slo-bicyclists-blog

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Bike Infrastructure

As I mentioned in my last text post, “bike infrastructure” can describe many other type of bike facilities, not just bike lanes. Other types of features that fall under bicycle infrastructure include bike share systems, traffic diverters, and traffic signals. A combination of these features an make biking much more standardized and create an organized biking etiquette to ensure every commuter’s well-being.

Bike share programs are becoming a popular concept throughout heavily populated areas in the nation. Many cities, such as those in the Bay Area, have adopted a bike share system, where those without bikes or cannot afford them can simply “rent” a bike from a sharing station for a duration of time, then pay for the time they used the bike. Below is a visual taken in San Francisco that depicts a current bike share station— bonus green bike lane, too!

Photo courtesy of https://emtern.wordpress.com/

These bike share systems encourage a healthy, growing relationship with bikes, enabling all people access to a bike. As stated in the “Advocacy Toolkit” provided by the SLO Country Bicycling Coalition, sharing programs “increases bicycles on the road-way, increasing road safety for all road users” (SLO County Bicycling Coalition 8). In order to make biking safer for all, people must be exposed to the benefits and the activity of biking. This makes them more educated about the regulations for bicyclists, getting them into the habit of good biking etiquette, and hopefully being more considerate towards bicyclists the next time they are walking or driving a car. 

Up next: a discussion about traffic diverters, the following part in the sequence of various bike infrastructure.

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Bike SLO County!

Here’s an interesting nugget of information crafted by the SLO County Bicycle Coalition that I found through the internet. 

http://slobikelane.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/AdvocacyToolkit.pdf

The above PDF is a “toolkit” provided by the organization, which is compiled of a lot of useful information for bicycle awareness. In it, it talks about the existing bike culture throughout SLO County, the various types of bike lane infrastructure, and ways that supporters can take action for a safer bicycling experience in their area. 

As bicycling is becoming an increasingly popular means of transportation in the United States, this also means that areas must accommodate for the growing population of bicyclists. There are several styles to tackle this problem. Many municipal areas adopt the basic bike lane, which etches a bike lane out of motor roadways by merely painting a white border 6 feet or so from the curb. Sure, this solution is better than nothing, but many, myself included, believe that there are better, more viable solutions. 

Behold the one-way Cycletrack. 

Photo courtesy of https://urbancommuter.wordpress.com

These kinds of bike paths are considered the standard throughout many European countries, such as the Netherlands. Cycletracks are deemed as “protected bikeways that are street level and use a variety of methods for physical separation from traffic” (SLO County Bicycling Coalition 8). Essentially, these types of bike paths are a variation of protected bike lanes, with additional features, such as it “may be combined with a parking lane or other barrier between the track and vehicle travel lane” (SLO County Bicycling Coalition 8). 

I definitely think that this type of bike lane can be implemented throughout Cal Poly’s campus, and other bike-lane-deprived campuses throughout the nation. I can practically draft plans for this project in my head: bike racks can serve as the barriers between bicyclists and pedestrians where no motor vehicles are allowed. Additionally, the university can implement more parking spaces throughout campus to serve as barriers on campus roadways to separate bike lanes from vehicle roads. 

I’ll go more in depth about other types of bicycle infrastructure in future posts. Bicycle infrastructure does not necessarily mean different types of bike lanes. In fact, it is an umbrella term which includes other bicycling facilities that makes commuting safer for everyone. More to come in the next blog entry!

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Safety first

Not only is there a lack of bike paths around Cal Poly’s campus, there are several areas in the United States that fall short of the appropriate safety precautions for bicyclists. Fortunately, people across the country are taking note of this and are currently raising awareness for their fellow bicyclists. In urban cities such as San Francisco and Chicago, the local governments and grassroots organizations have taken action and constructed special “protected bike lanes,” which are intended to “make riding on a street like riding on a trail.” Below is one such video that highlights the importance of these facilities, which features bike advocacy leaders; it also shows how cities could implement protected bike lanes to make commuting so much more convenient for both motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Video courtesy of https://vimeo.com/greenlaneproject

As seen in the video, bikes and cars and pedestrians can exist harmoniously on the road with each other. With the protected bike lanes, bicyclists need not worry about their surroundings as much; instead they are able to pedal along peacefully to work or take a day trip with a group of cycling friends. Protected bike lanes truly do provide a greater sense of convenience for both cyclists and drivers because everyone gets along on the road, while being on the same route. This concept needs to be more widespread— especially in areas that have dense traffic. These ideas should also be implemented in college cities around the nation. Since there is heavy foot traffic during the day as students transition from class to class, there is always the heightened danger of these students colliding with a bicyclist. Protected bike lanes can prevent these incidents from occurring because they can separate pedestrians and cyclists, ensuring that each group can commute within their respective safe speeds. 

A protected bike lane system would work well with just about any traffic scenario. It reduces the stress and discomfort that bikers face on a daily basis when they are simply trying to travel from place to place. Not only to bicyclists receive the benefit, other demographics are benefited from these updates as well. Drivers no longer have to worry about “surprise bikers” sneaking up from their sides and pedestrians do not have to dodge and flinch every time a biker zooms past on the sidewalk. 

Eventually, everyone will have their own space. Sometimes, sharing can be caring, but in situations where traffic is immensely dense, separation means no frustration.

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SLO Cycling

Generally, I think that the city of SLO has a decent bike lane system. The last time I went to downtown, I recall seeing bike lanes sandwiched between the curb and vehicle road. This kind of layout is probably the simplest form of a bike lane system that ensures separation from cars and pedestrians, while allowing sufficient space on the sides of the cyclist for comfort. This allows the most efficient safety for the cheapest construction cost. Of course, in due time these bike lanes could use some repairs and upgrades for increased safety.

Below is an image of the described bike lane. This lane can be found along Grand Ave, which appears to lead to Cal Poly

Image courtesy of http://www.slocity.org/

Since I am a student that attends Cal Poly SLO, I have a good sense of the quality of San Luis Obispo’s bike lanes. The bike paths could definitely use a lot of work and improvement, but the adjustments are gradually coming through. I do know that SLO has a sizable collection of bike paths for leisure, which may even serve as routes to commute to work. 

One example of separated bike paths in SLO, which motor vehicles are restricted from accessing. This particular path is located from Hathaway Street to the Cal Poly campus. Photo courtesy of http://www.kcet.org/

Besides these paths, certain lanes throughout SLO are colored green, which signify that these bike lanes, or all bike lanes for that matter, are protected by the law. These green lanes are not only popping up in SLO, but around the nation as well. Green lanes raise awareness about bicyclists’ safety, which drivers and pedestrians need to consider.

This is a recently installed green bike lane, which was completed in late August 2015. Many of these green lanes are popping up throughout the town; this particular lane is located on Santa Rosa Street. Looking closely in the foreground, both sides of the road have green colored paths. Image courtesy of http://www.slocity.org/

SLO has a solid bike lane system, and is currently making gradual updates to accommodate for bikers’ safety and convenience. As the town transforms from using very primitive, rugged asphalt bike paths to prominent green lanes and separated paths, the future of SLO’s biking culture looks very promising.

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The Dilemma

"Look both ways before crossing the street," they said. "Better to be safe than sorry," they said. It's a sunny afternoon at Cal Poly, and I had just left my 3 PM English class in the Education Building to go to my 4 PM chemistry lab held in the Baker Center. Likewise, many other students are exiting the Education Building and heading to their proceeding classes. The hoard of students and I take the brick path adjacent to Dexter Lawn on foot. However, there are a few students that I always make sure to be wary of. It’s not that I have a grudge against these students in particular, but I have experienced and witnessed some near-unfortunate encounters. As a casual pedestrian, I feel as though I have developed a sixth sense; to be wary of the cyclists that are zipping by me as I transition from class to class. Although the biking culture at Cal Poly is truly thriving, in many facets, the campus should update its current bike lane system to continue to encourage both walking and biking, while making both methods of transportation safer for both groups.