How to use "innovative" bike facilities

[Frank Krygowski]

These days there are lots of calls for "innovative" bike facilities -
new and original designs of road features installed just for cyclists.
These will supposedly make bicycling easy and safe for anyone aged 8 to
80. At the top of the list are "protected cycletracks" and bike boxes.

This official video from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada shows how
they want you to use those facilities. Would you send your 8-year-old
out to figure these out, or to make these recommended moves in traffic?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7ii4XXwlg4&sns=em

I especially like the U-turns facing traffic in the bike boxes.
Wouldn't that be fun if the light turned green while you were facing the
cars?

Be careful what you ask for!


--
- Frank Krygowski

[ab.ch...@rogers.com]

The City of Ottawa is bringing in the same system. It's less that satisfactory.

Here is the route that Google Maps suggests from my office to my LBS: https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/131+Queen+Street,+Ottawa,+ON/McCrank's+Cycles+%26+Skis,+889+Bank+St,+Ottawa,+ON+K1S+3W4/@45.4112694,-75.6989571,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x4cce04556e9fb389:0x74eb568500cb14f9!2m2!1d-75.6983952!2d45.4218157!1m5!1m1!1s0x4cce05c0c870b8c1:0x86bdd346295099d5!2m2!1d-75.6869136!2d45.4006929!3e1?hl=en&hl=en.

The suggested route along O'Connor puts one in a two-way "bike facility" on the
left-hand side of a one-way street. It says it will take one 13 minutes.
Nonsense! It is risky and slower than that because both drivers and cyclists
are confused. I use the option that takes me along the Queen Elizabeth
Driveway, as I encounter fewer lights and stop signs.
--
Andrew Chaplin
SIT MIHI GLADIUS SICUT SANCTO MARTINO