It seems Mayor Greg Ballard's Department of Public Works thought it would be a good idea to move the parking lane for cars out into the middle of the street and create new bike lanes next to the curb. As you can see, downtown motorists are ignoring the marked bike lanes, and motorists, including IndyGo buses, are using the parking lane as a driving lane.
16 comments:
I absolutely hate them.
Those bike lanes are for worthless sissies. Their only purpose is to hinder car traffic, so I don't go where my car isn't welcomed with open arms.
.0000000001% of traffic isn't entitled to 50% of the road.
The bicyclists are jack****s who are scared sissies who can't drive and want to make a scene of themselves by getting in everyone's way to make everyone notice them.
A McDonald's coke tossed out the side window right upside the head usually does the trick for annoying bicyclists.
Try driving southeast Franklin Twp, bike riders using the busy roads, Franklin Rd, Shelbyville Rd Southport, Stop 11 etc...
Every one of us drivers commits a traffic violation by passing them "crossing the double yellow line to get around".
Don't blame the cyclists. Blame the idiots at City Hall!
I have to give it to you on this one. This style of bike lane is new in Indianapolis and there has been next to no press publicity involving the new lanes. I frequently ride, and I knew nothing about them until I happened on an article on Facebook. Like all new things, it will take a getting use to.
What I find disturbing is some of these comments. I'm not a sissy because I ride a bike, I enjoy being outside and find it a great way to get some exercise. Yes, I ride in Franklin Township and if we had more bike lanes down here, we wouldn't hold traffic up so much. I try to stay as far over as I can, and I try to stay off the busy roads because of the idiots in cars who have no idea how to be courteous to others. For future reference, Marion County has a 3 feet rule, and don't pass then stop right in front of me.
As for the McDonalds Coke guy, I wouldn't advise you to try that on me.
anon 2:07 And who is going to pay to widen all these 2 lane roads built for motor vehicles so you can have a bike lane? You?
You do NOT commit a traffic violation by crossing the double yellow line to get around a cyclist. That is a false notion that simply will not die. You commit a traffic violation by not doing so and passing a cyclist within 3 feet just to keep your wheels stay to the right of the line.
You do it every day when you pass that USPS motor carrier putting mail in a mailbox, the lawn care truck spraying a yard for dandelions, a barrel or cones marking damaged pavement, why do you think it's a problem when it's a cyclist?
You cannot pass traffic moving at a normal pace. Period.
Suggesting someone hit cyclists throwing something out of a car? Seriously this group is sick. And anyone complaining about both the bike lanes AND not liking being in the same lane...what is your solution then? I bet I know - that there be no bikes. We're already one of the unhealthiest cities, I guess we should just pack it in and assume we're going to stay that way permanently? There's already very little to do here, few physical hiking opportunities or interesting places to take a bike out. I have a lot of coworkers that bike to work and stay fit & keep our city more smog-free by doing so.
On the other hand, bikers are in accidents all the time in Indianapolis. One thing the city is doing a bad job of is educating people on the new bike lanes. I can say if they're not adhered to by the drivers, they're completely useless. My guess is the reason the parking was put further from the curb than the bike lane is, in many cities when you try to bike & there are cars parked on the road, there are frequent accidents when someone swings a door open in the path of an oncoming biker.
To the comment on passing a cyclist within 3 feet - YES this is unsafe. If you're going to pass halfway into the facing lane, please just go the full distance around, it's not like the facing cars can squeak by on your left so just make the full lane change around. As to whether it's legal to do so on a double yellow I'll defer to someone else. But for bikers safety - it is far safer for them to "take the lane" and ride in the middle, so that cars will treat them similar to other cars, and go fully into the other lane to pass them. People's judgment on where the right side of their vehicle is, with it being far less than the assumed "3 feet", has also led to a lot of accidents.
I would have to ask, since these comments are all moderated - why would you choose to let that post inciting people to hit cyclists with sodas through.
3:44,
Don't threaten Gary, you liberal.
Why would you want to suppress the public airing of the immense hate motorists have for bicyclists?
People need to know all the perspectives. This isn't a university "safe place" where you're safe from "triggers" than might offend you.
Motorists really hate bicyclists. That perspective needs to be considered, first, when deciding whether bicycles are entitled to any of a motorist's roadway.
Also, I know you're not from Indiana.
I know many motorists hate bicyclists (and pedestrians for that matter) and that's why I stay off the streets as much as possible and ride my bike on the sidewalks or bike trails. The IndyGo bus drivers are the worst.
Anyone who values his/her life does NOT want to park his/her car in the middle of the street! How does anyone safely reach the sidewalk? And if it is raining, or SNOWING, the danger to life is even greater. Also, how will DPW plow the downtown streets?
Once again, Mayor Ballard has exerted his executive power in contravention of the legislative police power delegated to the City-County Council by the State of Indiana.
Ind. Code 9-21-1-3 Powers of local authorities; effective date of ORDINANCES
Sec. 3. (a) A local authority, with respect to private roads and highways under the authority's jurisdiction, in accordance with sections 2 and 3.3(a) of this chapter, and within the reasonable exercise of the [legislative] police power, may do the following:
(1) Regulate the standing or parking of vehicles
Ind. Code 9-21-1-2
Local authorities; adoption of additional regulations; conflict of law; fines; disbursement
Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided in section 3.5 of this chapter, a local authority may adopt by ORDINANCE additional traffic regulations with respect to highways under the authority's jurisdiction. An ordinance adopted under this subsection may not conflict with or duplicate a statute.
The snow plowing problem is an excellent point, anon. 5:52, as well as the legality question. This is a particularly big concern since these are primary arteries for moving traffic around the downtown area.
Snow plows and bicycles??? Who the heck rides a bike anywhere when it's snowing? Let me guess....all the he-man bike riders out there who demand our respect....or else. I've been saying this for years....you can enact all the pro-bicycle legislation possible and construct all the bike lanes you want but it's useless to all bikers if and when they are scraping them off the street with a shovel. The way people drive now and bicyclists still demand more than their share of the road? Stupid is as stupid does.
I would prefer a McDonald's cup to a front bumper any day.
Perhaps they're trying to get a jump on this treason;
http://www.un.org/en/sustainablefuture/cities.asp
"Most Americans are unaware that one of the greatest threats to their freedom may be a United Nations program known as Agenda 21. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for Sustainable Development created Agenda 21 as a sustainability agenda which is arguably an amalgamation of socialism and extreme environmentalism brushed with anti-American, anti-capitalist overtones.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/10/un_agenda_21_coming_to_a_neigh.html#ixzz3qvXDyA5c
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