Saw this in phl.transportation: -------- Subject: Re: Classic urban traffic dilemma From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Hal) Newsgroups: phl.transportation
> > Jim Kriebel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > 1) I'm fairly certain there is no law requiring cyclist to ride in bike > > > lanes. > > There is such a law in Pennsylvania, with an exception for unsafe > > conditions > > Actually, you are only required to use the lane or path if it is > indicated as mandatory "by official traffic control devices", whatever > that means. See "Section 3505 (f)" of the above link. As far as I > know, no lanes or paths are mandatory in Philadelphia. But, that's Pennsylvania Law, Philly Ordinance says you must use an off road route if there is one , but you must not use the sidewalk. They seem to set up the logical paradox that a side walk IS an off road route. So if it's a bike route, you have to use it. There is a Philadelphia ordinance, which of course contradicts the Pennsylvania Law, but that could be changed by local organizations - like Penn- who are often treated like quasi-municipal governments - like enforcing their own ticketing on private streets. I guess the question to ask is whether Penn is enforcing the Pa State law, or the Philly Ordinance, or a U-Penn regulation. Either way, there's the entirely separate matter of bike LANES, which are not connected into a BICYCLE NETWORK. I rode through Penn on Sunday, the bike lanes don't seem to help if you want to go anywhere except directly through... The problem I see with penn is that the bicycle lanes require you to make a left turn across 3 lanes if you want to get anywhere on the campus- I.E. the bike lanes are only usefull if you want to bypass Penn, not if you want to get around once you are there, they don't really help unless you want to make lots of right turns, or wait, dismount and wait for the light to cross the street as a pedestrian. Another example - From the Art Museum to City Hall, look at the bike lanes down the inner drive from the Art Museum to City Hall - several places, it stops, or jogs over a lane or two then stops dead. That's not really usefull, especially in areas like Eakins Oval or City Hall Circle where the cars don't follow the lane, so it almot suicidal to use the bicycle lanes. Preferable routes for a bicycle are a low volume street, or a mid volume street with bike lanes. Once the road gets to be more than 2 lanes, especially with high volume, high speed, it's dicey- Hal ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "bike." To subscribe or unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
