[*BCM*] Bike = 1, Car = 0!

[Vicki Siolos]

I think it may have been the timing of the message, but that felt like a
zing. (I was simultaneously getting picked on, granted in good fun, but
still, by some co-workers).

In any case, yes. The problem of double parking and motorists looking to
make a left are, by far, a huge annoyance when travelling on Tremont in
the South End. (Moreso the prior because, to  my knowledge, it's totally
illegal but everyone does it anyway, right?)

I don't think there was anything wrong with the cyclist in the entire
lane. If it comes down to the car vs. the bike, I will always, ALWAYS,
support the bike, hands-down. Nonetheless, I'm very new to the laws and
regulations of biking in a city - so I take this list as a wealth of
resource.

Hope I didn't upset anyone with my prior e-mail, if it was taken the
wrong way.

Best,
Vicki

----- Original Message -----
> Date: Wed, 24 May 2006 11:37:25 -0400
> From: "Paul Schimek" <schimek at alum.mit.edu>
> Subject: RE: [*BCM*] Sharing the road vs. taking a lane?
> To: <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> Message-ID: <20060524154310.A4C25A013F at bostoncoop.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"
> 
> Vicki said she saw a bicyclist "taking over the entire right lane, 
> slowingdown
> Tremont traffic a bit by causing all cars to ride in the left" and 
> added that she thought "I wish he'd move over to the right of the 
> lane, I'd
> totally share it with him."
> 
> I assume Vicki has the same thought about slowing traffic on the rare
> occasions when she sees a motorist double-parked in the same lane 
> (or when
> she sees a motorist blocking the left lane waiting to make a left 
> turn -- if
> they were only riding a bike they would not block the whole left 
> lane). 
> 
> Tremont St in the South End has a right lane that is 10 to 11 ft 
> wide next
> to a parking lane that is 8 feet wide. The only way for a car and 
> bike to
> share the right travel lane is for the bicyclist to ride completely 
> in the
> door zone.
> 
> The City of Boston designs travel lanes to fit the widest single 
> vehicle,not necessarily to fit two vehicles side by side. On a road 
> with a passing
> lane, Boston motorists should assume as a default that bicyclists 
> will take
> up the entire right lane, unless there is a shoulder or unusually 
> wide lane.
> 
> 
> Yes, it would be nice to convince a recalcitrant City of Boston to 
> add in a
> bit of extra width so that right lanes on most major (non-
> neighborhood)streets have enough room for side by side lane 
> sharing. But they have not
> been convinced, and even if they change their ways, there will 
> still be many
> times and places where bicyclists need to take up a whole lane to 
> be safe.
> 
> (By the way, New Jersey issues special permits for bicyclists to 
> ride on the
> shoulders of some interstates
> --http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/commuter/bike/highways.shtm.)
> 
> --Paul Schimek
> Former Bicycle Program Manager, City of Boston

--

Vicki G. Siolos
vicki at nyu.edu
onwardcharles.blogspot.com

"weigh those opinions . more like air than lead . every planned
occupation . surefire disappointment up ahead" - modest mouse.