The answer? Neither and both.
The image on the top is precisely the kind of sub-standard 3' bike lane with an 11' travel lane that Austin Texas has installed when there wasn't sufficient road-width to do it right (minus the fog line, but featuring a gutter-pan seam in its place), and they are the kind Dallas will probably install at the insistence of amateur engineers and landscape architect wannabes.
As has been demonstrated here, you will be required by law to ride in it (you might beat the rap with your reasons for not riding in it, but you won't beat the ride to the courthouse). And if you decide to stay out of it, and don't get a ticket, you will get horn honks and yells from passing motorists to "stay in the bike lane".
When a truck buzzes you twelve inches from your left side in that bike lane, you do realize that the "Safe Passing" pacifier law won't apply, don't you? Why? Because it doesn't apply when both vehicles are in separate lanes, only in a shared lane.
The image on the bottom is identical (in thought process) to the illegal sharrows that BFOC is responsible for in the Bishop Arts district as a guerrilla action, because golly, "it's just bikes".
Let's just have some traffic marking fun, OK? Fun for everyone, eight to eighty. In the street. I mean, it's just bikes... what could happen?
8 comments:
What is location of the City of Austin Bike Lane?
Ouch on that 3 ft law not applying to bike lanes but it makes twisted sense!
danc said...
"What is location of the City of Austin Bike Lane?"
That picture is of a Florida installation, but a bike lane of identical width (with a gutter pan seam bisecting it) can be found on Slaughter Lane in Austin. A City of Austin traffic engineer has sated publicly that 3' bike lanes (curb face to stripe) are acceptable.
Dan,
The top photo is a capture from Google Maps here is the link.
This is FDOT's cruel joke on cyclists. Because they know cyclists are too stupid to recognize it's a joke.
One of these days I'll stop with a camera and take a proper photo of it.
http://cycledallas.blogspot.com/2008/11/monday-morning-bike-lane-picture.html
One way to fight this is to point out that a sub-standard 'facility' like this doesn't meet even minimum AASHTO specifications, and that the municipality might be liable for any injuries it causes. If they propose these, send your elected officials registered letters stating your objections and be very pointed about that liability. Get them to start asking questions of the city attorney. Alarm bells should go off.
Thanks Keri, PM.
Bingo Ed W! Government and PE's understand what "constructive notice" means!
Keep up the good work!
There are specific road marking standard documented by TxDot. All traffic devices have to meet those standards, however, there is no TxDot enforcement of those standards. If a traffic "device" (which seems to include just about anything from signs to stop lights) is substandard then they let the "legal system work it out".
That seems to mean someone has to sue the offending authority for violations.
A quote from TxDot:
"In addition, in Texas, all jurisdictions are required by state law to follow the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for the installation and operation of traffic control devices. Road markings are considered "traffic control devices". This is covered under Section 544.002 of the Texas Transportation Code. Please see the following link: http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/SOTWDocs/TN/htm/TN.544.htm#544.002 "
TXDot has standards for bike lanes and they do not include the BS that the City of Austin seems to think passes as a bike lane. They are liable for not meeting the standard and will get away with it until someone takes them to court.
ed
From TxDot's Manual
http://onlinemanuals.txdot.gov/txdotmanuals/rdw/bicycle_facilities.htm
Guidance for Bicycle Facilities
The AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities is the guide for planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of bicycle facilities. There are two types of bicycle facilities described in the guide. These are bicycle lanes and bicycle paths. A bicycle lane is defined as a portion of a roadway which has been designated by striping, signing and/or pavement markings for the preferential or exclusive use of bicyclists. A bicycle path is defined as a bikeway that is physically separated from motorized vehicular traffic by an open space or barrier, either within the highway right of way or within an independent right of way, that can also be used by pedestrians, skaters, joggers, wheelchairs, and other non-motorized users.
Design Exceptions and Design Waivers for Bicycle Facilities
If the minimum requirements give in the AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities for bicycle lanes cannot be met, these variances will be submitted as design exceptions to the Roadway Design Exception Committee. For new shared lanes on a signed, designated bicycle route, the minimum lane width shall be 14 ft [4.2 m]. Proposed widths less than 14 ft [4.2 m] will require approval by the Roadway Design Exception Committee.
If the minimum requirements given in the AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities for bicycle paths cannot be met, these variances will be handled by design waivers at the district level. "
I suspect that the "variances" that have been approved by the "Roadway Design Exception Committee" don't exist. I would be very surprised if any city bothered with getting approval and such variances.
I can't seem to find this committee in the TxDot manuals. Does it exist?
ed
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