Re: what would you choose?
- From: "Matt O'Toole" <matt@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 12:47:23 -0400
lowkey wrote:
> One route I frequent takes me out Stone Rd. It is a multi-lane
> east/west city street that abruptly narrows to a single lane east of
> Gordon St. as you pass through, first the university proper, and then
> the arboretum on the north side and residential followed by
> undeveloped land to the south.
>
> At the next major intersection - Victoria Rd. - the street has
> recently been rebuilt into a luxurious multi-lane intersection with
> incredibly wide bike lanes with nary a storm grate. Those have been
> built integral to the curb so that the bike lane is a smooth strip of
> pristine asphalt almost a car width wide.
>
> The narrow single lane stretch in-between the multi-lane
> intersections is the problem. the lanes are very narrow and quite
> busy. the should is unpaved and very broad - easily a kar lane wide.
> but while the surface is broadly smooth it has the herringbone
> texture of heavy equipment tires and treads making for a vibrating
> ride. For residential stretch the shoulder abuts on to a very broad
> grass strip, followed by a usually deserted sidewalk followed by more
> lawn before the residential part begins. They could easily have 3
> more lanes with the space they have.
>
> [The reason it has not been so widened involves a lot of municipal
> politics. I don't doubt the entire stretch will eventually be widened
> but for now that is the nature of the street.]
>
> Now here is the problem: Driving on the single lane is dicey. I am
> quite experience and comfortable riding in traffic but this narrow
> and busy single lane makes me nervous. Kars do not give you much
> space. The shoulder is ridable on a mtb or sturdy hybrid/utility but
> I wouldn't want to ride it on a skinny tire road racer. Even on a
> full suspension mtb the ride is unpleasant given the surface texture.
>
> The lawn strip is similarly ridable on an mtb but soft and mushy. It
> isn't part of the residential properties so riding it would not be a
> trespass.
>
> Then there is the sidewalk. As I said it is pretty much deserted
> since decent people drive kars to go 100 meters. A good surface, no
> pedestrians, no kars....
>
> What would kona do?
>
> -busy dicey narrow single lane asphalt?
>
> -rough broad shoulder
>
> -broad grass strip
>
> -the rarely used sidewalk?
Take the lane. Pretend you're a farm tractor, garbage truck, street sweeper, or
other slow moving vehicle, because in the eyes of the law, *that's what you
are.* Being hit from behind is extremely rare, but you can further minimize
your risk by being as visible as possible -- don't hug the curb, wear bright
colored clothing, use reflectors, etc.
Matt O.
.
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