Are bikes allowed to go through red lights on major roads?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's true that a dedicated bus lane would probably be more beneficial for most people (and particularly poorer citizens) than dedicated bike lanes. Particularly since even many cyclists switch over to the bus/metro when there's inclement weather.

It's crazy that there's more effort to put bike lanes than a bus lanes on Connecticut Ave.

Well, PA Ave put in BOTH bus lanes AND protected bike lanes. People really need to stop making up fake conflicts. DDOT has many bus corridor projects going on right now.

The fact is the dedicated NIMBYs will make a fuss over ANY change to road use. Most triggered by bikes, but they’ll also oppose bus improvements (unless they are using buses to make a dishonest objection to bike lanes.)

On University Boulevard in Wheaton, they've objected to both...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Let's have both" usually means "let's give lip service to one while completely ignoring it and pushing for our pet project." No one is serious if they're going to pretend that space isn't limited, or if they pretend that no lanes are going to be preserved for cars, trucks, and vans.

Compare the map of D.C. dedicated bike lanes:

https://buspriority.ddot.dc.gov/pages/buslanes

To the map of dedicated D.C. bus lanes:

https://godcgo.com/wp-content/uploads/DC-Bike-Map.pdf

As mentioned, right now there's a push for bike lanes on Connecticut, not bus lanes. As the data above shows, bike commuters are a small segment of the population, but they often are wealthier and have an outsized voice compared to bus commuters, who are much more numerous but tend to be poorer.

So lead the charge and push for bus lanes on Connecticut Ave! Do something other than complaining that the the thing other people are doing is not the thing you would be doing if you were going to do anything, which you’re not…

exactly. there is NO conflict between bus advocates and bike advocates- they are generally exactly the same people. Miss me with this false dilemma! I don’t know the particulars of the Ct Ave bus situation but here on the Hill I have never ever heard anyone complain about bus priority projects as somehow hurting bike projects. They coexist and are generally the same people supporting them. For example we got the 8th bus priority project - which does not have bike lanes. At the same time we completed Pa Ave (bus AND bike) and C St/N Carolina (bike mainly and some bus improvements)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's true that a dedicated bus lane would probably be more beneficial for most people (and particularly poorer citizens) than dedicated bike lanes. Particularly since even many cyclists switch over to the bus/metro when there's inclement weather.

It's crazy that there's more effort to put bike lanes than a bus lanes on Connecticut Ave.

Well, PA Ave put in BOTH bus lanes AND protected bike lanes. People really need to stop making up fake conflicts. DDOT has many bus corridor projects going on right now.

The fact is the dedicated NIMBYs will make a fuss over ANY change to road use. Most triggered by bikes, but they’ll also oppose bus improvements (unless they are using buses to make a dishonest objection to bike lanes.)

On University Boulevard in Wheaton, they've objected to both...

of course. they want zero changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's true that a dedicated bus lane would probably be more beneficial for most people (and particularly poorer citizens) than dedicated bike lanes. Particularly since even many cyclists switch over to the bus/metro when there's inclement weather.

It's crazy that there's more effort to put bike lanes than a bus lanes on Connecticut Ave.

Well, PA Ave put in BOTH bus lanes AND protected bike lanes. People really need to stop making up fake conflicts. DDOT has many bus corridor projects going on right now.

The fact is the dedicated NIMBYs will make a fuss over ANY change to road use. Most triggered by bikes, but they’ll also oppose bus improvements (unless they are using buses to make a dishonest objection to bike lanes.)

This. I really like the new PA Ave configuration. Its awesome.

Conn Ave is on top of a metro too, like most of PA Ave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's true that a dedicated bus lane would probably be more beneficial for most people (and particularly poorer citizens) than dedicated bike lanes. Particularly since even many cyclists switch over to the bus/metro when there's inclement weather.

It's crazy that there's more effort to put bike lanes than a bus lanes on Connecticut Ave.

Well, PA Ave put in BOTH bus lanes AND protected bike lanes. People really need to stop making up fake conflicts. DDOT has many bus corridor projects going on right now.

The fact is the dedicated NIMBYs will make a fuss over ANY change to road use. Most triggered by bikes, but they’ll also oppose bus improvements (unless they are using buses to make a dishonest objection to bike lanes.)

This. I really like the new PA Ave configuration. Its awesome.

Conn Ave is on top of a metro too, like most of PA Ave.

PA Ave is awesome, gamechanging for biking on the Hill. I just wish it went all the way to the bridge - any plans for that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Let's have both" usually means "let's give lip service to one while completely ignoring it and pushing for our pet project." No one is serious if they're going to pretend that space isn't limited, or if they pretend that no lanes are going to be preserved for cars, trucks, and vans.

Compare the map of D.C. dedicated bike lanes:

https://buspriority.ddot.dc.gov/pages/buslanes

To the map of dedicated D.C. bus lanes:

https://godcgo.com/wp-content/uploads/DC-Bike-Map.pdf

As mentioned, right now there's a push for bike lanes on Connecticut, not bus lanes. As the data above shows, bike commuters are a small segment of the population, but they often are wealthier and have an outsized voice compared to bus commuters, who are much more numerous but tend to be poorer.

So lead the charge and push for bus lanes on Connecticut Ave! Do something other than complaining that the the thing other people are doing is not the thing you would be doing if you were going to do anything, which you’re not…

exactly. there is NO conflict between bus advocates and bike advocates- they are generally exactly the same people. Miss me with this false dilemma! I don’t know the particulars of the Ct Ave bus situation but here on the Hill I have never ever heard anyone complain about bus priority projects as somehow hurting bike projects. They coexist and are generally the same people supporting them. For example we got the 8th bus priority project - which does not have bike lanes. At the same time we completed Pa Ave (bus AND bike) and C St/N Carolina (bike mainly and some bus improvements)

WMATA keeps removing lines (like the L1). Because of low ridership, they say. Well yeah that's because taking the bus is often slower than walking on certain parts of Conn Ave, once you factor in bus headway times which also can be quite long, especially outside of peak. Sorry let me put this in plain english for the carbains. Part of what makes taking a bus take a while is that there are few buses and so if you miss one, you have to wait A WHILE like 15-20 minutes sometimes more. Those are call headways.

What makes biking dangerous is all of the cars. What makes the bus so slow is all the cars. What makes it so everything is too far away to walk anywhere in the suburbs is all the space we have to reserve for cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: (unless they are using buses to make a dishonest objection to bike lanes.)

Anonymous wrote:So lead the charge and push for bus lanes on Connecticut Ave! Do something other than complaining that the the thing other people are doing is not the thing you would be doing if you were going to do anything, which you’re not…

Anonymous wrote: unless your priority is preserving space on Connecticut Avenue for cars.

It's funny, everyone claims to be so supportive of buses, until someone says that bus lanes should be prioritized over bike lanes, and then they get attacked and accused of being fake bus supporters who are secretly supporting cars. People can claim that bus advocates and cyclist advocates are "are generally exactly the same people", but it appears that many are simply cyclist activists who pretend to be bus advocates, then attack actual advocates when they show up.

I support prioritizing buses over cars. But I also support prioritizing buses over bicycles. They're used by vastly more people, and they tend to represent a much poorer part of the population. If the city can swing it so that they can fit in more bicycle lanes as well, great. But a lot of the efforts the city has made (just look at the maps) suggest that bus lanes aren't being given the priority they deserve. If you're mad that people are pointing that out, it's hard to believe you're an actual bus advocate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is pretty great you guys.

ANGRY POSTER 1: CYCLISTS GO SO SLOW AND CLOG UP TRAFFIC1!!!111ONEONE
ANGRY POSTER 2: CYCLISTS BLOW THROUGH RED LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS AND I NEVER SEE THEM COMING!!!!111ONEONE
ANGRY POSTER 3: BIKES ARE PLAY TOYS AND ARE TOO SLOW TO BE ON THE STREET
ANGRY POSTER 4: CYCLIST MOVE UNPREDICTABLY AND TOO QUICKLY FOR ME TO REACT IN MY MOTOR VEHICLE

You all must be big fans of string theory. Schrodinger's cyclist says hi.

Don’t forget that old saw about how cyclists are more likely to be white, more likely to have higher incomes and more likely to live within biking distance of their jobs so closing roads like Beach to cars benefits them and disproportionately hurts black and brown people who drive because they’re commuting from much greater distances.

Oh wait…that one’s true isn’t it? Sorry teachers, cops and other government employees. Maybe you could save up and buy a place much closer in, near the cyclists?

Do people even bike to work on Beach? Or is it mostly recreational cycling? Doesn't seem like a convenient way to get anywhere you'd need to be for an office job.

OK if it isn't convenient to get to an office job then why are drivers so up in arms about it being closed to cars?

It's a convenient way to get to an office job if you're driving from the northern end of it, because who cares if you have to drive uphill out of the park to get where you're going. But for people who live near the park and bike to work downtown, it's much more convenient to just take surface streets.

So, you just think any hill makes biking inconvenient?

No, of course not. But for me to bike to work from west of Wisconsin to downtown by way of the park would mean a long ride into the park, then riding all the way through the park, then to Georgetown, then downtown. Alternatively, it would involve climbing up the hills out by the Zoo, which really are pretty unpleasant, and then still winding up about three miles north of where I'm trying to end up.

Much, much easier just to ride on Connecticut Avenue, even without a bike lane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: (unless they are using buses to make a dishonest objection to bike lanes.)

Anonymous wrote:So lead the charge and push for bus lanes on Connecticut Ave! Do something other than complaining that the the thing other people are doing is not the thing you would be doing if you were going to do anything, which you’re not…

Anonymous wrote: unless your priority is preserving space on Connecticut Avenue for cars.

It's funny, everyone claims to be so supportive of buses, until someone says that bus lanes should be prioritized over bike lanes, and then they get attacked and accused of being fake bus supporters who are secretly supporting cars. People can claim that bus advocates and cyclist advocates are "are generally exactly the same people", but it appears that many are simply cyclist activists who pretend to be bus advocates, then attack actual advocates when they show up.

I support prioritizing buses over cars. But I also support prioritizing buses over bicycles. They're used by vastly more people, and they tend to represent a much poorer part of the population. If the city can swing it so that they can fit in more bicycle lanes as well, great. But a lot of the efforts the city has made (just look at the maps) suggest that bus lanes aren't being given the priority they deserve. If you're mad that people are pointing that out, it's hard to believe you're an actual bus advocate.

But there isn't currently a debate between more bus lanes and more bike lanes on Connecticut Avenue. There's a debate between any bike lanes on Connecticut Avenue and more space for parking cars. I bet most of the people here who have been posting in favor of the bike lanes would be perfectly happy if the road was 50 percent for buses, 30 percent for cars and 20 percent for bikes. (I'd be perfectly happy if it was 80 percent for buses and 20 percent for bikes, myself; I have driven to work twice in the last five years.)

Bus lanes are indeed not being given the priority they deserve, but that's not because people want bike lanes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: (unless they are using buses to make a dishonest objection to bike lanes.)

Anonymous wrote:So lead the charge and push for bus lanes on Connecticut Ave! Do something other than complaining that the the thing other people are doing is not the thing you would be doing if you were going to do anything, which you’re not…

Anonymous wrote: unless your priority is preserving space on Connecticut Avenue for cars.

It's funny, everyone claims to be so supportive of buses, until someone says that bus lanes should be prioritized over bike lanes, and then they get attacked and accused of being fake bus supporters who are secretly supporting cars. People can claim that bus advocates and cyclist advocates are "are generally exactly the same people", but it appears that many are simply cyclist activists who pretend to be bus advocates, then attack actual advocates when they show up.

I support prioritizing buses over cars. But I also support prioritizing buses over bicycles. They're used by vastly more people, and they tend to represent a much poorer part of the population. If the city can swing it so that they can fit in more bicycle lanes as well, great. But a lot of the efforts the city has made (just look at the maps) suggest that bus lanes aren't being given the priority they deserve. If you're mad that people are pointing that out, it's hard to believe you're an actual bus advocate.

I can’t believe you need it explained to you that anonymously “pointing out” something on a mommy message board is NOT the same thing as advocating for that thing. Slacktivism, anyone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: (unless they are using buses to make a dishonest objection to bike lanes.)

Anonymous wrote:So lead the charge and push for bus lanes on Connecticut Ave! Do something other than complaining that the the thing other people are doing is not the thing you would be doing if you were going to do anything, which you’re not…

Anonymous wrote: unless your priority is preserving space on Connecticut Avenue for cars.

It's funny, everyone claims to be so supportive of buses, until someone says that bus lanes should be prioritized over bike lanes, and then they get attacked and accused of being fake bus supporters who are secretly supporting cars. People can claim that bus advocates and cyclist advocates are "are generally exactly the same people", but it appears that many are simply cyclist activists who pretend to be bus advocates, then attack actual advocates when they show up.

I support prioritizing buses over cars. But I also support prioritizing buses over bicycles. They're used by vastly more people, and they tend to represent a much poorer part of the population. If the city can swing it so that they can fit in more bicycle lanes as well, great. But a lot of the efforts the city has made (just look at the maps) suggest that bus lanes aren't being given the priority they deserve. If you're mad that people are pointing that out, it's hard to believe you're an actual bus advocate.

You do realize that a bus lane is shared with bikes in this city, right?

I have no problem with bus lanes as an alternative form of bike lane. However, they (like on 16th street or q4th by CoHi) are not protected. And so cars just drive in them because temp tags lulz.

So again... CARS ARE THE PROBLEM. They monopolize transportation $'s and space away from far better modes like buses or even street cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe you need it explained to you that anonymously “pointing out” something on a mommy message board is NOT the same thing as advocating for that thing. Slacktivism, anyone?

I can't believe that you're pretending it needs to be explained. Everyone here - those saying there should be more bike lanes, those saying there shouldn't be more bike lines, those say the city should allow Idaho stops, those against, those in favor of more bus lanes, etc. - all now that we're having a discussion on an anonymous board. The fact that the only ones being accused of "slacktivism" are the bus supporters speaks volumes. Claim to be on the same side as someone, then tell them to shut up if they dare open their mouth.

This is why it would be naive for any bus supporter to buy the "we're all on the same side against cars!" line. The idea that bus lanes should be given priority over both car lanes and bike lines has so far gotten attacked more by cyclists in this discussion than by drivers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: (unless they are using buses to make a dishonest objection to bike lanes.)

Anonymous wrote:So lead the charge and push for bus lanes on Connecticut Ave! Do something other than complaining that the the thing other people are doing is not the thing you would be doing if you were going to do anything, which you’re not…

Anonymous wrote: unless your priority is preserving space on Connecticut Avenue for cars.

It's funny, everyone claims to be so supportive of buses, until someone says that bus lanes should be prioritized over bike lanes, and then they get attacked and accused of being fake bus supporters who are secretly supporting cars. People can claim that bus advocates and cyclist advocates are "are generally exactly the same people", but it appears that many are simply cyclist activists who pretend to be bus advocates, then attack actual advocates when they show up.

I support prioritizing buses over cars. But I also support prioritizing buses over bicycles. They're used by vastly more people, and they tend to represent a much poorer part of the population. If the city can swing it so that they can fit in more bicycle lanes as well, great. But a lot of the efforts the city has made (just look at the maps) suggest that bus lanes aren't being given the priority they deserve. If you're mad that people are pointing that out, it's hard to believe you're an actual bus advocate.

I have never, ever heard anyone complain that buses are prioritized over bike lanes. To the contrary, in my neighborhood everyone supported the 8th street bus priority project and understood that a bike lane doesn’t fit there. You’re making sh*t up. What is absolutely true IS that the same people who freak out over losing a parking spot for a bike lane equally freak out over losing parking for a bus project. I find it VERY hard to believe that the people objecting to Ct Ave are going to be supportive of a bus lane (no cars or parking during rush hour).

Even though I KNOW you are being dishonest, here’s some info on the Ct Ave Bus Priority project: https://www.foresthillsconnection.com/news/bus-infrastructure-changes-considered-in-connecticut-ave-redesign-riders-want-reliability/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have never, ever heard anyone complain that buses are prioritized over bike lanes. To the contrary, in my neighborhood everyone supported the 8th street bus priority project and understood that a bike lane doesn’t fit there. You’re making sh*t up.

Look at the numerous posts right before yours. If everyone agrees that bus lanes should be prioritized over bus lanes, that would be great! But that simple idea has drawn a lot of anger and accusations (and the attacks in your comment don't seem to be an exception).

As for the Connecticut Avenue link you posted, you should take a look at it. You'll note that the plan has dedicated bike lanes, but no dedicated bus lanes.

[Anonymous]

dedicated car driver here going to make popcorn