Inspired by Doohickie educating me to the proper name of lane dots (click here & go to comments), Keri describing the "brutal" Orlando bricks, a continuing recollection of an impaled cyclist, and extreme provocation by a recent ChipSeal post; finally, you get it "The Killer B's, or - Inintended Consequences of Hardware Solutions to Software Problems ." Crimeny, this post almost has it all, I even included Canadian translation in the picture!All of these things work well and all are well-intended hardware solutions. All have killed and injured cyclists when they get put in places where cyclists are likely victims due to the traffic engineers just not thinking about the details. It's bad enough to put in hardware solutions to try to compensate for poor motorist actions. It's even worse when it endangers other road users.
Cyclists - be aware and be safe.
And all using "basic black" (another B) arrows!
FWIW, clicking on the pictures should show a bigger version...
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6 comments:
"whining"
nice.
Perhaps "whining" was not a reasonable description. Attribute it to a "everything's either better - or worse" in Texas mindset. Post amended. Bricks are bricks, and are OFTEN nasty, particularly with narrow tire bikes, and when wet. From what I hear of "Keri bricks," they're nastier than anything I've come across, though my bollards give me a "twofer."
In my own defense, I feel no need to make a special trip just to test out how truly horrible Keri's bricks are. I'll take her word for it. Read the posts over at CommuteOrlando - and mea culpa...
Search "bricks" at CommuteOrlando and you'll see SIX posts. Clearly a touchy subject with our eastern friends.
The bricks are hardware solution to a software problem which makes things worse for cyclists. In Orlando they are a connectivity issue. They make the quiet, shady thru streets preferred by cyclists (and already sparse due to the lakes) undesirable for cycling. They force cyclists into a choice between busy arteries and a bone-jarring surface. It's very difficult to create pleasant routes for novice cyclists under those conditions. That's why I discuss them a lot.
The city which has converted asphalt bike routes to brick is also painting a substandard, symbolic bike lane on a US highway. Another important issue which needs to be exposed to the light of day.
I only use the word "whining" in reference to someone who is clinging to victim-hood instead of solving their own problems (ie: as an insult).
Hey Steve, in case you haven't noticed, your site is feeding properly again! Yay!
Tyre? Now that's reaching. I didn't say you could win Canadian Tyre money! I also don't fill my car with petrol. Although I may go to the Recreation Centre.
Bricks are certainly hard on my software...
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No Need for Non-Robot proof here!