Grand Rapids Needs to Shift Gears on Their Bicycle Ideas

As an advocate for bicycling, sometimes people will assume that I'm an advocate for bicycle lanes, sharrows, and other bicycling facilities of which those who do not bicycle find annoying and costly.  That's far from the truth, I am one of those advocates that realize that the money for such projects can be better used and that those facilities only make bike riding more dangerous.

Bike lanes only do two things: they make life worse for cyclists, and they allow politicians and uninformed advocates to feel that they've "done something for cycling."   I agree with the folks on this page that:

But if you don't want to take the words of experienced bicyclists, like us and these savvy folks just take a look at what's happening down in bicycle-friendly Grand Rapids where a learning curve is beginning to form.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Sharing space on the road can sometimes be confusing and frustrating, whether you’re on two wheels or four.

As a result, Grand Rapids is launching its largest-ever bicycle safety education campaign “Driving Change” as part of National Bike Safety Month.

The campaign focuses on safety and awareness — and it’s clear there’s a need for it: Grand Rapids has a fatal bike crash ratio that’s nearly three times higher than the state average.

As part of the effort, there’s a new website and you’ll soon see TV and radio ads, billboards, and even a push on social media.

Over the past few years, about 70 miles worth of new bike lanes have been added to city streets. This new campaign hopes to clear up any confusion about how they work.

On the website are a list of rules for both motorists and bicyclists.

Among the reminders for drivers:

  • Leave 5 feet when passing a bicyclist
  • Don’t open doors in a way that blocks bicyclists
  • Watch out for bicyclists — especially when making a right-hand turn

Some of the tips for bicyclists include:

  • Be visible — drivers have to see you on the roads
  • Signal your turns
  • Riding more than two people side-by-side is NOT allowed

To help make bicyclists visible, the city is giving away 1,000 free bicycle lights that can be attached to the front and back of a bike. They will be handed out at various events throughout the summer, and can be picked up at the Grand Rapids Development Center.

The mayor and other city leaders are holding a press conference Monday morning to kick off the campaign.

http://woodtv.com/2016/05/09/gr-launching-bicycle-safety-campaign/

The October 2014 issue of Bicycling Magazine, however, named its 50 “Best Bike Cities.” The highest-ranked Michigan city went to Grand Rapids (#41). The publication explained that “one reason” Grand Rapids was selected was:

“In addition to 35 miles of new on street facilities between 2012 and 2013, there is a booming fat-bike racing scene, including the Farmer’s Fat-Bike Race, where the first place trophy is a snow shovel. Improvement to the Grand Rapids urban cycling infrastructure and Farm Team Racing’s Farmer’s Fat-Bike Race certainly make Grand Rapids a better place for cyclists.”

Great city to bicycle in if you want to get in a fatal accident on those new 'facilities'.  Also in October 2014, WOOD TV noted that there were some growing problems with the new infrastructure.  The answer to these troubles back then, nearly two years ago was... well take a look.

Yes, the experts said the problems that existed back then could be mitigated by more education of the public.  So with two years of education already dedicated to these unsafe bicycle lanes and sharrows, the fatal crash ratio of GR is now elevated to triple the state average.

Where traffic lanes are narrow, the best fix for making a safe bicycle route lies either in widening those lanes, or adding a shoulder where non-emergency parking is not allowed.  Unfortunately, most motorists and bicyclists are wooed away from this as a safer alternative to bike lanes.

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