In a surprising pro-cycling twist, the City of Buffalo has done something that even surprised bike activist Justin Booth, Executive Director of GObike Buffalo. I ran into Justin last evening at Flying Bison Brewery, and inquired about Buffalo’s “first Green Lanes*”, which were installed at the Delaware Park S-Curves, right at the point where the bike lanes intersect with the auto on-ramp/off-rampways to the (still controversial) expressway. “As we were hosting national and statewide experts on a bike tour earlier today,” Justin told me. “We were riding down the S-Curves and came across a new Green Lane. The City never even told me that they were installing it – this is a first for the City, and means that they are willing to make bike culture safer on their own. I was extremely happy to see the work that they did.”
A couple of years ago, I remember speaking with Justin about bike issues in Buffalo. At the time, he was discouraged. I brought up that conversation with him when we ran into each other. “It’s incredible how far the City has come since then,” he said [laughing]. “It’s a different time now, thankfully – bike culture is starting to thrive in Buffalo. It’s not just a handful of people who are behind the movement.”
I’m still not sure that the bike lane along S-Curves is the safest place for cyclists to be on any given day, due to the number of street lamps that get knocked to the ground on a continual basis. But for the bold and adventurous speed demons, who feel that they can go toe to toe with winding (and sometimes meandering) traffic, God bless them!
*The purpose of the Green Lane is to remind drivers and cyclists that they are entering a confluence of traffic, that includes both two and four-wheel vehicles.
Photo: GObike Buffalo