Buffalo Rising Online

Yeah, this is great, but one thing that has always drove me crazy about bike lanes is that it makes people forget that every lane is a bike lane. NYS law treats bikes the same as cars and bikes have just as much right to the street as the cars do. yes slow moving traffic (read bikes) have to yield to fast moving traffic (read cars), but the bikes still have the right to ride on the street. Having bike lanes in some places and not in others make uneducated (on bike laws) people think that you should be on the sidewalk unless there is a specific bike lane. Would you drive your car on the side walk?

Can we also put equal time and money into putting "No Bike Allowed" signs on the side walks? I've seen so many people almost get hit by people illegally riding their bike on the sidewalk. I actually think that this is more important then having bike lanes on the street, although I'm sure that I'm alone on this.

"Would you drive your car on the side walk?"

Would you ride your bike just inches away from an NFTA bus? When drivers learn that bicycles are vehicles too and not just bonus points for hitting, that's when bicycists will start to use the same road those drivers occupy. Until then, sidewalks it is for me and many others.

TotallyPOed - unfortunately in reality, trying to ride a bike on a busy street that doesn't have bike lanes is risking your life. I'm not going to become a martyr for cyclists. And on the flipside, although NYS treats bicycles like cars, most cyclists ignore every road rule they can. They don't stop at lights or stop signs, they don't signal, they ride down the wrong side of the road, etc. Drivers and Cyclists are equally at fault.

well, putting bike lanes in more streets would allow people on bikes to feel safer using the streets and thereby get them off the sidewalks. It would be nice to think that car drivers would share the road... but this is America. If it doesn't have a motor it is irrelevant.

I've spent 3 weeks in China. It's amazing watching bikes and 18 wheelers on the same 10 lane road. No one gets mad at anyone. As someone who drives and bikes in the city I can find fault in both parties, but I gotta say drivers have 0 respect for people who ride bikes. If i'm on a major street like Elmwood or Deleware I'm on the sidewalk 90% of the time.

There is nothing like to hear more than the sound of (deleted) as they merrily navigate down Delaware or Elmwood. Sweet asphalt justice, nothing comes close, not even an ice cold Genny Cream Ale.

This past summer, I had the opportunity to travel the Erie Canal Bike Path (and Rt. 5 Bike Path) from Albany to buffalo ( http://tinyurl.com/5f7le3 )and heres my thoughts: 1. Our bike path is pathetic compared to the rest of the state. Its overgrown, graffiti riddled and in places, down-right scary. 2. Despite our city being known as the City of Good Neighbors, when it comes to bicyclists we are a town of flipping jackos. Through Albany, Syracuse, Rochester and points in between, motorists are accommodating, patient and conscious of those biking on the roadways. Here, it is literally quite the opposite. 'Im on a bike, would you mind waiting for me to pass rather than cutting me off?' 3.Cyclists are not motorists. You are no match for an automobile. Don't believe you are being smart by riding in the middle of the road, arrogantly taking up one full lane on major streets. People die doing stupid things. Act responsibly on the roads, Ive seen more than a few cyclists in the middle of lanes 3 x 3 acting as though its their right because they are equal to automobiles. Don't be a jackass, a road raging motorist vs you is no match. Be respectful and you'll be respected. As for this proposal, I wouldnt hold your breathe. Im guessing with the recent crash, the bike lanes are going to be the least of our problems here in B-fo.

BuffaloTShirts, I'm glad to know that every single motorist in the rest of the state is courteous and scrupulously bike-enlightened, except for Buffalonians, who must be intrinsicallly incapable of this. Maybe it's our water?

I rode from Black Rock to downtown Buffalo for many years and rarely had any problems. As JSmith has noted it is necessary to obey the rules concerning bicycles. Riding with traffic, signaling, no sidewalks, and knowing cars can kill you all contribute to a pleasant commute. I could make good time on backstreets such as West Ave.to reach downtown and Prospect/Plymouth back home. They were pretty quiet and were preferred to fighting the traffic on Niagara or Grant.

Wholelottawhatever:

I think I might have been one of those one hitting you, so I guess you really do owe me. In my defense it was late and had a couple pops in me, but at the end of the day, it is just a cyclist so no biggie.

Yea, no biggie if you kill the father or mother on their way home form work. Riding their bikes so they can save a couple bucks in these days and times and trying to stay healthy and live a little longer for their kids. Yea carlmalone, your real macho taking on a 30 lb bike with your 2 ton vehicle. Defense??? For what, for being ignorant , childish, irresponsible and a potential murderer...I hope they catch you next time and throw away the key!

Fred:

Human life is generally speaking is valueless, especialy when (bleep)...