Sunday, April 5, 2020

When you have one job - epic fail - placing cyclists at risk


Am I wrong when I say that drivers want cyclists in the bike lanes and out of their way?

And of course, why build a bike lane, especially a "protected" bike lane at that, if you are not going to encourage use by cyclists?

And yet, here is a obvious dangerous condition for cyclists: the situation docketed in these photos are on SW 211th Street, just east of the intersection with SW 112th Avenue. West of the South Dade Government Center and the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center.

Why set this all up for failure, especially an accident by deliberately blocking that bike lane, forcing cyclists out into the roadway? This was no accident or oversight.

Please note - there is a simply solution (other than simply not blocking the lane): Florida Law allows a cyclist to avoid the bike lane and ride in the full lane where the bike lane is obstructed - the pictures provided provide a clear and obvious example of when a cyclist is justified to be out of the bike lane. The problem is that motorists may expect cyclists to be in a bike lane - predictability is at issue and who ever set the lane block set up both a driver of a motor vehicle and cyclist at risk of an accident - with potential serious personal injury to the cyclist. 
What a nice protected bike lane. Too bad it is blocked and is forcing cyclists into the regular lanes of traffic.

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