Comments on: Smile, you’re on bike lane camera! http://treadly.net/2007/06/18/smile-youre-on-bike-lane-camera/ Work is just something I do between bike rides Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:14:13 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Treadly and Me http://treadly.net/2007/06/18/smile-youre-on-bike-lane-camera/comment-page-1/#comment-816 Treadly and Me Mon, 18 Jun 2007 11:30:30 +0000 http://treadly.thingoid.com/2007/06/18/smile-youre-on-bike-lane-camera/#comment-816 <p>Indeed. Which is why I doubt the real effectiveness of something like this, and rate it more of an amusing diversion for irritated cyclists than a deterrent for thoughtless motorists.</p> <p>But there is a serious side: changing lanes involves a small amount of <a href="/2006/07/28/lane-changers-dont-win/#boom-crash-whallop" rel="nofollow">extra risk</a> regardless of the vehicle you're piloting. And anything that forces you to change lanes increases that risk.</p> <p>That said, a competent cyclist should generally be able to manage a smooth lane change in traffic. But <a href="/2007/03/08/elizabeths-badly-designed-bike-lanes/" rel="nofollow">as we've discussed before</a> bike lanes can lull the less experienced cyclist into a false sense of security—and then there might be a problem.</p> Indeed. Which is why I doubt the real effectiveness of something like this, and rate it more of an amusing diversion for irritated cyclists than a deterrent for thoughtless motorists.

But there is a serious side: changing lanes involves a small amount of extra risk regardless of the vehicle you’re piloting. And anything that forces you to change lanes increases that risk.

That said, a competent cyclist should generally be able to manage a smooth lane change in traffic. But as we’ve discussed before bike lanes can lull the less experienced cyclist into a false sense of security—and then there might be a problem.

]]> By: Chris L http://treadly.net/2007/06/18/smile-youre-on-bike-lane-camera/comment-page-1/#comment-815 Chris L Mon, 18 Jun 2007 11:12:03 +0000 http://treadly.thingoid.com/2007/06/18/smile-youre-on-bike-lane-camera/#comment-815 <p>Just a minor point of clarification -- the "if practicable" clause in the bikelane legislation effectively renders it advisory rather than mandatory -- meaning that if boneheads park or smash bottles in the bike lane, I'm well within my rights not to use it. I have to say that I've taken advantage of this clause in plain view of the police on many occasions without ever being so much as questioned about it.</p> <p>It's a shame more cyclists aren't aware of that. I would have thought a heap of cyclists refraining from using the substandard "faclilities" would have drawn far more attention to the problem than a few websites which are likely to be known only to a few cyclists.</p> Just a minor point of clarification — the “if practicable” clause in the bikelane legislation effectively renders it advisory rather than mandatory — meaning that if boneheads park or smash bottles in the bike lane, I’m well within my rights not to use it. I have to say that I’ve taken advantage of this clause in plain view of the police on many occasions without ever being so much as questioned about it.

It’s a shame more cyclists aren’t aware of that. I would have thought a heap of cyclists refraining from using the substandard “faclilities” would have drawn far more attention to the problem than a few websites which are likely to be known only to a few cyclists.

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