Bike lane on Grant street sidewalk defies logic

Publication Date: 11/16/2009

It seems that in their infinite wisdom, the persons responsible for painting the bike lanes have placed a bike lane on the Grant Street sidewalk in quite possibly the worst spot on the sidewalk. Not only is it barely the width of my mountain bike’s handlebars, but the lane is placed directly over the metal drain grates along the walk, which provide virtually no tire traction in wet conditions. For reference, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) recommends that bike lanes be no less than 4 feet wide, and preferably 5 feet.

It’s understandable and admirable that the administration is concerned with making the campus safer for cyclists and pedestrians alike, but it might be a good idea for those in charge of such things to solicit the advice of people who actually ride bikes on campus and are familiar with bicycle safety issues.

The greatest improvement to foot and cycle traffic on campus can be made simply by encouraging people to be aware of their surroundings, and by asking cyclists to be respectful of the pedestrians around them on sidewalks by riding slowly and traveling predictably.

Ian Grant

Senior in the College of Technology