24 hr bike lanes...
I mentioned this in my blog the other day on here, but didn't get any nibbles of conversation so I thought I would put it out front for discussion... Making bike lanes in SA 24 hour...
I have been thinking about the bike lanes we have and how many times riding home from work (Norwood to Mitchell Park) I have to dodge cars parked in bike lanes because I am still riding after 6 pm (and sometimes I have to dodge them before 6pm too!
Also, riding both to and from work on a Saturday I have to dodge every car that doesn't move for most weekends.
All of this puts my life at risk because it narrows the road and/or lane and then cars try to squeeze past in order to get where they are going instead of patiently waiting for me to pass the parked car before trying to pass me.
This is a bad situation that is highlighted in a blog called "claim your lane" at http://www.coolbiking.com/blog/cycling/cycling-tips/claim-your-lane...
Unlike the situation described in the above blog, we do have a fair network of bike lanes around the city and suburbs (although some north of the city would point to the disappearance of some of their bike lanes) and I think that we should be allowed to make the most of these lanes. For me, this means protecting the people who use them at any time they choose (or need) to use them.
I am starting a discussion here that I will be talking to people higher about and that is the implementation of a change in legislation that would require the deleting of very few, but very important, words... "between the hours of..."
I think it is time to begin this discussion here and with Government.
What do you think?
I have been thinking about the bike lanes we have and how many times riding home from work (Norwood to Mitchell Park) I have to dodge cars parked in bike lanes because I am still riding after 6 pm (and sometimes I have to dodge them before 6pm too!
Also, riding both to and from work on a Saturday I have to dodge every car that doesn't move for most weekends.
All of this puts my life at risk because it narrows the road and/or lane and then cars try to squeeze past in order to get where they are going instead of patiently waiting for me to pass the parked car before trying to pass me.
This is a bad situation that is highlighted in a blog called "claim your lane" at http://www.coolbiking.com/blog/cycling/cycling-tips/claim-your-lane...
Unlike the situation described in the above blog, we do have a fair network of bike lanes around the city and suburbs (although some north of the city would point to the disappearance of some of their bike lanes) and I think that we should be allowed to make the most of these lanes. For me, this means protecting the people who use them at any time they choose (or need) to use them.
I am starting a discussion here that I will be talking to people higher about and that is the implementation of a change in legislation that would require the deleting of very few, but very important, words... "between the hours of..."
I think it is time to begin this discussion here and with Government.
What do you think?
- Attachments:
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Claim Your Lane! Part I.pdf, 313 KB -
Claim Your Lane! Part II.pdf, 275 KB
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Claim Your Lane! Part III.pdf, 281 KB
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Wombat on -
There are occasions when my mouth is not so clean or my manner so mild... like with the builders who continue to park in the bike lane on West Ave at Ascot Pk. I hate that street. That is one that should have its bike lanes marked for 24 hour use because of the limited space when there are cars parked on both sides and traffic going both directions.
S#!t$ me!
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Permalink Reply by David Bowler on -
I have had some success calling SAPOL when persistent offenders have parked in bicycle lanes and clearways by reporting that the vehicle is illegally parked in a bicycle clearway (even when technically it is only a bicycle lane) and that it is causing causing a hazard.
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Permalink Reply by Wombat on
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Well, as I said when I first joined this site, I was booked years ago for parking in a clearway by a police officer on my RDO when I slept in and left my car in the street outside of my house. When I enquired at the time I was told that Bike lanes ARE clearways during their hours of operation.
Might have a word in the ear of the cop who stops all those evil speeding car drivers outside my house in the mornings if he could take a trip down West St.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Warner on -
In this imperfect world where drivers still have far too much political clout, it's often best to ignore bike lanes which have too many parked cars in them, and ride in a straight line just out of range of their potentially opening doors.
This may slow down a few cars which could have squeezed past in the gaps, but it's much safer than weaving in and out of traffic. If they beep at you, just point at their parked friends! Maybe they'll think twice before the next time they park in a bike lane.
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Permalink Reply by Sam Powrie on -
If you want to report cars, workers, trucks or anyone else blocking an 'active' bike lane then I reckon it's pointless writing letters to SAPOL or DTEI as neither of them have an active role in policing the lanes. While SAPOL will book you if you're parked in a clearway (and a timed bike lane is the equivalent of a c/way) my understanding is that that's about the extent of their remit. Most bike lane policing is the province of local Government. And making phone calls to local government is hit or miss these days as staff are stretched and the traffic people are usually out of the office.
The best way is email. I understand that this is because all councils in SA now utilize a highly accountable email system where every incoming email must be:
- logged
- sent to the appropriate person
- responded to within set time limits.
I forget what the system is called but local government friends have told me about it. So I strongly suggest that if blocked bike lanes are bugging you, install the public contact email address of the appropriate council on your PC and get writing. Don't be afraid to attach photos either.
My 2 cents worth,
Sam Powrie.
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Permalink Reply by Richard Gawel on
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Hi. I think we need some real clarification on who's jurisdiction bike lanes fall under. My understanding is that major arterial roads like Cross Road are under the jurisdiction of the state govt. They are certainly maintained by the Dept of Transport not the local councils through which the road runs. I Maybe that is why local councils seem to be reluctant to get involve in arterial road issues. Side streets on the other hand are under the jurisdiction of local councils. I would assume that they are responsible for policing them as well. What I would like to know is why if you park your car on Greenhill road after 4 you will get a ticket issued by SAPOL and get your car towed if they deem you are restricting traffic, but if you park your car in the 24 hr bike lane on cross road you can get away with that for however long you feel you won't get smacked into by another car. SAPOL just doesn't care! When someone gets killed they will, but until then they and others will continue to block our bike lanes.
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