What is a bike lane? Who should design them? | Bike Commuters

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What is a bike lane? Who should design them?

Dec 15th 2008

By: Russ Roca

19 comments

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PCH as it passes through Long Beach, CA, was recently re-paved and re-striped. Well, they got most of it right but still left a lot to be desired. Specifically, there is a very high-speed section that passes over a bridge where the bike lane completely disappears?! Riding it, it doesn’t take a genius to figure that it is a terribly executed bike lane.

I’ve been trying to work with others to have it re-striped correctly. Anyway, I created the quick video to hopefully show traffic planners what it is they’re really doing when they create a bike lane.

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- Tom
  
  December 15th, 2008 at 17:30
  
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  What is this bike lane? The loch ness monster. The narrator when on and on about what the people deserve and that this bike lane is going to get the rookies killed but , the film did not show the bike lane.
  
  How am I going to swear that I’m never going to ride on that lane if I don’t know what it looks like. I am a little suspicious that this lane is not so bad, just not perfect.
  
  Anyway that video scared the crap out of me. Especially the lady who always rides on the sidewalk.
- Dominic Dougherty
  
  December 15th, 2008 at 17:39
  
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  Living right down the street from the area in question, I know it well.
  
  Basically what’s going on in this section is there is roughly a 3/4 mile stretch of PCH that is heavily bicycled and walked, and there are no traffic/speed controls.
  
  Recently it was repaved, and all the cyclists had high hopes of getting some nice stripes.
  
  What happened is going North, there is a continuous bike lane and a 5 foot shoulder before the curb.
  
  Going South, the bike lane abruptly ends (right where it gets to the bridge) and could pinch a cyclist.
  
  So you’ve got 5 feet of unused space on one side of the bridge, and a gutter on the other.
- Dominic Dougherty
  
  December 15th, 2008 at 17:42
  
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  …and not 20 feet from this bridge, you have the “Stupidest Bike Path” in Long Beach: http://lbcyclists.blogspot.com/2008/06/stupidest-bike-lane-in-long-beach.html
  
  Something about this area must have some sort of black hole effect on common sense and public safety.
- Russ Roca
  
  December 15th, 2008 at 18:12
  
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  Tom,
  I show the bike lane and that particular problem spot (2:17). The lane abruptly ends at a bridge with traffic that regularly reaches 40-50mph. Not only does it just end, but it ends at an electrical access grate of some sort (2:21) that runs parallel to traffic…which means that if you were running 23-25mm tires and didn’t pay attention because you were looking over your shoulder to merge because the bike lane just ended, your wheel could get stuck and you’d get thrown into traffic.
  
  Is it the Loch Ness monster? No.
  
  Is it a bad design? Yes.
  
  Is this video meant to evoke some sort of emotional response and perhaps jar the engineers and designers to perhaps consider their planning of bike facilities more carefully, instead of painting lines willy-nilly that appear and disappear? Yes.
  
  I (narrator), am simply tired of the fact that many times those that design bike facilities don’t evaluate them or even ride bikes. How is it that we’re willing to accept this fact? You certainly wouldn’t go to a dentist to have heart surgery? Or ask someone that has never driven a car to design a multi-lane freeway interchange?
  
  I was hoping, perhaps foolishly, that if I could show that when they paint those lines, they are affecting the lives directly of PEOPLE, real flesh and blood, they would take more caution or god forbid involve those who would be directly involved by their actions.
  
  Now, I do admit, this vid is heavy on the emotional content and I don’t go into lane widths and AASHTO design criteria. There was another more technical video that was presented before I created this one. However, I feel too often the human face of the users is often forgotten and I created this one with the hopes to remind them of that.
  
  R
- Ghost Rider
  
  December 15th, 2008 at 18:47
  
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  I think the video was very effective at putting a human face on the situation — and the luck of having that woman stop by and give her input was priceless! The video is artistic and emotional and gets the point across without being “in your face”.
  
  Still, I sort of see Tom’s point — perhaps a rolling demonstration (rather than a still) of how and where the lane peters out at that bridge might have been a good visual addition?
- Dominic Dougherty
  
  December 15th, 2008 at 20:16
  
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  After watching it a few more times, I think that this video isn’t necessarily about THIS bike lane, but bike lanes in general, and the great responsibility that goes in to planning and painting them.
  
  If a city (or agency) is going to paint lines, they need to do it right. Doing it wrong puts lives at risk.
- Ghost Rider
  
  December 15th, 2008 at 20:56
  
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  Amen…and I sure seem to come across more poorly-designed and painted lanes than I do good ones! We need to put those traffic engineers on bikes so they can get a seat-of-the-pants feel for what they’re actually doing out there.
- Will
  
  December 15th, 2008 at 23:32
  
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  This video is really well done. I plan on showing it to members of the Bike Coalition where I live (San Luis Obispo) to give them some inspiration and ideas. We boast being a “bike friendly” town, but really we’re not.
  
  At any rate, great job Russ. I am VERY impressed with your dedication and desire to solve this problem.
- fixed gear blog
  
  December 16th, 2008 at 05:27
  
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  What is a bike lane? A Narrow track designed to funnel cyclists into bus wheels
- Iron Man
  
  December 16th, 2008 at 07:10
  
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  We have very little bike lanes. Most are added on to new construction so they are safe enough, but then they only run for a quarter mile to a half mile—then they end. The only one I encounter daily lasts for maybe six blocks, but lies square in the door zone for the parked cars on the other side of it. I of course will not ride in the bike lane if cars are parked, but then I wonder if drivers behind me are getting hacked thinking I must ride in the bike lane (which the law does not require) or think “what’s the point?” if cyclists won’t ride in them when built anyway.
- MarkR
  
  December 16th, 2008 at 10:29
  
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  I agree its affective vid. However before you call for the lynching of planners and civil engineers. please keep in mind the other forces that could be at work. As a Designer for a civil engineering firm in Texas, who happens to ride a bike. I know how these things usually go wrong. while I have no experience with this intersection, nor any desire to ever visit it. I can give you some scenarios I’ve come across that would explain how this may have been caused.
  
  1. Traffic Engineer/planner was given direction to work on X section of road with Y criteria. the pinch comes out side of the scope of work that was asked to be done by the city.
  
  2. the engineer may have mentioned the problem to the city but the city chose to ignore because they didn’t have or want to pay the funds to resolve it and design and implement a solution for the problem.
  
  3. Or the planner was an idiot and didn’t do a field visit to see the problem before it happened. Opening him self to the liability. If he noted the problem and brought it up the liability has been firmly placed on the city. My moneys on the city screwing it up. a good planner would not let this slide without placing the liability on someone else, because his/her license is on the line.
  
  4. Also regarding the bike path and no continuity. again this would be the result of poor planning by the city to direct the designer to coordinate the 2 issues of bike lanes and bike paths.
  
  again I have no dog in this fight. just giving my experience on the subject.
  
  And for what its worth I hate bike lanes for this reason. also the fact that it gives a false sense of security to cyclists, only to find yourself “pinched”. If you can’t, or are not comfortable with “taking the lane” on a bike you should not be in a bike lane, EVER. just stick to sidewalks and bike paths.
- Russ Roca
  
  December 16th, 2008 at 13:43
  
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  Mark R,
  I definitely understand that there are lots of possible points of failure in this whole thing and I for one would rather have no bike lanes than poorly done ones….
  
  As I get more involved in bike advocacy I am beginning to realize how utterly disorganized and haphazard the whole system works. The city denied blame and blamed Cal-Trans, Cal-trans sort of accepted that it was their fault but supposedly had a meeting a year ago (who knows when?) about the lane improvements.
  
  So really, no one is taking responsibility here and no one is taking any swift action and despite the recent meetings and presentations, I doubt anything will be done. I asked a city consultant at one point, how many people have to get hurt or killed at this stretch before something is done. His reply was, “it’s going to take more than someone getting run over.”
  
  How sad is that?
  
  I want to stop it long before it gets to this point.
  
  I have a feeling (and this is slowly getting confirmed) that when bike lanes are put in they’re designed with little on-site evaluation. They are more or less designed in a room with a map or maybe an aerial photo that doesn’t show potential conflicts with bikes.
  
  I think with the Complete Streets idea gaining inertia, this just isn’t acceptable. Attitudes in traffic engineering have to be changed. The focus should be on the movement of people and not vehicles and this may require more work and planning and movement away from the status quo, but it is what we need to do if we want to encourage real choices in transportation.
  
  R
- MarkR
  
  December 16th, 2008 at 15:12
  
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  Russ Roca,
  
  You said, “I have a feeling (and this is slowly getting confirmed) that when bike lanes are put in they’re designed with little on-site evaluation. They are more or less designed in a room with a map or maybe an aerial photo that doesn’t show potential conflicts with bikes.”
  
  You hit the nail on the head. If you’re lucky there was a T.I.A. (Traffic Impact Analysis) in reality if it is a retro fit to an old street, all the painter has to go by is a detail similar to this one linked below, with maybe a street map saying start at this intersection and end at this intersection. etc. and use x type reflective paint. http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/sd2/spec_detail/stdfiles/sd/829s-1a.doc
  
  In most cases when you have a problem like you mentioned its half hearted attempt due to financial and road design requirements/constraints. We had a similar issue trying to get a stop light installed by TxDOT. It took several major accidents and 1 death to get the light, very unfortunate, but true.
  
  If you haven’t maybe you should do a Freedom of information request on all info regarding the striping plan? How does it tie into the master plan, who was the engineer etc…
  
  And your right there should be some standard set, potently requiring certification as a bike transportation designer.
  
  Good luck.
- MarkR
  
  December 16th, 2008 at 15:49
  
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  Russ,
  
  you may want to read this website.
  
  http://www.johnforester.com/index.html
- Mike Myers
  
  December 16th, 2008 at 15:59
  
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  My county has been adding bike lanes any time a state road is improved(it’s a Florida state law, I believe). One road has an excellent lane. It’s clearly marked, well maintained, and has sort of a bike box at the interection so no right hook. It’s surprisingly well-designed.
  
  Another road is being widened, and a MUP built along one side of it. That’s great, except the MUP will have to cross a 4 lane road. Since it’s only on one side of the road, I think that crossing on a bike will be DEADLY. Then when it terminates at the actual bike lane I mentioned before, it will be impossible to turn left on SR44 from the MUP, because then one will be ridng against traffic. Stupid.
  
  The MUP was done in front of an $850,000,000 housing development. It’s ostensibly for the old folks to walk and ride on, but it’s so long that it will connect SR44 to the Withlacoochee State Trail. Shame most of it is going to be useless for transporation.
- Ghost Rider
  
  December 16th, 2008 at 17:09
  
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  @MarkR — fascinating insights into the process (and the problems).
  
  @Mike — yes, that is a Florida law, but it is rarely enforced, and the language is so ambiguous that the FDOT often skips this part of the “improvement” process with no public backlash. Lots of the bike lanes and other infrastructure is so haphazard and random that it’s hardly worth the effort — little bones to be thrown at the cycling advocates (“see, we’re making progress!”) but little effectiveness. Sucks.
  
  Russ, I think it’s time to take this to the next level — blitz your local and state representatives…CA transportation secretary…hell, even the Governator!
- Russ Roca
  
  December 16th, 2008 at 17:15
  
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  Mark,
  I’m pretty familiar with Forrester and I am a vehicular cyclist and have taken the LAB Road 1 course.
  
  I think in a best case scenario there would be no bike lanes and we’d just all use the same roads guided by a social contract.
  
  That said, that’s far from the reality. I’ve advocated for more educational programs in the city but the powers that be are not convinced. Education is not sexy and high profile so they won’t throw money at it.
  
  But, they will throw money at bike lanes, even poorly thought out ones. Thus, sadly as it may be, it seems like the bike advocate’s role in my city has shifted from requesting more bike education to mitigating terrible bike facilities!
  
  R
- David
  
  December 17th, 2008 at 11:03
  
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  Very well done video presentation. I think you accomplished your goal of evoking an emotional response, as well as presenting the facts. I would add the placement of bike route signs on supposed bicycle routes to the mix. There are “bicycle routes” with signs in Los Angeles that put the uninitiated cyclist on some of the most dangerous stretches of roadways (fo cyclists) in the city. Two examples…Sepulveda Blvd through the Sepulveda Pass and Pico Blvd. Someone commented that these routes were assigned by someone with a map and aerial image. That really hit the proverbial nail on the head. As liability-concious as the city is, I am amazed that they slap bike route signs up on roadways that are not suited for such. It really is enticing a less-experienced cyclist to put themselves in a life-threatening situation. Again, excellent presentation.
- MattG
  
  December 17th, 2008 at 12:43
  
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  “Education is not sexy and high profile so they won’t throw money at it.”
  
  As a school teacher, this line made me weep bitter tears for its truthfulness. Education coupled with actual law enforcement would do wonders for cyclists, but it won’t happen until AFTER people take to their bikes in a huge way.
  
  Until then, yours dodging maniacs in 4×4′s,
  Matt
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