Politics and policy aside, cyclists are foot-powered and therefore pedestrian; as such, they belong on sidewalks and pathways with walkers and runners – not on streets and roadways. The collision between a walker and a cyclist is far less injurious than the collision between a cyclist and an automobile. The cyclist in me avoids streets as much as possbile out of personal safety and common sense. The driver in me is frustrated by the cyclists that think they’re motorbikes and monopolise roadways. I know it was once fun to put a baseball card in your spokes and pretend, but let’s grow up here. Then there is the group that follows pedestrian rules when convenient, and road rules the rest of the time.

The bottom line is that automobiles are not going anywhere anytime soon. Being self-righteous about cycling does not entitle one to disrupting traffic. Traffic congestion in major centres is bad enough without being speed-limited by the one cyclist pretending to be Streethawk. Vrrrm Vrrrrm.

BTW, I absolutely agree that cyclists should be respectful of pedestrians. After all, pedestrians aren’t drivers, which is nice. In many places, it’s actually illegal to bike on the sidewalk. The reason? Bicycles are a vehicle and follow the same rules of the road as any other vehicle. This gives them (us) both protection and responsibility.

That’s what I was looking for – some practical design solutions to the problem.

The issue here is that part of the sidewalk (pavement) is used for the cycle lane, not part of the road, so cyclists constantly switch from cycle lane to pedestrian area like a bunch of certified lunatics.

Matt, since you live in London you might as well face it that you are going to end up with something equivalent to cycle speed-cameras anyway…

Mark.

Since I don’t like to be completely unconstructive: urban design is key to solving the problem. Burntwood Lane in south London has some really good road/cycle lane design … pics on page 117 of this if anyone’s interested (7mb) http://www.londoncyclenetwork.org.uk/uploaded_files/LCN_Design_Manual.pdf.

One thing that would make it better is curving the curbs, and putting a curved curb between the cycle lane and the road. That way, the cyclist has more freedom to move easily and swiftly between the three (which we will continue to do with or without them, we’d just be at less risk) and cars will be dicouraged from intruding on cycle lanes – which impatient drivers do all the time when the car in front is turning right – and they may also then go slower.

@ Mark, if you get speed cameras put up in the bike lanes I use, I’m personally going to come over there and make you feel a lot worse than either of those accidents

Interestingly also, cyclists here must be insured and display a small insurance plate somewhere on their bike.

I agree with you on ticketing, but are you suggesting we concrete over more of the city to make more pavement?

If you ride reckless, you get a ticket. Seems simple enough.

Or we can push via legislation that roadways need to make room for cyclists. Let’s make more pavement!

Cheers,
-Brandon