avoiding any potential hazards in the path ahead. I think most in our community strongly support the streetscape project, with the coming streetcars, and the improvements they are bringing along with them.
Tell that to the girl I saw a few weekends ago. She flipped over her handlebars and face planted into a parked car.
I'm an excellent cyclist (10 mile RT commute each day) and have come close to eating it a few times- a couple times when there is fast moving traffic. I now avoid H but lots of people don't know better.
I'm a huge streetcar supporter but the layout of the tracks, with no bike lane and no shoulder, is really a problem. I'm truly afraid there will be a serious accident or fatality due to the streetcar tracks that will stop this development.
ride on I or G street. much safer. less traffic. no lights. less people. etc etc.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong-
During the streetcar construction they replaced all of the utility pipes and they were in pretty bad shape. So even if there is never a streetcar, it was a good thing albeit an expensive one.
And seriously if you take a spill on your bike on these tracks you're just not a very coordinated biker. I've ridden on them countless times with no problems.
How wide are your tires, bucko?
If you've got anything under 30s or so all it takes is getting sandwiched between the rail and the curb when a curb cutout ends at the same time traffic from the previous light is catching up to you. There is VERY little room for error there.
I've ridden in city traffic nearly every day for 10 years, and have participated in numerous road races. If you're on a bike with narrow tires at the wrong time on H, it's extremely dangerous.
Bike lanes are planned for I and G streets. I know at least that a lane on I is scheduled for this year (I live on I St.), at least that's what DDOT told me when I contacted them. You really shouldn't be biking on H anyway, because even if you have CaBi-wide tires the tracks get slick in anything but 100% dry weather. I don't see any reason to complain about the tracks, if there are alternate streets one block away.
Why would I ride down G or I street - no one would see my nice single speed with streamers, and besides, there are no bars on G or I. I only ride to be seen and bar hop.
street car and bike lanes? seriously? come on people, we can't have it all in one street. What is stopping you from riding your bike on G or I?
hardened city cylist here. i too got caught in the tracks doing evasive maneuvering to avoid hitting a car that cut me off. didn't fall, but had to put my foot down to prevent a fall, because my tire was jammed. happened pretty quickly. i do recommend either riding on i, g, or the sidewalks during rush hour. when traffic is light and visibility is high, i don't have problems riding on h, though.
and i support the streetcar, if for no reason other than empirical data shows that people will ride the streetcar who won't ride other forms of public transportation. whatever gets folks out of their cars and onto PT...better for the environment, lessens traffic, will make parking easier for residents, etc.
Please DO NOT ride on sidewalks! That is a hazard to pedestrians and cyclists alike. I and G are decent alternatives but not ideal given the stop signs at every intersection.
I ride my bike all the time-- on G Street. It's not far out of the way and there is about 1000% less traffic. Try it. It won't kill you.
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