Bike lane ethics

Not many things annoy me more than someone going the wrong way in a bike lane. This counter-intelligent move puts everyone at risk: Them, me, passing motorists, the ozone layer. It's as bad as riding the wrong way on a one-way street. It's pretty cut and dry.

But Bike Snob NYC has a new dilemma for us to ponder. What if that vehicle that's parked in the bike lane happens to be unloading a whole bunch of new bikes? Spreading the joy of cycling whilst ruining it for others? Hmmm.....

Comments

[Kimberly Cooper]

A vehicle parked in a bike lane wouldn't be an issue if bicyclists and motorists were taught the bicycle laws, vehicular bicycling techniques, and safe bicycling/motorist techniques.

Motorists and bicyclists would know what to do and why to do it.

When it rains hard in Pinellas, the streets flood by the curb. That means there's no bike lane to bicycle in since vehicles shouldn't travel through standing water. You don't know what debris or hole you'll run into.

We need education.

[Kimberly Cooper]

Get ready to start teaching more bicyclists how to ride the roads. Expect $5.75+ for gas in August.

Check out some info Chip Haynes gave to the St. Petersburg Times, May 25, 2008:
"USE A FORMULA TO TALLY UP PRICE OF GAS ...
Want to figure out how fast the pain of higher oil prices is going to hit you at the pump? Here's a formula suggested by Chip Haynes, a graphic artist for the Pinellas County Planning Department, who has been writing about the depletion of the world's oil fields since 2001. Though retail prices vary widely, a ballpark figure for the ultimate price of a gallon of gas can be derived by dividing the price of a barrel of oil by 23.33. That means $135 for a barrel of oil could end up costing about $5.78 a gallon, though there is usually a three-month lag time before the price hits the corner gas station."

[Chip Haynes]

Wow- Thanks for the mention, Kimberly! We're about to find out EXACTLY what that ratio is: Oil hit $100 the first of March. Let's see what regual rghas is next Monday, June 2nd. There's your ratio. Oil is above $133 this morning.

As for blocking the bike lane, cheer up, y'all. Drivers in downtown Clearwater use the Pinellas Trail as a parking lot.

[Chip Haynes]

Oh, bother. No edit feature.

[No Names Please]

I used the Pinellas Trail for about 8 months, 4 days a week to ride from downtown St. Petersburg to Clearwater (Ft Harrison area).

On a daily basis I saw large trucks, heavy machinery, and county inspection vehicles parked all along the trail in Seminole near roadway crossings. they were so clustered together that it actually made it almost impossible for a bicycle to get past. I was also nearly attacked by a man in the Baskins area of Largo one day riding home in broad daylight. I received several e-mailed responses to an on line letter I wrote concerning safety on the Pinellas Trail and was astounded to learn that I was not the only one who had had run-ins with criminals who use the trail to rob or attack people on their bikes or on roller blades. As a matter of fact, there were a reported 11 attacks in the Baskins area alone in 2007! That's just ONE SMALL section of the trail which paralells Ulmerton Rd. in Largo. Reported = actually called into the sheriff's office. I wonder how many did not report their incident to the authorities!

I have a car and a bicycle and have driven and ridden to and from work for the past several years, alternating between the two forms of transportation. When the trail was first constructed, I thought it would be an ideal way for people to ride, not only for recreactional purposes, but also as a viable route to commute to and from work. Regretfully, my mind has changed since I've experienced so many unfortunate incidents on the trail and have heard of others who have also experienced the same type of unfortunate incidents while using the trail.

As for motorists using the bike lanes for their own personal use, I have actually witnessed motorists using the bike lanes as travel lanes! And I do not mean just to make a right hand turn either! I mean, driving in it for several blocks. About a week ago, I watched a St. Petersburg police officer sit and WATCH a motorist use the bike lane on 1st Avenue S. to pass a motorist in the right when all of the left lanes were in use. He drove in bike lane for approximately 5 blocks. I just sat there with my jaw on the floor.

Until the laws are actually enforced, both bicyclists AND motorists will continue to disobey the rules of the road. and I got news for everyone who reads this blog - it's NOT just the cyclists who are blatantly disobeying the laws! Any motorist who actually thinks it's OK to use a bicycle lane as a travel lane, needs to get a citation (along with a good paddling with a metal spoon)! Very dangerous practice!

[Kimberly]

A few years ago, a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) deputy heard about kids setting up dangerous situations for bicyclists on the Pinellas Trail. The deputy spent several days biking undercover, had an incident with some kids, & caught one.

The kid's mother filed a complaint about the deputy to the PCSO. When bicyclists heard, they sent out an e-mail to write in defense of the deputy. I heard the PCSO had never received so many letters about something as that time.

Moral of the story; Report where, day of week, and time of day of incidents to the PCSO. Let us know what happens so we can send needed letters of support to the PCSO in their attempts to stop crime on the Pinellas Trail.