PanethosBioswale barriers: Better built bicycle protection
While in Nashville we saw numerous bike lanes in the city, particularly near the campuses of Vanderbilt, Belmont, and Lipscomb Universities. Though many were “protected” by striping and reflectors, there was a notable and exciting exception.
Along portions of 12th Avenue South are bike lanes protected by not only concrete curbs, but also bioswales (rain gardens). The bioswales/gardens varied between roughly three and six feet in width with concrete curbs on all sides, except small areas that allowed rainwater to infiltrate into them from the street.
As an avid cyclist who has shied away from street bicycling in recent years due to the ever-present dangers and from knowing far too many fellow riders who have been injured by vehicles, this was the first protective application that appears to truly be “protective.” The average vehicle would have a hard enough time scaling two curbs, let alone making it through the bioswale/rain garden too.
Granted, such a protective format would be more pricey than just striping and reflectors, or simply using bumper stops. But, this design solves multiple issues – cyclist safety, storm water retention, roadside aesthetics, traffic calming, and heat island reduction.
I sincerely hope Nashville continues to add such protective bioswale barriers throughout the city and that other cities begin employing this type of barrier as well. Kudos to all involved in Nashville for such a great idea and a job well done.
Peace!
#bikes #biking #bioswales #cities #design #Nashville #planning #rainGardens #safety #Tennessee #traffic #transportation
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