[SDCBC] Gilman / I-5 interchange

[JonIsaacs at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/20/07 8:45:34 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
gcarman at san.rr.com writes:

> Because the real issue is not cyclists being in the wrong place, but 
> motorists violating the law and making a right turn from a straight thru only lane, 
> perhaps the solution is a series of those narrow vertical orange "cones" to 
> remind motorists that they are supposed to go straight.  

---

My thinking:  While cones would prevent many drivers from making the illegal 
turn, there still be enough that might/would, whether in a car, SUV, School 
Bus or whatever, that bicylist still should be riding in the straight through 
lane.  I don't want to riding along with a series of cones on my right with the 
chance that someone may right hook me.   

The reason that the Right Turn from the Straight Through Lane is illegal is 
simply because there is a Bike Lane.  Without the bike lane, all traffic flows 
much better because those who are using the "car pool lane" can make that 
right turn.  That is how it used to be and it seemed to work fine or at least 
better than it currently does.    

I believe that this particular Bike Lane creates problems for both cyclists 
and motorists.  It is an artificial contraint that gets in the way of a normal 
flow of traffic, both motorized and pedal powered.  It makes it more difficult 
for an aware cyclist to "take the lane" and less safe for someone who just 
accepts that they should be riding in the bike lane.   

This bike lane is fundamentally unsound because it puts riders in the path of 
drivers who wish to turn right, the legality issue only protects the state, 
not the rider. 

One can always point to enforcement as a way to try to force a poorly design 
to work but I think experience would show that a bad design is a bad design 
and enforcement might help for a moment but in the long run what one really 
needs is a good design.



Jon 






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