AI6YR Ben1d ago
LOL I won't ride any of the LTS 4 and monst of the LTS3 streets here, which is where our city puts their "bike lanes". After seeing the "bike streets" and modal filters in Santa Barbara, California, I think that's the easiest way to make cycling possible in the suburbs here. #BikeTooter
Show threadVelocipedestrienne 🇿🇦1d ago
@ai6yr So the thing about putting bike lanes on LTS4 and LTS3 streets is that yes, there IS a better alternative, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't serve the people who are going to cycle on those streets anyway. Invariably, people will cycle on them, so you should do the retrofitting to make them a SAFER space to do it. And last I checked, even shitty bike lanes do increase safety even though they don't ensure it. It should be done, but isn't the ONLY thing that should be done.
Show threadDemonHusky1d ago
@HayiWena @ai6yr if it's an LTS4 after bike lanes are installed, the engineer is bad but also I don't think it's worth installing it for whatever marginal gain you got. You now put a bike lane effectively no one is going to use on what is likely the most significant road, meaning people that don't want real changes can reasonably point to the shitty bike lane and say "why bother".
Show threadNilaJones1d ago

@DemonHusky @HayiWena @ai6yr

Yeah so frustrating! I've visited so many towns and small cities and neighborhoods in big cities, where the only bike infrastructure was on the main drag. With cars going 45mph and nothing but paint to protect you

We need to bicyclize the small streets first, and the main drag after

In places built during the era of the cul-de-sac, sometimes the main drag is the only route from a to b. That way means we need to create woonerfs, pave the often already existing informal paths that connect one cul-de-sac neighborhood to the next

I think the reason city planners put bike lanes on the main drag is partly that it's visible, so it looks like they're doing something. And partly that it doesn't occur to them that someone might take back streets to get from one place to another

Obviously the solution is to stack the planning committees with bicyclists, and give them a larger budget than the part of the transportation department that deals with car streets

Somehow we need to convince people that the future is micromobility, and any money spent accommodating cars is probably wasted

Show threadAI6YR Ben
@NilaJones @DemonHusky @HayiWena Well, one thing that I'd love to do is force all the city staff/planners to ACTUALLY BICYCLE ON THE SHARROWS THEY PUT HERE NEXT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL (death trap). It might change their mind about their planning practices.
Mar 22 at 4:38amWeb
Show threadNilaJones1d ago

@ai6yr @DemonHusky @HayiWena

That is such a good idea!

I wonder if you could get it to happen by disguising it as something positive. Celebrating our bicycle infrastructure! Follow the route kids take to school! Ice cream sundaes at the school!

The trick is you gotta have it during rush hour 😈