[Mpls] Bicycle Protocol

[rpgoldman at real-time.com]

>>>>> "Steven" == Steven Houdek <sthoudek at hotmail.com> writes:

    Steven> I think it's totally senseless for bikers to use a parkway
    Steven> when a bike path is next to them.  Isn't that what it's
    Steven> for? Bicycles?  The bikes paths around lakes such as
    Steven> Nokomis are just that: Bike paths. I don't drive my car on
    Steven> the bike paths, bikers should stay off the parkway until
    Steven> they need to turn.  I know it's a few people that do this,
    Steven> but it is very annoying, especially at rush hour time.
    Steven> Cars then get backed up because everyone is trying to be
    Steven> careful around the biker.

To follow up with what others have said, this seems like a common
misconception of drivers in this area.  Bikers are not obligated to
use bike paths; they are entitled to use the roads.  

Others have pointed out that the bike paths have a 10 mph speed limit,
which is quite slow for a real bicyclist.  All parties are happier
when the nylon team jersey gonzo stays off the bike path, and doesn't
try to ram his way through a flock of slow leisure bikers, kids on
extender bikes, roller bladers, etc.

I have also found that many of these bike paths were quite treacherous
when wet, because of paving sealant that was sometimes used, and
unsuitable for bike commuting.  This sealant "sweats" oil in the rain.
I recall going around a corner on a bike path near Wirth Park, and
wiping out ---- right behind three other bikers who had wiped out in
the same place.  On a patched strip, my tires suddenly had no traction
at all, and the bike just flew out from under me.

That was the last time I used bike paths for commuting.  From then on,
I rode the parkways, and now I reserve bike paths for family leisure
riding on clear, sunny days.

I understand that people can get impatient at rush hour, but remember,
the parkways are PARK ways.  They are 25 mph roads, and were designed
for people to at least slow down and smell the roses; they were not
built to be commuter arteries.  If you get that angry at being behind
a bicyclist, maybe you should not be on a park way.  I understand that
traffic patterns may have changed, and you may not be able to find an
artery where you want one.  But that's the fault of changed traffic
patterns, not of bicyclists, slow convertible drivers, and other
people who want to use the parkways for the purpose for which they
were built.


-- 

Robert P. Goldman
ECCO
rpgoldman at real-time.com