Re: New Bike Path

On 7/18/2024 7:50 AM, John B. wrote:

>
I keep reading all this foolishness about bike paths and all the
problems. Why not just do as we do here in Thailand?  see
https://touringthailandblog.wordpress.com/road-info/
Notice in many photos there is a center line and two white lines near
the edge of the road. The area behind the white line is for bicycles,
small motorcycles and other slow vehicles.

In my state and most U.S. states that area is defined as the road shoulder. According to an acquaintance of mine who is one of the most prominent bicycle-issue attorneys in the U.S., the shoulder is not legally part of the roadway. That is, it's not legally where vehicles are expected to travel, and while it's not illegal for bicyclists to use it, there's a real risk that a cyclist doing so would suffer serious legal harm in any case brought before a court. Examples might be a motorist hitting the cyclist by a sudden right hook, or suddenly pulling out of a driveway or side street. That disadvantage would depend on specific and detailed wording of laws, which vary state by state.
But from a practical viewpoint: Sometimes riding a shoulder makes sense. It can be handy if the shoulder is sufficiently wide, free of debris and the cyclist wants to make it easier for motorists to pass. But there are potential problems like: What do you do if traffic is passing, you're on the shoulder and its width suddenly reduces to near zero? What if when on the shoulder you come to a spot where it's filled with broken glass? Subservient cyclists will of course stop in those situations and perhaps bow down as their superiors in cars pass them; but some of us choose to use our legal rights to the actual road.
More serious problems come from the reduced conspicuity of a cyclist on a shoulder, or in a similar bike lane. In another forum two days ago, a cyclist posted his bad experience with that situation, although I forget now if it was an official bike lane or a shoulder. Something like "How could he not see me coming? How could he turn left directly into me??" Responses were almost unanimous: "If you'd been out in the traffic lane he would have seen you coming." Cyclists at the edge are much harder to spot among the background visual clutter. They're also harder to spot for motorists pulling out of side streets or driveways.
The laws of my state (and most states, I believe) allow me to use the normal travel lane when necessary for my safety. That's where I ride.
--
- Frank Krygowski