Safer Lanes for Safer Cities April 18 2015, 0 Comments
Safe urban commuting requires riders and drivers to be aware of one another. When a good friend of ours was hit and out of commission for a long while, we began wondering what cities other than ours do to keep their bike commuters safe.
For years our regular bike commute involved a tricky intersection that we flat-out avoided during peak hours. A bridge off-ramp, cars preparing to merge with a large busy road, and a poorly marked bike lane added to the complexity of this area--the only provision for safety was a line of installed 'candlesticks'. While we appreciated the city for installing these, we were willing to ride well out of our way in order to skip the dangerous dance with four-wheeled vehicles.
A favorite option that provides a cheaper, more attractive option is to add a row of flower boxes on the edge of the bike lane. The Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition made a 'pop up bike lane' for only $600. This brought a new interest in bike safety, made the ride more enjoyable, and beautified the city.
(The Green Lane Project is part of the People For Bikes program, of which Wind-Blox is a part)
