Updated 6/9/14: Here is an article about a study showing ridership increases when cities build protected bike lanes and click here to learn about Protected Intersections.
American cities, in an attempt to find quick and cheap solutions to the increased demand for safe ways to travel by bike, have largely resorted to segregating bikes from traffic using a thin white strip of paint. This lets them say they are creating miles and miles of bike lanes and doing the right thing, while not really having to spend much time or money addressing the problem.
The sad reality that is becoming painfully clear is that white lines of paint don't protect bikes from cars. A recent article in The Economist points out that Americans are 3-5 times more likely to die while biking than their counterparts in much more bike-friendly Western Europe. The article points out that the main reasons for this are:
1. White lines of paint tend to be ignored by automobile drivers and unenforced by police. These same millimeter-thick lines of pigment, apparently fail to keep cars travelling 30-40 mph from slamming into bikes travelling much slower.
2. Collisions between cars travelling 40 mph and bikes travelling at typical bike speeds typically result in a fatality.
3. In Europe, cars that mix openly with bikes are limited to speeds under 20 mph.
4. Most bike routes in Europe are completely separate from roads. Bikes often have their own network of paved trails and when they overlap roads, large concrete barriers separate bicycle traffic from potentially lethal automobiles.
American cities, like Portland, that have followed the European example have managed to drastically reduce bike fatalities. Sadly, cities in Arkansas are lagging far behind (as usual) and a tragic price is being paid. There have been multiple bicyclist deaths in Arkansas that could have been prevented if suitable bike infrastructure had been in place.
It is for these reasons that I advocate for bike/pedestrian networks of trails that are completely separate from roads. Painted bike lanes on busy roads are a misguided and horrible mistake. Let's build safe alternative transportation routes that protect all our citizens.
Useful Links:
http://www.bicycling.com/news/advocacy/safer-streets-yes-please?cid=socNews_20140807_29328676
http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/research/dangerous-by-design/dbd2014/fatalities-map/
http://www.economist.com/node/21528302
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Coleman Creek Greenway Updates
Having worked on the Coleman Creek Greenway Committee, driven trackhoes and bulldozers, and planted trees for the project, this trail is special to me. The eventual goal here is to have a trail running from the north end of War Memorial Park down to Fourche Creek, just south of Asher Ave./Col. Glenn Rd.
So far two small parts at the far ends are done while much of the middle section could be done quickly if funds were made available. In fact, large parts of the middle section are already paved! In War Memorial, there is a paved trail along the entire length of the creek in the park. The only problem is that despite being told by well-paid consultants to do so, the city hasn't yet closed the golf course, so non-golfers are discouraged from walking that trail. (If you didn't already know, I think the golf course should be converted into a joint Little Rock Parks / UALR Botanical Garden.)
Down at UALR, the plan is to eventually close one or both sides of Campus Dr., the road that runs through campus along the creek. This already paved surface would then become part of the Coleman Creek Greenway.
The first two maps below show the completed sections of the trail. This top map shows the Trail of Tears Park that forms the southern tip of the trail on UALR campus. As you might guess from the name, this park has informative signs about the Trail of Tears, which passed by this site. The park also features a variety of native trees, wildflowers, and grasses. The area just to the north of the park is also already paved, but is currently serving as a parking lot.
So far two small parts at the far ends are done while much of the middle section could be done quickly if funds were made available. In fact, large parts of the middle section are already paved! In War Memorial, there is a paved trail along the entire length of the creek in the park. The only problem is that despite being told by well-paid consultants to do so, the city hasn't yet closed the golf course, so non-golfers are discouraged from walking that trail. (If you didn't already know, I think the golf course should be converted into a joint Little Rock Parks / UALR Botanical Garden.)
Down at UALR, the plan is to eventually close one or both sides of Campus Dr., the road that runs through campus along the creek. This already paved surface would then become part of the Coleman Creek Greenway.
The first two maps below show the completed sections of the trail. This top map shows the Trail of Tears Park that forms the southern tip of the trail on UALR campus. As you might guess from the name, this park has informative signs about the Trail of Tears, which passed by this site. The park also features a variety of native trees, wildflowers, and grasses. The area just to the north of the park is also already paved, but is currently serving as a parking lot.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Wilson Park Loop
I don't usually go for runs (or do anything) the day after a 20 mile bike ride, but given that today was the first day of perfect weather in months, I had to get outdoors. I haven't been to many parks in Fayetteville yet, so I decided to hit up Wilson Park. To get there, I jogged up the Frisco Trail to Prospect St. and over to the park. A wide, nearly one-mile long, concrete path loops around the park. The highlights of the loop for me were the stream crossing on the west side and the Gaudi-inspired, Frank Williams sculpture in the northeast corner. The park also has facilities for tennis, basketball, baseball, and swimming.
When Bikes Beat Cars
When I lived in Berkeley, it was faster to bike almost anywhere within a 4 mile radius than it was to drive and find parking. This was due to very progressive transportation policies and road designs that put bikes first and cars second. But what about in Arkansas, a non-progressive place where cars and trucks rule?
I used to live in the Riverdale area and worked in North Little Rock off Northshore Dr. I commuted by bike sometimes when the weather was nice and was pleasantly surprised to find that it took me roughly the same amount of time to bike as it did to drive. How is that possible you might ask? Well, thanks to the Big Dam Bridge, my bike commute was 5-6 miles, while my driving commute was 9, on a road with lots of traffic lights or 14 miles taking the interstate. Now, obviously I can't bike 60 or 45 mph or even half of that, but think about what your average speed really is during rush hour. If I averaged 12 mph by bike, I'd get there in the same amount of time as if I averaged 20 mph on Cantrell which has lots of traffic, numerous lights, and often a 5 minute wait to get on the highway.
This got me wondering if there were other commutes in Arkansas where bikes beat cars as opposed to being 20 minutes slower, but healthier and lots more fun.
If you have a bike commute that is faster than your car commute let me know and I'll put it up here!
Here is the most drastic example I've found:
I used to live in the Riverdale area and worked in North Little Rock off Northshore Dr. I commuted by bike sometimes when the weather was nice and was pleasantly surprised to find that it took me roughly the same amount of time to bike as it did to drive. How is that possible you might ask? Well, thanks to the Big Dam Bridge, my bike commute was 5-6 miles, while my driving commute was 9, on a road with lots of traffic lights or 14 miles taking the interstate. Now, obviously I can't bike 60 or 45 mph or even half of that, but think about what your average speed really is during rush hour. If I averaged 12 mph by bike, I'd get there in the same amount of time as if I averaged 20 mph on Cantrell which has lots of traffic, numerous lights, and often a 5 minute wait to get on the highway.
This got me wondering if there were other commutes in Arkansas where bikes beat cars as opposed to being 20 minutes slower, but healthier and lots more fun.
If you have a bike commute that is faster than your car commute let me know and I'll put it up here!
Here is the most drastic example I've found:
Crunch Time for Razorback Trail
Bill Bowden, of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, had an interesting article (pay wall) in the paper last week on the future of the Razorback Trail. Apparently, $10 million of a federal grant goes up in smoke unless plans for the trail are finalized by Dec. 31.
Current plans for the Razorback Trail include connecting existing trails with new sections of trail to form a continuous 36 mile trail from south Fayetteville all the way to north Bentonville. Completed sections of the trail in Fayetteville and Bentonville already connect to multiple spur or feeder trails.
Given the rush hour traffic in NW Arkansas, I imagine there may be thousands of people who could bike to work using this trail in roughly the same amount of time it takes to drive. Factor in the benefits of no road rage and not having to spend time at the gym on days you bike to work and this trail starts looking really good for commuters.
Maps of the proposed trail can be viewed at:
http://nwarpc.org/pdf/Transportation/NWA_RR_Greenway.pdf
http://www.bconwa.com/attachments/156_Regional%20Map.pdf
Current plans for the Razorback Trail include connecting existing trails with new sections of trail to form a continuous 36 mile trail from south Fayetteville all the way to north Bentonville. Completed sections of the trail in Fayetteville and Bentonville already connect to multiple spur or feeder trails.
Given the rush hour traffic in NW Arkansas, I imagine there may be thousands of people who could bike to work using this trail in roughly the same amount of time it takes to drive. Factor in the benefits of no road rage and not having to spend time at the gym on days you bike to work and this trail starts looking really good for commuters.
Maps of the proposed trail can be viewed at:
http://nwarpc.org/pdf/Transportation/NWA_RR_Greenway.pdf
http://www.bconwa.com/attachments/156_Regional%20Map.pdf
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