Posted by Les Faber in I went for ride with Helen last week. Our route took us up Woodroffe Avenue along a “shared use” route. For the uninitiated, a “shared-use” route is roadway where a part of the road is marked (mostly not too well) as being designated for Cyclists.
All of a sudden at the corner of Woodroffe & Meadowlands (riding North), the section of the road designated for Cyclists only becomes one where Cyclists & Buses must share the same road space.
You gotta be kidding. I wonder how many hapless morning bike-commuters have stayed on the road after this point and slogged along with City buses. I wouldn’t. It’s sheer lunacy.
Note the cars in the bike….. ummm bus ummmm Bike-Bus Lane
To my Amsterdam friends: You can now see why we wear helmets!
What about you? Any examples of city-planned debacles such as this?
Les, you’re right, it’s ridiculous, it completely wipes out the meaning of ‘segregated’. You city planners are obviously not cyclists themselves.
I understand why you don’t want to take your chances and wear a helmet, sure. But you know that even with that strapped on, you’re not actually that much safer.
It’s on Bermuda Triangle you guys endure.
I hear you! I’ll save my “helmetless” days for Amsterdam in September!
I find that I am faster than most buses, especially during rush hour when they have frequent stops.
That being said, I totally agree with you that bicycle lanes in this city can be quite scary. Another scary one is the bike lane on Bronson/Airport Parkway Southbound that abruptly ends right where the speed limit increases.
What would you prefer? Honestly, don’t just go blasting the City’s engineers if you can’t come up with a better solution.
I assume that if there was sufficient width for a bike lane, they would have put one in. So let’s assume there isn’t. It costs a lot of money to build bike lanes, not including having to purchase the extra property along the widened road, so don’t cop out and say “just build bike lanes.”
The next best thing (in terms of segregated facilities, which I will assume you prefer) is a wide curb lane. Which lane would you want this on?
Would you want three general traffic lanes with the curb lane being wider to share with cyclists? Then bus riders get terrible service, and there are a lot more of them than cyclists.
The City could simply ban cyclists from the bus lanes on Woodroffe, and cyclists would be forced to share a wide lane with the cars and trucks in the middle lane. That sounds fun, particularly since the bus lane would be empty a good part of the time.
Or they could do what they did, and let cyclists use the reserved bus lane, as is City policy for all bus lanes outside the core.
The City’s Cycling Facilities Coordinator *is* an experienced cyclist and spends a lot of time looking at these types of problems. He does a lot of hard and good work to try to get the best for cyclists based on conditions and resources available.
Sharing the lane with bus drivers (who are expected to be trained professionals, as opposed to any wahoo in a car) with a lane that is specifically signed to say that cyclists are allowed there means that you should not be getting any gruff from bus drivers. If you do, you can report them to OC Transpo and get fifteen minutes of fame by writing a letter to the paper.
Your photo of car drivers in the bus lane does not sway me very much. It’s clearly not rush hour in that photo, which is when most commuting occurs.
I think your post points out the most important aspect of cycling safety: rather than point to a time or place where you *actually* felt intimidated by motorists, you merely look at a road configuration and *perceive* you would encounter a hazardous situation at a different time.
Because before you convince anybody to “fix” that stretch of road, you’ll need to convince them that it’s a problem. I’ve ridden it, with buses, and I didn’t have trouble–though I’m a seasoned cyclist who has taken the CAN-BIKE II course.
Now Hunt Club immediately East of River Road, now *that’s* a scary place with *actual* hazards. I know that because I’ve experienced hazards there and I have spoken with people who have experienced hazards there–not just because I looked at it and assumed it would be hazardous.
PS: If you do have a suggestion to fix this stretch of Woodroffe, I would be welcome to hearing it and would pass it along to the appropriate people in the City. (I am subscribed to follow up comments)
PPS: I encourage you (and everyone else) to take the CAN-BIKE II course from EnviroCentre. It teaches proper defensive cycling techniques and how to share the road with other traffic with confidence. It has saved me from getting hit by a drunk driver.
@Dan: Thanks for the feedback. I have not ridden that part of the city’s cycling infrastructure as I live in Barrhaven and cycle north, then East.
@Charles: Wow! I guess I got my desired result: a good discussion going. To clarify: I am not “blasting the City’s engineers”. I am simply stating that I think that the way that section of the roadway transitions into a bike/bus lane is not good (read silly). The “city” is responsible for that. With respect to suggestions; Perhaps there should be signage that warns of the impending end of a bike-only lane – into bike / bus lane. That seems to be a common theme in Ottawa – the abrupt ending of bike lanes without warning. Cyclists are simply left to their own devices… Don’t get me started on signage.
Your comments are excellent and well-informed. I am learning more and more every day.
But please keep in mind, the average cyclist is not as informed, seasoned (cyclist) or as “passionate” about this topic as you clearly are.
I am very happy that you saw my post and that you replied. I also look forward to meeting you one day.
L
great, let’s keep this ‘train’ moving
I think there’s a disconnect between short term and long term solutions when we talk about segregated infrastructure, or at least some foggy misconceptions/overlapping.
Going from an undesirable situation to a ‘perfect’ one obviously doesn’t happen overnight, and I recognize that wholeheartedly.
Therefor, I highly recommend to you watching the video of John Pucher‘s presentation of his study and observations bike friendly policies and infrastructure in Northern Europe, called “Cycling for Everyone: Lessons for Vancouver from the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany”.
Thanks Marc — I appreciate your comments. It’s good to have someone in Amsterdam weighing in on this discussion. You’re bringing some good thinking and commentary into the frey. I’ll watch the video this evening.
L
no problem, anything for the good (and sustainable) cause!
In my first reading I got the impression that you had made a comment about city engineers, and in my second reading I saw that you didn’t. I apologize that I did not sufficiently clean up my comment to remove all references, and for putting words in your mouth as a result.
Re: “But please keep in mind, the average cyclist is not as informed, seasoned (cyclist) or as “passionate†about this topic as you clearly are.”
I agree, and that is something that our organization works to change.
Remember that bicycles are vehicles, and driving them comes with the rights and responsibilities of a vehicle operator. The law doesn’t require cyclists to take a test or have some minimum knowledge standards before driving them like one must with cars, and the “average cyclist” seems to think that this means the rules don’t apply to them.
In fact, as for car drivers, once a person has a license, the government (MTO) does almost nothing to ensure that drivers remain aware of the latest laws, except when they give someone a ticket. How many car drivers got their licences before there were any bike lanes around? How many of those people know how to deal with roads that have bike lanes (and bikes, for that matter)?
I believe that in many parts of Europe (and the Amsterdam friend can confirm?) cycling skills are taught at the elementary school level as part of the curriculum. This not only teaches children how to be safe when riding their bicycles, but it also instills in them the notion that a bicycle is a viable and useful mode of transportation. Get ‘em while they’re young, I say!
The extent to which cyclist education happens here in North America (i.e. hard-to-find, voluntary programs which can be expensive for those who really want them) is not sufficient.
I would like it for there to be a lot more cyclists, and for the “average cyclist” to be well trained in how to share the road and keep things safe for everybody.
Charles,
Thanks for your follow-up comments. I agree entirely with you. I hope you stop back here often and provide some insight (and safe cycling education) to our readers.
L
“I believe that in many parts of Europe (and the Amsterdam friend can confirm?) cycling skills are taught at the elementary school level as part of the curriculum.”
Yes, it’s true in the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium and some parts of Germany. In the Netherlands (including Amsterdam, yes) it’s part of the entire puzzle:
- infrastructure (required by law with any new urban development and continuous improvement)
- education (as you stated)
- continuous public promotion (national TV, radio, print, web, etc)
- cyclists are protected through traffic laws > liability is 100% with car drivers
- Cycling share in traffic is an integral part of getting your driver’s license, theory and practical exam. They’re really tough on that, you can fail easily…and licenses don’t come cheap here.
- because cycling is so embedded in society (we don’t consider it a ‘culture’, ‘political’ or ‘fringy’), there are about 1.5 bikes to every single citizen at the moment. Which also means that car drivers are cyclists themselves.
I could name many more factors, but these I think are telling enough.
It’s a bigger bigger problem than that.
Read the book Traffic.
We here in Canada are a rather new country to the world. We have come here only 400 years ago, but in just that time we have created great problems like humans do (I love the movie – “the gods must be crazy”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66pTPWg_wUw Good overview of us)
Anyhow, it all starts with traffic. What is traffic?
Why is it that so many feel that it is in their right to jump in a metal box at 30% efficiency with 3000lbs of metal to push around about 180lbs of flesh from A to B. What waste! For every 1 dollar of fuel about 30 cents pushes your body around the remaining 70 cents is wasted!
In my books – bad.
Not including the cost to the environment. As if the economy is ever going to consider that!
Anyhow, back to the issue of traffic. It starts with everyone wanting to go some place all at once. We do it every weekday morning. Everyone wants to get to work so they can be the first to sip back on the hot fresh pot of coffee.
Off to the cluttered roads we go! Stressing the infrastructure to the max!
Then many complain that there is a traffic problem when they are the problem!
Yet, they don’t want to pay more taxes.
Then comes the fact that everyone has gagets to entertain them in the vehicle. From the DVDs to the hair brush to the razor etc… then comes the cell phone.
We can’t just sit and enjoy it all I guess.
So far removed from mother nature and her beauty. Wait a minute…. most of us are so programmed to see beauty as defined by mankind and its concrete mess.
Gone is the beauty of the land.
City officials will cut down a prestine forest to put up homes in a flash for the goodness of the pocket book. Then only to complain that kids are spray painting…
increase the patrols to rid them of their boredom!
We have become a rush to no place society.
How many of us actually contribute to the goodness of society? Maybe 5%? 10% at most?
I can tell you one thing, I’m starting to wonder if the governments are just a self serving entity of greed…
Money is dumped into the economy and we run like little kids.
The same goes for our roads out there.
80% of the people are good drivers, 10% are brain dead, 10% don’t give a crap. Be careful of the later.
I think our ways is a true sign that the economy rules. The good ol automobile has a lot of rights. Heck, if you ever wanted to kill someone you could probably get away with it if you used the automobile…
Strange we are as a whole.
Humans, we are strange creatures.
I would like it for there to be a lot more cyclists, and for the “average cyclist†to be well trained in how to share the road and keep things safe for everybody.
huh!?!?!?!?
That statement is actually part of our problem!!! EXACTLY PART!!!
WE ARE MADE TO BELIEVE THAT EVERYTHING BUT THE AUTOMOBILE IS THE PROBLEM.
WHEN IN REALITY – THE AUTOMOBILE IS THE PROBLEM!!!
IT IS THE BIGGER THREAT OUT THERE BIG TIME!
environmentally
socially
economically etc…
From an environmental stand point – think of the waste – 70% of the fuel used. Fuel that took years and years to create. Is up in smoke (and heat). That fosil fuel is expelled into the atmosphere… where it goes who cares!!! Why worry, you have the nice car right! Powerful you are in it. Prestine. A someone!
The things we have bought into.
Socially. Think about the automobile. It’s like this metal cage where you are hidden behind 100s of horsepower. I’ve seen little old ladies turn into a power mongle behind the wheel in this well protected box of metal. It’s like Palestine vs Isreal. With one fighting with stones the other missiles… Goliath like!
The big metal cage is actually a detriment to society for it removes us from nature in many degrees. It removes us from each other as we sitting hiding behind the metal cage. Not including the massive concrete infrastructure it requires. Which has probably torn down many forests to accomodate it etc…
Economically. Is it realy prosperous. When you think of the accidents. Upwards of 300,000 accidents a year in America with the automobile. Think of the costs! Think of all that concrete and policing costs. Think of all the companies making money off it from insurance companies with billion dollar profits. Think of all the government departments. Major subsidies.
Heck, oil is cheaper than water. Yet, water is easier to come by in most places!
We die without water. Here in Canada we die without heat though.
If there were only bikes on the road:
would we need to close down roads if there were head on collisions
would we need the huge infrastructures
would we be paying as much tax as we do
would oil be used as much as it is
The things we buy into…
damn shame.
We are like sheep in this country. Following.
The bigger threat is the automobile. Many don’t get it because it is so etched into our young minds.