Brent ToderianJan 9, 2023

Never forget, a 13-year study of a dozen cities found that protected bike-lanes led to a drastic decline in fatalities for all road users.

ALL ROAD USERS.

And painted bike-lanes? No safety improvement at all. As for sharrows, it’s safer to NOT have them.

Via @Streetsblog, read article linked below.

https://usa.streetsblog.org/2019/05/29/protect-yourself-separated-bike-lanes-means-safer-streets-study-says/

#bikelanes #bikes #cities #sharrows #infrastructure #urbanism #cars

Separated Bike Lanes Means Safer Streets, Study Says

Cities that build protected lanes for cyclists end up with safer roads for people on bikes and people in cars and on foot, a new study of 12 large metropolises revealed Wednesday.

Streetsblog USA
Show threadGabiJan 9, 2023

@BrentToderian @Streetsblog

Honest question, with protected bike lanes how are we supposed to turn left? I've never worked it out so I avoid them, I get really anxious being stuck in a bike ghetto on the other side of parked cars from the actual traffic. In my area we don't have many protected bike lanes, so those streets are easily avoided.

Show threadTeaceratops/GameDev MumJan 9, 2023

@beaker @BrentToderian @Streetsblog the same way you can when you are a pedestrian on a foot path.

Protected bike lanes still observe traffic junctions, and many have their own signals too (or you cross the junction with the pedestrian traffic that is going in your direction), or at least, that’s how it works in the city I live in. I wasn’t sure about it at first, but after using them, I do prefer them & will go out of my way to use those roads.

Show threadGabiJan 9, 2023
@Teaceratops @BrentToderian @Streetsblog
Riding up onto the sidewalk to use the crosswalk signal to get across with pedestrians doesn't sound safer for anyone. Maybe my city hasn't implemented things well. I just ride with the motorized traffic and ignore the protected lane if I'll need to turn left, feels safer.
Show threadTeaceratops/GameDev Mum

@beaker @BrentToderian @Streetsblog who said anything about riding up onto the sidewalk in any situation? Of course you don’t do that, it endangers pedestrians. When you have a protected bike lane, you have your own opening to the crossing, and you just go when the pedestrians do. You don’t cross their path at any point.

Take a look at the REV on Rue Saint-Denis in Montreal - watch from 1:18, you’ll see how it works https://youtu.be/LEZYqfhGfGU

REV St-Denis

YouTube
Jan 9, 2023 at 7:41pmWeb
Show threadGabiJan 9, 2023
@Teaceratops Thanks for being patient with me, I appreciate you. Watched the whole video, didn't witness any left turns. As far as I can tell I'd have to find a safe place to cross over into the lanes with motor vehicles to make a left turn from that street. Or try to turn left from the right lane at the same time the poor pedestrians are trying to cross on the other side, ugh. So I think I'm still not getting it.
In any case the signals in my area don't work like this.
Show threadTeaceratops/GameDev MumJan 11, 2023

@beaker You may not have seen the left turn, because first you cross the street, and turn right then do a small U turn to wait for the next crossing signal. Then you cross again.

If you set off as the bike light turns green, you are across before the pedestrians are given the green light.

If there's no specific bike light, you can go during the pedestrian light if there's no pedestrians. If there are pedestrians, you can wait till the car traffic light comes on, and you can still cross safely, as the cars are travelling in the same direction.

It does take a little longer than a direct left turn, but it's much safer than attempting to cross direct traffic.