Re: New Bike Path

On Fri, 12 Jul 2024 11:50:50 +0200, Rolf Mantel
<news@hartig-mantel.de> wrote:

Am 11.07.2024 um 20:05 schrieb Roger Merriman:

Rolf Mantel <news@hartig-mantel.de> wrote:

Am 11.07.2024 um 14:35 schrieb Catrike Ryder:

On Thu, 11 Jul 2024 12:05:21 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com>
wrote:
>

Catrike Ryder <Soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:

On Wed, 10 Jul 2024 22:09:22 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com>
wrote:
>

Catrike Ryder <Soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:

The last segment of the Good Neighbor Trail (18 miles) though
Brooksville and on to Spring Hill along state hwy 50 has been
completed.
>

Is it well used?

>
It just opened.

>
True though some places have obvious demand or are being used already by
some folks already London Embankment was one such example.

>
In my experience though my commute is down similar if much

older, cycleways next to big roads that tend to be bypasses and so tend not
to be the shortest distance tend to be lightly used, ie have multiple old
cycle ways alongside big major roads.

>
The Suncoast trail where I most often ride get's lots of use.

>
Is that parallel to a highway? Or more in the woods?

>
It's parallel to a limited access highway of the same name, but it's
totally separated from vehicular traffic by cyclone fense and also
most places 30 or more feet of grass.

>
Parallel and separated to a "limited access highway" is safe for a
bi-directional bike facility.
>
Parallel to a highway with with property access every 50 yards is
extremely dangerous for a bi-directional bike facility (especially when
having to cross popular driveways for car parks or drive-in restaurants).
>

As ever never say never though certainly the one I have most experience of,
works fine has various side roads and so as you’d expect for a high street.
 
And really isn’t a problem or lessen’s the segregated nature of it, my only
“complaint” is the stop start nature of it but that’s the nature of high
streets, and being spoiled by the Embankment and stuff like my commute
where you can bypass a lot of junctions and so can just crack on.

>
Simple example:
<https://maps.app.goo.gl/BGWVX2amE4CwLM3R9>
>
The bike route follows parallel to the railway line; at the bottom of
the picture it crosses the main road via traffic lights.
The bike route is used by 4,000 cyclists on a normal day.
>
At the place where you see the van leaving the fuel station, I have
twice witnessed exactly the same accident: a car from the roundabout
wanted to enter the fuel station and did not look for cyclists coming
"the wrong direction" hit a cyclist at low speed.
>
One week after I explained to my then 10-year old daughter the dangers
of this bike route, we saw this: the cyclist 5m ahead of us was rammed
and fell over; luckily she did not seem to be hurt.
>
Rolf

Although it's more often unavoidable, I've learned from bitter
experience, that trusting motor vehicle drivers to refrain from
hitting me should be avoided whenever possible and reasonable. Too
often they are chattering or texting on their phone, checking their
GPS, watching or tending to their pets or children, changing the radio
station, or just too heavily involved with the music. Of course, they
also might be driving under the influence of ???