Member Q&A #1: Designing Safer Bikeways
“Hello, I am a cyclists and enjoy traditional bike lanes but I do not believe that bike lanes that are on the right side of parked vehicles is safe, it just changes the hazard to passenger side doors opening in your path and pedestrians that are not looking for traffic. Hwy 101 along Cardiff is a good example of unsafe bike lanes. Can you explain why this organization promotes bike lanes on the right side of parked cars? I also drive a car and need parking. I cannot bike to everything or take my dog places on a bike. Thank you”
Craig,
Thanks for reaching out and contacting us. We broadly support parking protected bike lanes because they are recommended by professional guidance, and increase the safety of cyclists. That being said, issues can arise on parking protected bike lanes, as can be seen on the Cardiff cycle track. The devil is often in the details, and problems with parking protected bikeways can usually be solved by improving the design. For instance:
Visibility concerns can be addressed by providing better daylighting of the cycle track.
Dooring concerns can be addressed by creating a wider buffer, as can be seen in the picture below. This concern is particularly important for Cardiff Cycle Track, where the buffer is very small.
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Concerns about cars parking in the bike lane section of the roadway or spilling into the buffer can be addressed by putting curbs up against the buffer. Cardiff has these, but another good example is shown below.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Concerns about maneuverability and riding side by side in the bike lane can be addressed by widening the bike lane, the above example from Salt Lake City also applies here.
Concerns about pedestrians walking in the bike lane can be addressed by widening the sidewalk and providing more space for pedestrians.
I hope that helps convey why we advocate for parking protected bike lanes in San Diego County. Oftentimes the design of parking protected bike lanes can be reduced in quality by a desire to compromise, which is how you get the issues at Cardiff Cycle Track. We have advocated for in the past, and continue to advocate for a lane reduction on Coast Highway 101, which would allow the proper space for a wider sidewalk, wider bike lane, and wider buffer between parked cars and the cycle track.
Sincerely,
Ian Hembree
