Back in the Saddle and… A Change In Plans

It’s amazing what a little thing like an election will do to foul up a routine…

From a blogging standpoint, last week was pretty much a waste.  Very likely, one of these days, the events of last week will appear in a Friday Follies post.  It would certainly be worthy of one.  On the other hand, we most certainly did defeat the T-SPLOST!  My most hearty thanks and congratulations to all of you who got out and did your civic duty last Tuesday.  Now that that’s over with, we’re back to the (somewhat) normal routine here.  So without further delay…

This week’s next order of business, a change in routing for the upcoming night ride.

We’ll be taking a somewhat different route on next week’s Mid-Summer’s Eve Celebration Night Ride.  The route will be different, and there will be no unpaved section.  That’s right, pavement all the way.

Some of you are going to be disappointed by this change.  Others may feel some relief.  Regardless, it is a necessary change.  In the past week I did some scouting, and made a discovery.  Coweta County has done things to the unpaved stretch of Bear Creek Rd.  They’ve maintained it.  That’s one word for it.  The road has been recently (badly) graded, and has had a large helping of fresh, large, loose gravel dumped and spread.  Add to that the slash-and-burn along the right of way, and the road exceptionally difficult to ride, and not a good candidate for cyclists at dusk or in the night.

I’m a bit saddened by the change, but it needed to be done.  The ride most definitely is going to go, but the route is all paved, and a good bit different.

On the brighter side, we’ve done our absolute best to pick out a route that will be entertaining and enjoyable. 

Details:

Where:  Brick Yard in Senoia

When:  7:30 PM (sharp)

Distance:  Approx 45 miles

Conditions:  Ride goes rain or shine

Requirements:  Helmets, reflective vest or sash, reflective ankle bands, good strong tail lights, good strong headlights, and of course helmets.  While not strictly “No Drop,” we will attempt to keep the group together.

Hope to see you all out there.

Your First Three Years ~ Part 6:

Traffic Survival 101

A Guide for Beginner (and Experienced!) Cyclists, to the Art and Practice of Cycling.  Becoming Proficient, Fit, and Happy on your bike.

Riding on the road, in traffic is actually fairly simple.  However, like many “simple” things, it is not always easy.

NOTE:  What follows is just a “bare bones” discussion of the most basic situations and strategies.  We’ll treat a lot of this in much greater detail in future posts

At first, the mere thought of taking a bicycle out onto a roadway can be intimidating.  After all, a very small car is made up of steel, glass, plastics and weighs in around a ton.  We on bicycles are not enclosed.  If we fall, or are knocked over we will be injured.  Reason tells us that to mix in with motor traffic is crazy.  But then think a little farther.  Any collision between automobiles is extremely dangerous.  Yet we drive without giving the risk much thought.  (Perhaps this last may explain some of the highway statistics.)

The truth is, most drivers are careful and conscientious.  Most are at least marginally courteous.  More, there are rules that govern how we all behave on the roadways, and most follow them.

The first thing to remember about road cycling is that a bicycle is considered to be a vehicle.  Cyclists, on the road, are expected to behave as operators vehicles.  That means we certainly are entitled to operate on the roadways.  We are expected, and required, to ride with the direction of traffic, obey traffic signals, conform to speed limits, signal our intentions.  In short, if we follow the rules, we are just as much entitled to the use of the roadway as any motorist.  (There are exceptions.  Limited access roadways, such as Interstate Highways, are not open to cyclists.)

So, if we follow the rules, then that’s it?  Right?  Well, not quite.  Road riding takes a bit of practice, and there are some special some considerations to using a bicycle in traffic.

Be Seen!:

Bright Clothing.  Flashing tail lights.  Reflectors.  Lights (at night).  Think about the sun direction.  Ride to be visible.

Look like you belong!:

This actually makes a difference.  Wear your helmet.  Ride with respect for the rules of the road, and for other road users.  Ride with purposeful and controlled motion, and always signal.  These things convey to other road users that you know what you are dong, and that you belong out there.

Situational Awareness, Know what is going on around you:

It is not possible to overstress this one.  When riding on the road, we must be aware of our surroundings.

This means:

• Using a mirror, or the “lookback” regularly, to scan traffic behind us
• Scanning the traffic ahead for problems
• Watching driveways and parked cars
• Checking cross streets before we arrive at them
• Use your hearing too!  (Sorry, music players have no place in traffic)
• And watch for pedestrians and other cyclists, often highly unpredictable and erratic!
• Stay focused!  Be Alert!  Be Aware!

Road positioning, how to be stable:

Have you ever been driving and come up behind a cyclist?  What do you look for and what do you think?  If the rider is apparently unaware, or not in constant control, it causes you stress and confusion.  A rider who is not stable on the road, who makes abrupt zig-zags, causes you concern.  Right?  Think what that does to drivers who are not cyclists.

One of our more important tasks, while riding in traffic, is to be predicatable.  Maintaining a steady and stable position on the road is critical to this task.

When riding along the road, position yourself to the right hand side of the road, and stay stable!  This is best done by looking at a point well ahead of yourself, and riding to that point.

Do not suddenly change position on the road, and don’t change position without signalling your intent to do so.  Be confident of your position and project this confidence.

NOTE:  Often new (and not so new) road riders have a fairly rational fear of being too close to traffic.  This will cause some of us to make moves that are really dangerous.  Here’s an example:  The rider is moving steadily ahead on the road.  There is some traffic approaching from the rear.  Ahead is a side street, and there is a right turn lane.  The rider moves into the turn lane, to give traffic more room to pass.  This is a mistake!  This manuver says to an overtaking motorist,  “I am about to make a right turn, you can forget about me.”  It also sends a signal to a driver who is approaching the major road from the right.  It signals that the cyclist is turning right, and will not cross in front of that driver.

Simply put; Do NOT enter right turn lanes, unless you are about to turn right.

Get out of the Way!:

Yes, we do have a “right to be there”!  Yes, we are legitimate vehicle operators.  That said, there are times when the “better part of valor” is to make a move to make things easier for all.

Some motorists are extremely afraid to pass a cyclist.  Oddly, these can be more dangerous than the types who “buzz” us, or who will “force” a pass.  The hestitant motorist can cause a huge amount of traffic to pile up behind them.  Sooner or later someone in the long and growing line of delayed drivers will have a “mental meltdown.”  What follows can be extremely dangerous for all concerned.  Sure, the hestitant driver is the one who is actually impeding the flow of traffic.  But you are the percieved problem, and are likely to be the one who will suffer.

Sometimes, the wisest course is to pull off to the side of the road, and let traffic sort itself out.  This manuver rarely costs you more than a few seconds to a minute, and could be a life saver.

When to “Take” the road:

Georgia traffic code explicitly categorizes bicycles as vehicles.  This gives cyclists the same road “rights” as are enjoyed by other operators.  At the same time, the code requires us to ride to the right hand side of the road, so as not to impede the regular flow of traffic.  Now here’s an important point.  The code does not say we must be at the far right at all times.  There is some “safe and practicable” language in the code.  This means that if it is not safe to be at the extreme right, or there is a practical reason to be positioned farther out in the road, we may certainly  do so.

In other words, we are not required to fall into the sinkhole, or ride over the sleeping tiger.  But we are wise to spot these obstructions and “clear” traffic behind us, rather than just darting out to swerve around an obstruction.  Also, if the road is so narrow that a safe “pass” is not possible, we are allowed (possibly required) to take the center of the lane.  (Take the road.)

Do not be trapped at the far right when coming to a traffic signal.  This means stop signs, yeild signs, or traffic control lights.  Under these conditions, being at the far right “invites” the following motorist to pull up beside us, and we are in danger of being struck by a righ turning, overtaking vehicle. 

When a situation is coming up:

• Look ahead and plan
• Check behind
• Adjust speed as necessary
• “Take the lane”
• Proceed through the intersection when safe and legal
• Expedite the move through the intersection (don’t be slow)
• And then return to the right as soon as practical and safe.

Think ahead!  Always have an “out”:

Does this really require explanation?  Be prepared to “dodge” trouble, and know where and when to do so.  Remember, a fall is always preferable to a crash.  Minor damage to a bike can be easily repaired, major damage to a body is a bit harder.

Avoid confrontation:

Little is gained, and often much lost by engaging motorists in shouting matches.  So the clown called you a name, or expressed his ignorance.  How does this hurt you.  Keep the coments to yourself, and your middle finger folded around the bar.  Shouting matches don’t solve anything, and they have a nasty way of escalating.  Remember!  When you share the trail with an elephant, if anyone stumbles you lose!

What about road rage?:

True “Road Rage” is a lot more rare than many think, but it does occur.  If you are being bullied or are dealing with a truly enraged and aggressive driver…  END IT NOW!  Get off of the road.  Run up to a house.  Duck into the woods.  Get away.  Then call 911.  Honest, the police will take it seriously.  But we are not equipped to do battle with a case of irrational temper aided by a two ton weapon.

Where, When, and How to Stop:

For some inexplicable reason, many cyclists will have a tendency to stop riding while still on the road.  This can be to allow other riders to catch up, or to deal with an equipment problem, or just to take a break.  There seem to be two kinds of locations for this behavior, neither of them good or safe.  1)  At intersections.  2)  On the road for no apparent reason.  Just don’t do this!

If we need to stop, we are certainly entitled to do so.  But if we are going to stop, we should signal our intentions, and then GET OFF OF THE ROAD!  And that means completely off of the road, not just a couple of inches.  Don’t obstruct travel lanes.  Don’t obstruct traffic.  Don’t present your fellow road users with unpleasant “surprises.”

Remember always, intersections are for getting through.  They are not a good place for a party or a picnic.

Next Week: Riding in groups 101

~//~

This series began with the post on Tuesday, 19 June 2012.  It is intended to continue for three years.  Each week, we will discuss exercises, skills, practices, and activities designed to bring the new (or “experienced”) rider a high level of cycling competence.  We’ll address common problems, and (always) stress safe practice.

~//~

A Note on Timing:  This series uses Mid-June as the starting point of the “Cyclists Year.”  We do this because this is the time that most folks decide to start riding.  If you are following this guide, you can “adjust” the timing to fit your personal “first three years.”  Do note that some of the posts will concern weather and seasonal changes.  When that starts to happen, just swap the “months” around to fit your personal timeline.

SB 468: Still a Bad Bill

I do truly wish I could be devoting this space to something else this morning.  Sadly, SB 468 is still an issue.  It will not go away.  And action is still needed.  You will hear that it has been withdrawn.  It has not.  You will hear that sponsors have dropped it.  They have not.  You will hear that it is “stuck in committee.”  It isn’t.

Please, stay the course.  Write, call, and email your state legislators (particularly your Senators) and let them know how you feel.  Keep the pressure on!

There has been some improvement in the language of SB 468.  Still, in my humble opinion, it leaves a bit to be desired.  For the current text of the bill, please follow this LINK

For tips on contacting your state legislators, please see last Monday’s post HERE.

My biggest problem with this bill is still in the ambiguity and vagueness of the language “shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.”

By what standard is the “normal and reasonable movement of traffic” judged?   This language could be construed to allow an officer to decide that a cyclist simply does not belong on a given roadway.  In short, it could be used to push riders off of just about any road.

Folks, I do not advocate making life difficult for our motoring brethren.  But we are traffic.  By long and ancient custom, and much law, access to the road should not be denied.  I haven’t heard or read of huge problems resulting from cyclists obstructing traffic in the metro area, or anywhere else in the state.  Why do we need this bill?  It should be killed.  Completely.

A BAD Bill

Last week I did a post on the future of our sport.  An alert reader added some insightful commentary, and alerted me to the legislative action discussed below.  This bears thinking about, and immediate action just might be very appropriate.

(Thanks, and a tip of the Campagnolo cycling cap to Dave for the heads-up.)

~//~ ~//~

2011-2012 Regular Session - SB 468

Rules of the Road; bicycles; single file on roadways not specially designated for the use of bicycles

First Reader’s Summary:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-6-294 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the riding of bicycles on roadways and bicycle paths, so as to provide for bicycles to be operated in single file on roadways not specially designated for the use of bicycles; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

The Senate Transportation Committee offered the following substitute to SB 468:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

To amend Code Section 40-6-294 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the riding of bicycles on roadways and bicycle paths, so as to provide for bicycles to be operated in a manner not to impede the normal flow of traffic; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Code Section 40-6-294 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the riding of bicycles on roadways and bicycle paths, is amended by revising subsection (c) as follows:

"(c)  Persons riding bicycles upon a two lane roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on bicycle paths, bicycle lanes, parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, or when a special event permit issued by a local governing authority permits riding more than two abreast.  Persons riding bicycles or electric assisted bicycles shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane."

SECTION 2.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.

~//~

I lifted the above from the Georgia General Assembly Legislation website.  If you would like to verify it for yourself, follow this link. 

Here’s my take on this:

“shall not ride more than two abreast…”

Ever?  Does this mean that I may not pass a slower bicycle?  Ever?  If I do choose to pass, there will be a time when I’m riding “two abreast.”  Would that put me in violation of the law?  It might be good to note that the code currently specifies that two riders abreast are legal, but not more than two abreast.  Seems to be working.  Why is this a problem?

“Persons riding bicycles or electric assisted bicycles shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic…”

Now just a dog-gone minute!  The current code defines me and my bicycle as a vehicle.  That means that I am traffic.  I have no wish to impede the folks behind me.  In fact, I’d like to get them around as quickly as possible.  (It might be pointed out that, when I’m driving my truck, I’m a lot harder to pass, and I drive a lot slower than most motorists.)

“impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic…”

In whose opinion?  Might we ask?  Am I liable for citation, arrest, summons, etc because some underpaid policeman, or sheriff, thinks that I’m slowing down his doughnut run?  Perhaps that cell phone and texting chucklehead in the “bubba truck” calls the cops because he thinks I’m “impeding” his “normal”  (read 15 miles per hour above the posted limit!) movement.  Does that make me liable to legal action?

Further, under existing code, cyclists are required to ride as far to the right of the roadway as is “safe and practicable.”  This is good language.  There are certain times and conditions that require me to “take the lane,” in order to remain safe.  If I do this, am I “impeding the normal and reasonable movement of traffic?”  This bill contains the language, “All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.”  Does that mean that the good and prudent prior code is to be removed?  Are we now to be held liable, if we take prudent actions, just because these actions might impede.  Is a cyclist’s safety now to be subordinate to the convenience of an impatient driver?

“bicycle paths, bicycle lanes, parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles…”

Erhem.  Excuse me?  Where are these “paths,” “lanes,” and “roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles”?  Are we to confine all of the cycling in the state to Peachtree City and the Silver Comet Trail?

Why is this happening?

Could it be a reaction to the passage of the “Three Foot Passing Law”?  If that’s the case, I’m sure no one will ever admit it.

I am a driver as well as a cyclist.  In the course of my normal rounds I travel over the roadways and highways of our great state.  I am not often impeded by cyclists.  Yes it happens.  Occasionally.  Rarely.  But to be honest, I’m far more likely to be impeded by idiot drivers.  Happens every day.  Multiple times.  Folks, cycling is part of the answer to traffic congestion.  If our legislators wish to do something truly forward looking and constructive, they might consider legislation that protects and encourages cycling, rather than ill-conceived restrictions upon it.

Perhaps I’m being a bit of an alarmist.  But please stop to consider, we’ve been told, on many occasions, that a given bit of legislation “won’t hurt you,” that it “doesn’t mean that at all,” and that, “it’s in your best interest.  We’re only trying to help you.”  After hearing these reassurances, the law passes and the lawyers get a hold on it.  What usually happens after that is ugly.  And really, why do we need this bill?  What urgent problem is it solving?  I’m of the opinion that, if it ain’t broke, fixing it will surely make it worse.

What you can do:  First off, find out who your state legislators are.  It’s not hard, and I’m going to make it easier.

Step 1)  Go to http://www.congress.org/

Step 2)  On the upper right hand part of the homepage you will see a navigator with the verbiage “Find your lawmakers, tell them what you think”  Beside this is a block where you can enter your zip code.  Do so.

Step 3)  You will be taken to a page with Federal elected officials.  On this page is a location where you can enter your Zip+4.  If you do not know your full zip code, you can enter your zip and your address.  Do it.  This will result in a new page, with your “Governor and State Legislators.”

Step 4) By clicking each of the named State Legislators, you will be take to a page with contact information for them.  You can email them directly with as little as two more clicks.

Advice on emailing a legislator:

• Keep it brief.  State your concern, and express your opinion.  Then clearly ask for what you want.
• Keep it cordial!  Don’t vent your frustration at the legislator.  It’s not productive.  Besides, you want them to get on board.
• Write a draft first.  Do this on your word processor.  Think about what you want to say.  Edit it.  Spell check it.  Then cut-and-paste it into the email.
• Include return contact information.  You want them to know that you are in their district, and that you vote!

Thursday Thoughts: Keeping Our Sport Alive

I have a bit of a worry.  At this point in history, we have a lot of people on bicycles here in the United States of America.  On balance, that would seem to be a good thing.  (That is assuming that one believes cycling to be a good thing, and one worth sustaining.)  But there are a couple problems.  Let me lead you to this gradually.

Reflect for a moment.  Think about images.  See pictures of cyclists gathered, on or around their bikes.  Got it?  Now look at the details in those pictures.  What kind of bikes are they?  What do the riders look like?  How old are they?

Chances are you just called up one of four images.

• The dashing, happy, grungy, mountain bikers.  They’re fit and having fun.
• The intent tri-athlete, on the bike and hammering it out in a big (IronMan of course) event.
• The Urban Hipster, with designer messenger bag, astride the semi-custom fixie.
• The elite racer heroes, going wheel to wheel in a fiercely contested race.

Okay.  Now what are the ages of the riders in those images?  Are they mostly mid-twenties?

Now, close your eyes and call up another image.  Make this one a composite of the typical group rides you attend.  Got it?  What’s the average age of the rider in this last image?

Do you see the problem?  If I’m not mistaken, most of the folks in that last image are in their late forties to mid-fifties.  And therein lies the rub.  We are just not replacing ourselves.  The cycling population is aging.  We are almost at the “knee” in the demographic curve.  As older riders age, succumb to injury, or just retire form the sport, we’ll see fewer and fewer of these “old hands.”  And we are not recruiting nearly enough new younger riders to replace them.

The second part of the problem is hinted at by those images above.  Mountain biking, tri-athletics, and racing are recreational.  We in this wonderful country just do not see cycling as a utility or transportation activity.  There are exceptions to this, but they are few and scattered.

Now some of you are thinking,  “There he goes again.  The next part is that we should be using our bikes to get around on.  Yadda-yadda.”  Just stay with me a moment.

Those among us who use bikes solely for recreational pursuits, the majority of you do it on the road!  We could lose the road.  We could.

Let’s play the “Game of Perceptions” for a moment.  Remember, perception is reality.  What a person perceives is what is real to them.

Now, for this round of the game, place yourself in the driver’s seat of an average local motorist.  That motorist is going about some normal (to them) pursuit.  The motorist encounters you upon the road.  What goes through the motorists mind?  Most likely something nebulous, but equivalent to,  “Grrr.  Bicycle.  Slow.  In the way.  Problem.”  And, at a deeper level, “Those guys shouldn’t be allowed out here on the road with their toys.  Me?  I’m driving.  I’m going somewhere!”

And you know what?  That motorist may be just driving a lazy three miles to a soccer game.  Or to go to Bubba’s to knock back a six, while they watch the game.  It doesn’t matter how important or frivolous the motorist’s actual purpose.  To them it’s real and important, and we are the problem.

I only see two possible solutions to these issues.  (By that I mean solutions that do not result in our losing access to the road.  1)  We have to find ways to bring younger riders into the sport and pastime of cycling.  2)  We have to get more folks using bikes for all reasons, utility, transportation, and recreation.

How do we do this?

Thursday Thoughts: Differences

Recently I had a somewhat unsettling conversational exchange.  I was speaking with a woman I had just met.  She styled herself a cyclist.  She was new to the area, and her question was a common one.  She asked,  “Where can you ride a bike around here?”

My stock reply to this question is to ask for clarification.  “What kind of riding are you looking for?”  I asked.

Her replies were the kind that I really like to hear.  She wanted to go to the store, to run errands, to be able to ride her hybrid for fun, and she was interested in the idea of using her bike to support her photographic business pursuits.

My immediate thought was a warm one.  This person was a vehicular cyclist.  She wants to use her bike for transportation.  Yes!

I started to extol the virtues of this general area for transportation cycling.  I was explaining, with the aid of a popular online mapping utility, various good routes and more tricky ones.  I thought we were having a great conversation.  But then the woman asked me about bike lanes and paths.  Of course I mentioned the path network in Peachtree City, and then, as per my usual, I explained that we don’t have many bike lanes around these parts, and that shoulders are scarce too.  I was continuing to explain why that shouldn’t be a problem, but I was halted in mid sentence.

“Oh.  Your one of those V.C. People,” the lady said, somewhat frostily.  She then proceeded to rip into me.

I was caught off guard.  It took me a long couple of moments to catch up to what this person was saying to me.  The gist of it was that I (and all like me) are arrogant, macho, smug, and self-righteous.

The usual reaction to something like that is to become defensive.  I was on the verge of that particular reaction, but something about the what this woman was saying caught me and stopped me.  It was her repeated reference to “You V.C. People.”  By this she meant,  Vehicular Cyclists.  More, the lady was correct.  I am one of those Vehicular Cycling People.  I am in complete agreement with John Forester, when he states,  “Cyclists fare best when they behave, and are treated, as the operators of vehicles.”

That said, the woman had some strong and valid points.

• Riding on the road, amid fast moving and often inattentive motor vehicles is intimidating.
• Motorists don’t know how to act around cyclists, and often make bad choices out of that ignorance.
• A minor error on anyone’s part will usually cause the cyclist to pay…  sometimes dearly.
• Separate the cars and the bicycles and the pedestrians, and these conflicts are removed.
• It should be possible to ride a bike to local destinations without being in fear for one’s life.

And possibly most telling:

• Vehicular Cyclists actually enable motorists by further intimidating other cyclists.

That last one is pretty thought provoking.

I can refute any of those points, and do so at length.  But there is another thing going on here.  The lady is correct in much that she says.  If she feels that she is in danger, then her fear will keep her off of the bike.  There is a place for bicycle transportation facilities.  I’m speaking of bike lanes separated from motor lanes, and dedicated bike/pedestrian pathways.  The predominant thought, here in Georgia, seems to be that facilities are for recreation, and not transportation.

It bears some thinking about, doesn’t it?

Thursday Thoughts: Shaping the Future

This week I was “privileged” to make several trips to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

I could fill several pages with rants about how close to inaccessible that place is.  The signage, the traffic pattern “design,” parking…  I will not go there.

I will reflect on a bit of irony.  During my travels I drove up GA-314, and turned onto Riverdale Rd.  The whole area of Riverdale Rd., adjacent to the airport was radically rebuilt to accommodate the last huge runway project.  Whole neighborhoods were demolished, and the road completely re-routed.  It became a divided four lane.  And lo!  There be bike lanes along the whole stretch of re-created road/highway.

I’ve wondered about those lanes since the day I first saw them.  I can not fathom what they could possibly be for.

I am a fairly traffic tolerant rider.  I frequently ride in heavy traffic and dense urban areas.  I can not imagine what it would be like to ride to those bike lanes.  There are three approaches to them.  All of those approaches are impassable to cyclists.

In theory, it is possible to bike into the airport.  Some years ago, I met a couple who flew into Hartsfield.  They then reclaimed their travel tandem from baggage, and assembled it.  They rode the bike out of the airport.  They survived.  On their return trip, they disassembled the tandem in College Park and took the MARTA train into the airport.  Here’s a quote.  “I’d face a firing squad before I tried to ride back into that place.  The odds would be better.”

That couple were widely traveled, experienced, highly skilled cyclists.  They found the airport to be inaccessible.  The risks just too great.

I am not a native of Georgia.  I came here from somewhere else.  I have been here, and resident in Fayette County, for well over 25 years.  In that time I’ve seen tremendous growth in the area.  When I arrived, Fayette was semi-rural, and semi-agricultural.  More, I could ride a bike to anyplace in the county.

In recent years, I’ve watched as one small road after another has been “improved.”  They have become big, multi-lane, divided, and heavily trafficked.  There are no facilities for cyclists and pedestrians on them.  More, they form barriers to cyclists and pedestrians who wish to travel from one side to the other.

Traffic congestion is a problem.  The obvious answer is to build more roads, enlarge the roads, add more lanes.  After all, if we just add traffic capacity, then we relieve congestion.  Right?  Not true.  The “build your way out of it model” just doesn’t work.  Consider the examples of Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, and (yes) Atlanta.  In all of these areas, extensive building programs have been going on for decades.  Their traffic is Horrendous.

Let’s take Los Angeles as a prime example.  They have been constructing, and expanding highway networks since the 1930s.  Today their traffic problems are legendary.  We can discuss the reasons and rationale at another time.  For the moment, I’d like to consider a couple of the undesirable byproducts of this mad road building.

Highways, and big roadways are expensive.  Intersections cost a lot of money.  Overpasses are expensive.  So cross-highway access is always limited.  In short, as highways and high capacity roadways are constructed, it becomes increasingly hard to get across them.  A byproduct is that neighborhoods and communities tend to be designed, or altered so that it is next to impossible to access them (or leave them) by foot or by bike.

Locally, we are rapidly becoming another “concrete jungle.  I’ve been to meetings, and hear the slick suits tell us what surveys indicate.  They say they know that we don’t want to become another Roswell.  But somehow the construction continues.

The simple fact remains; Fayette County is becoming less livable and a lot less accessible by foot and by bike.  Do we really want this?  What are we to do to stop it?

This much I know, and it bears thinking on.  The automobile is an amazing and wonderful device.  It is fast and can carry a lot of stuff.  But we are building a trap.  It’s never a good idea to limit options.  Fuel shortages will come.  Other disruptions always occur.  If the only way to travel is by automobile, any disruption in fuel availability, or price, has a very high impact.  Is this what we want?

The State of Cycling in another State

On Monday I spoke of my long weekend trip, and recounted some good riding.  Today I’d like to share a bit of a different view of that trip.

While I was gone, I rode a bike, and drove a car, somewhat extensively in Virginia.  My travels covered the area north of Charlottesville, and then over the mountains into Rockingham County and Augusta County.  That is a fairly broad area.  The things I’m reporting below are not isolated, but rather are observable in a large area of the state, and can be assumed to be typical.  They have bearing on road vehicular cycling.  The following are observations.  I’ll draw some conclusions at the end of this post.  Please read on.

Infrastructure in advance of growth:  Much of the area I traveled through is obviously experiencing a period of growth.  That means increased population, development, and increased traffic.  Interestingly, the roads have been widened well beyond the areas of current development activity, and intersections have been improved (signage, traffic signals installed, etc.) well out beyond the current areas of activity.

Traffic signals:  I’m not sure how this is done, but it’s not like here.  The traffic signals sense traffic and respond.  They are not triggered by magnetic sensors embedded in the roadways.  Perhaps they use optical sensing.  I don’t know.  What I did observe is encouraging.  The traffic signals can sense, and do react to cyclists.  I was riding a light carbon bike.  On many occasions I was the only vehicle approaching an intersection, and was approaching from the non-dominant road.  Yet the signals still reacted to me.  More, they reacted appropriately.  If I was in a left turn lane, the left turn signal took precedence.  If I was in a through lane, the left turn signal did not activate, but the through signal did.

            I observed enough intersections to be sure this wasn’t coincidence.  Further, the effect was the same whether I was operating a motor vehicle or a bike.

Road design:  Where new road construction has take place (rather extensively) the shoulders have been widened and paved.  In many places there are extensive, ASHTO compliant, bicycle lanes.  Most notably, these bike lanes are installed in higher traffic locations.  Pedestrian sensors are obvious, and pedestrian signals are installed in all high traffic locations.

Motorist courtesy:  Almost universally, I was treated with respect and courtesy while riding a bicycle.  In four hours of riding, I experienced only one “buzzing incident,” and that may have been due to inattention.  Generally motorists obeyed posted speed limits, and operated with courtesy to other motorists and to bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

Bike lanes and sharrows:  As I’ve already mentioned, bike lanes were fairly common, and well designed and placed throughout my areas of travel.  In addition, I encountered several locations where a dedicated bike lane would have been impractical.  The road was an existing urban four lane, wide enough for two travel lanes in either direction, but not wide enough to accommodate a dedicated bike lane.  This problem had been solved handily.  On street parking had been eliminated in these areas.  This resulted a wide right hand lane. The new lanes structure was now much wider than standards, but not wide enough for a travel lane and a bike lane.  The streets in these areas were marked with “sharrows.”  Those are painted symbols, which indicate that motor and bicycle traffic will share this lane.

Conclusions:  My cycling and driving experience in Virginia was extremely pleasant.  I saw a lot of bicycle traffic, and it mixed well with the motor vehicles.  The design and construction of the roads showed signs of planning.  More, the planning had included all of the road users.  The roads were safer, and traffic congestion much less than it might have been.

Why can’t it be like that here?  If they can do it there, we can too.  We can do better.