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From: rcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Bike paths
Message-ID: <184@opus.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 30-Oct-85 04:57:49 EST
Article-I.D.: opus.184
Posted: Wed Oct 30 04:57:49 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 1-Nov-85 03:13:56 EST
References: <354@sol1.UUCP> <55@noscvax.UUCP> <1023@druxo.UUCP> <95@utastro.UUCP> <153@nitrex.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: NBI,Inc, Boulder CO
Lines: 25

> >I don't object to bike paths as long as they are part of the road.  I
> >refuse to use a bike path that is separated from the roadway, since
> >they subject me to the same dangers that sidewalks do.  The dangers
> >of separate bike paths have been well documented.
> 
> I lived in the Netherlands for four year.  They had bike paths and
> they worked GREAT.  The path was right next to the sidewalk, usually
> with a grass median between the bike path and the road...

We have a variety of paths, lanes, etc. in Boulder.  The paths are a
problem and account for more accidents than the lanes.  One of the problems
is that when a path comes to an intersection, it brings the bicyclist into
the intersection in a way that motorists aren't expecting and often can't
see well.  Running a bike path next to a sidewalk, which is particularly
common near the CU campus, is a disaster; the average pedestrian's mental
state differs only slightly from comatose.  Worse yet, the city likes to
swap bike path and sidewalk--they're not in a consistent relationship with
respect to the street (as in sidewalk closer, say).  Finally, the city
seems to like to build these artsy-fartsy bike paths that curve and swoop
around--extra curves for no apparent reason, and they even plant trees or
run paths near existing trees so that you can get scraped and/or be unable
to see around the next unnecessary curve.
-- 
Dick Dunn	{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd		(303)444-5710 x3086
   ...At last it's the real thing...or close enough to pretend.