Time to Revisit Bike Lanes on Busy Roads

[Anonymous]

Protected bike lanes would be a good strategy. Protects pedestrians on the sidewalk, protects cyclists and prevents any incursion into the driving lane that might slow down cars.

[Anonymous]

I am not sure what the question is here - bike lanes serve a number of purposes that I won't take all the time to list below. From my perspective bike lanes done right should be the default on all roadways - once we have established that then all the automobile drivers can start making their case for why the bike lanes should not be there. How much extra time do you really think the bike lane is costing you on a particular road? This is the problem with society....we can find a million different ways to waste our damn time but delaying you a couple minutes so a bunch of people can have safe transportation is just to much. Same thing when I bike on the road - drivers lose their mind having to pause 30 seconds to safely pass but those same people will wait in lines all over the place or play on their phone for hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure what the question is here - bike lanes serve a number of purposes that I won't take all the time to list below. From my perspective bike lanes done right should be the default on all roadways - once we have established that then all the automobile drivers can start making their case for why the bike lanes should not be there. How much extra time do you really think the bike lane is costing you on a particular road? This is the problem with society....we can find a million different ways to waste our damn time but delaying you a couple minutes so a bunch of people can have safe transportation is just to much. Same thing when I bike on the road - drivers lose their mind having to pause 30 seconds to safely pass but those same people will wait in lines all over the place or play on their phone for hours.

100% this. Couldn't have put it better. OP is a "Larry" who would rather kids be mowed down in roads than be a minute late in checking his sports bets.

[Anonymous]

These bike lanes were installed all over the country. I live in a suburb of Chicago that is always crying poor. The sidewalks are cracked and bumpy making walking miserable especially with a stroller but they found money for shiny new bike lanes throughout the town that are unused for half the year when snow is on the ground. Who paid for this?

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure what OP means by “off the road” — but if that means taking over sidewalk space intended for pedestrians, that trades pedestrian safety for motorist’s convenience.

I’m curious. How many cyclists are actually using these bike lanes? As a pedestrian, I’ve learned that in many areas it’s legal and the norm for cyclists to use the sidewalks. For me, that feels like a hazard, since they’re often fast and quiet— no little warning bells like I was trained to use even with my childhood trike. I get that cyclists may not feel safe in traffic. I sometimes don’t feel prioritized as a pedestrian. Bike lanes would seem to be a reasonable solution— yet, how much are they really used?

[Anonymous]

I have questions. Because I do commute on Old Georgetown Road - on a bike. And I see other cyclists in the bike lane.

But it’s crazy that I don’t see more cyclists given that I ride from the beltway to downtown in a few minutes more than it takes to drive and way faster than the metro. I get my exercise, some fresh air (the trails that cover most of the distance are 1000% better than bike lanes), and my doctor says I’m in great shape for my age. All this in a vehicle with no payments or insurance, and I don’t need to take time out for the gym anymore.

But honestly, I’ve been hit by a car before and harassed by cars frequently for “sharing a lane” on regular roads. Old Georgetown would be way too dangerous to ride without the protection and legitimacy that bike lanes provide cyclists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those bike lanes also provide a buffer for pedestrians.

This. I don't live in suburban MD nor do I cycle so I don't really have a horse in this race but no way in hell I'd walk on that 2.5ft wide sidewalk next to 3 lanes of traffic going by at 70+ mph circa 2021.

I've read several threads about these bike lanes, it's insane that taking a single car lane away lives rent-free in so many people's heads

https://maps.app.goo.gl/yGApHPieFKdnLLVD9

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just ride your bike.

Perfect solution for inclement weather.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those bike lanes also provide a buffer for pedestrians.

I got hit while in a crosswalk by some b**** on a bike. Didn’t even check on me after knocking me down. She just picked up her bike and got back on a took off.

We need buffers froapathetic drivers like you are the reason we need bike lanes. As a 45kg kid with a 8kg bike, your 2000kg death machine aka car can do a shit ton more damage than 65 kilos of human and bike could ever do. cars are frickin scary. you can hate on bikers all you want for doing things like running red lights, but when you're 13 and see a massive black suburban running through stop signs and staying behind you, youve got bigger things to worry about like pedestrians. you personlly are probably a better driver, but that very incident happened to me on my way to school. I sprinted away and turned through some side allies, for if I had stopped the car might have kidnapped me or ran me over. so, next time someone gets hit by a biker, just imagine that its a 13 year old who almost got ran over/kidnapped. Emergency situations take priority over stop signs.
m cyclist a-holes too.

And guess what? You still lived. Try getting hit with a car to compare.

Your compassion is typical of a cyclist.

Seriously, this type of response is why many of us hate you so passionately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those bike lanes also provide a buffer for pedestrians.

I got hit while in a crosswalk by some b**** on a bike. Didn’t even check on me after knocking me down. She just picked up her bike and got back on a took off.

We need buffers froapathetic drivers like you are the reason we need bike lanes. As a 45kg kid with a 8kg bike, your 2000kg death machine aka car can do a shit ton more damage than 65 kilos of human and bike could ever do. cars are frickin scary. you can hate on bikers all you want for doing things like running red lights, but when you're 13 and see a massive black suburban running through stop signs and staying behind you, youve got bigger things to worry about like pedestrians. you personlly are probably a better driver, but that very incident happened to me on my way to school. I sprinted away and turned through some side allies, for if I had stopped the car might have kidnapped me or ran me over. so, next time someone gets hit by a biker, just imagine that its a 13 year old who almost got ran over/kidnapped. Emergency situations take priority over stop signs.
m cyclist a-holes too.

And guess what? You still lived. Try getting hit with a car to compare.

Your compassion is typical of a cyclist.

Seriously, this type of response is why many of us hate you so passionately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve noticed the bike lane on Old Georgetown Road is rarely used, especially during rush hour, while it’s causing dreadful congestion for drivers. I understand the importance of safe cycling infrastructure, but I wonder if we can find a better balance to serve all commuters. It seems the dream of transitioning to a carbon free transportation infrastructure is not longer in the cards.

Could we discuss potential solutions, like redesigning a bike path off the road to maintain bike safety while easing traffic flow? I’d love to hear your thoughts and work together to propose actionable ideas to the County and State governments. Also, the bike lanes have not been properly maintained, nor the road median. It is just a big mess that needs to be cleaned up.

Your post is too long given what time it is. Have you noticed that near Edson and also Nicholson, heading from the direction of Tuckerman cars that need to make a right turn are driving up the bike lane to turn rather than waiting for traffic to clear the area. At first o thought it unsafe. And since no bikes are using it I follow and do the same sometimes. I’m never the leader of the pack. Yes I know I could get a ticket. And…. And the lanes are ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

The bike lanes on Old Georgetoen Road are a poor experiment. The cost (more idling cars, more time waiting, more gas, more polution) does not outweigh the benefits to the handful of cyclists using them on a short stretch of the road. As far as the "it's only 30 seconds more time," that's a out and out lie. Anyone who's had to spend time on the road in rush hour knows it's a lot more than that. I've spent an extra 30 minutes compared to non-rush hour.

Wish they'd be willing to do another study and get rid of those bike lanes. Or at least one of them, and make the extra lane into Bethesda in the morning and out of Bethesda in the afternoons.

And, how much worse is the traffic on Fernwood amd 355 since the bike lanes were installed? I've used both at times, rather than Old Georgetown Road

[Anonymous]

Can privileged cyclists who recreate during morning rush hour on arterial roadways that are one lane each way - with 20+ cars trailing them at 15 mph - please find these lovely roads with bike lanes to recreate on instead so that mere peasantry like myself can get to our jobs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The bike lanes on Old Georgetoen Road are a poor experiment. The cost (more idling cars, more time waiting, more gas, more polution) does not outweigh the benefits to the handful of cyclists using them on a short stretch of the road. As far as the "it's only 30 seconds more time," that's a out and out lie. Anyone who's had to spend time on the road in rush hour knows it's a lot more than that. I've spent an extra 30 minutes compared to non-rush hour.

Wish they'd be willing to do another study and get rid of those bike lanes. Or at least one of them, and make the extra lane into Bethesda in the morning and out of Bethesda in the afternoons.

And, how much worse is the traffic on Fernwood amd 355 since the bike lanes were installed? I've used both at times, rather than Old Georgetown Road

The benefit is the lives saved. Two kids died on that sidewalk. If the bike lane had been there, they'd be alive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can privileged cyclists who recreate during morning rush hour on arterial roadways that are one lane each way - with 20+ cars trailing them at 15 mph - please find these lovely roads with bike lanes to recreate on instead so that mere peasantry like myself can get to our jobs?

When I'm commuting to work by bike do you consider that recreating? How would you know what my purpose is?