Tom,<br><br>I'm not familiar with that particular road, but I have a hard time believing it could be significantly more challenging or appear be significantly more dangerous than many of the high speed arterials with narrow outside lanes in San Diego (including La Jolla Village Drive which is on my commute).
<br><br>I don't know of any studies that indicate roads with narrow outside lanes are any more dangerous to cyclists than roads with additional width, but even if it's true, I suspect the added danger is relatively small, and could easily be mitigated with cyclist behavior.
<br><br>Most cyclists are unaware that in most states the "cyclists must keep right" rule does not apply when the lane is too narrow to be safely shared by a car and bike side by side. CA law does not specify what "too close" is, but states and European countries that do almost universally use 3 feet or 1 meter, so that's a reasonable number to use. Now, motor vehicles range from about 5' to
8.5' (max legal limit), so any lane that is 14' or narrower is arguably too narrow to safely fit a car and bike fully within it side by side, and the keep right law (CVC 21202) does not apply. Even if the, say, 7' wide (outside edge of side mirror to outside edge) car moves all the way to the left edge, in a 14' wide lane that leaves only 7' for the 3' buffer in between, the 2' wide cyclist, plus 2 more feet on the right side of the cyclist, arguably a bare minimum. If the vehicle is any wider, or the cyclist requires more than 2' to his right, then even 14' is not wide enough. If the lane is narrower, than it's definitely not sharable except maybe with the smallest cars.
<br><br>That means you can legally ride near the center, including as far left as the left tire track, which may be appropriate depending on the situation, of the rightmost narrow lane on Jamacha Blvd, requiring faster traffic approaching from behind to slow down and change lanes to pass you. Being that far out lets them notice you sooner, and realize with still plenty of time and space that they will have to adjust to pass you. What might be unsafe is to right further right, thus inviting them to squeeze in next to you in a lane too narrow to do that safely. This is what we teach in the LAB classes, and even folks with decades of riding experience seem to find that this approach is new, different, and, dare I say, liberating.
<br><br>Serge<br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Jan 9, 2008 4:02 PM, Thomas Reynolds <<a href="mailto:thomas.treynolds@gmail.com">thomas.treynolds@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
I don't want to debate bike lanes. I have at least as much experience<br>riding in traffic as anyone on the list.<br><br>I could rephrase my statement to say that a 1.2 mile section of busy<br>Jamacha Blvd has been narrowed to the point where the road is
<br>dangerous for cyclists.<br><br>My point is that a wide, safe road has been transformed into a narrow<br>dangerous road by a developer, has remained that way for four years,<br>and no one cares. Further, there is no practical alternative for
<br>cyclists, aside from cutting through private driveways (which is what<br>I do).<br><br>It's likely that the problem will only be rectified when someone is<br>injured or killed there.<br><br>Tom<br><div><div></div>
<div class="Wj3C7c"><br>On Jan 9, 2008 3:34 PM, Serge Issakov <<a href="mailto:serge@issakov.org">serge@issakov.org</a>> wrote:<br>><br>><br>> On Jan 9, 2008 11:04 AM, Thomas Reynolds <<a href="mailto:thomas.treynolds@gmail.com">
thomas.treynolds@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>> > Out in my neighborhood, Spring Valley, a 1.2 mile section of bike lane<br>> > on busy Jamacha Blvd has been taken away by K-rails placed over it,<br>> > forcing cyclists out into traffic.
<br>><br>> This statement implies that the bike lane kept cyclists out of traffic.<br>><br>> We may disagree on the pros and cons of bike lanes, but please don't make<br>> the mistake of thinking that a bike lane is a facility that keeps you out of
<br>> traffic.<br>><br>> Whether a street has a bike lane or not, a wide lane or a narrow lane, the<br>> bicyclist is part of traffic, and needs to think and behave accordingly.<br>> Any extent to which a bicyclist thinks a bike lane keeps him out of traffic
<br>> is detrimental to his safety. This is particularly important whenever<br>> approaching any intersection or junction with a place that traffic can move<br>> in or out of. But same-direction motorists inadvertently drift into bike
<br>> lanes and bicyclists in them that they have not noticed as well, so I stay<br>> alert in between junctions too.<br>><br>> In order to improve my sight lines and conspicuity, during gaps in<br>> same-direction traffic I've developed the habit to merge out of the bike
<br>> lane until the next platoon approaches, preferably not returning to the bike<br>> lane until I've been able to verify that I've been noticed. This technique<br>> requires the use of a rear view mirror to establish and maintain rearward
<br>> situational awareness. Not only does this improve my sight lines and<br>> conspicuity, but it makes it more likely that I'm already properly<br>> positioned as I approach and enter each intersection.<br>
><br>> Anyway, next time you're riding in a bike lane, try to keep yourself from<br>> assuming you're not out in traffic. Don't be deceived by a 6 inch wide<br>> stripe of paint! To be sure, you're in traffic.
<br>><br>> Serge<br>><br>> ---<br>><br>> NOTE: Any opinions expressed above are mine and not necessarily shared by<br>> any organization in which I am involve<br>><br></div></div></blockquote></div>
<br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>NOTE: Any opinions expressed above are mine and not necessarily shared by any organization in which I am involved.