HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/27/2024 Public Comment, Rands
Barry Rands <
To:Schwartz, Luke; Fukushima, Adam; Advisory Bodies
Cc:Rick Ellison; Stewart, Erica A; Horn, Matt
Subject:Should we rethink our protected bike lane strategy?
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Adam and Luke,
As you know, I have been generally supportive of protected bike lanes, though opposed to some of the
details such as the two-way cycle tracks on North Chorro. But now that they've been installed and seeing
how many bike accidents that they have actually created, I think it is time to reconsider how these lanes
are designed and constructed. The linked article below provides a very thorough discussion of the
drawbacks and hazards created by hardscape barriers in the buffer zone. The article also presents data
from Encinitas where protected bike lanes have been installed for a number of years.
How to ruin a buffered bike lane
(CyclingSavvy is a program of the American Bicycling Education Association. Their mission is to provide
programs and resources for the education of bicyclists as drivers of vehicles, and bicycling-related
education for traffic engineers, transportation planners, law enforcement professionals, educators, and
the general public.)
Two suggestions for redesigning protected bike lanes for your consideration
1) Monitor bike lanes with paint-only buffer zones and compare accident rates with comparable lanes
with hardscape in the buffer zone. It may take some creativity to track bike-only crashes in those lanes,
however, since they rarely get reported to the police. Perhaps ER and Urgent Care facilities could be
recruited to report bike injuries?
2) Allow mixing zones at intersections by ending hardscape 100 feet before intersections.
3) Design protected bike lanes and intersections so that more experienced and faster cyclists have an
option to traverse the intersection in the traffic lane (and add markings and/or signage to alert motorists
to expect cyclists in the lane)
--
Barry Rands, Safety Director
San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club
(805) 704-1549 (cell)
www.slobc.org
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