Re: [Bikies] separate paths vs marked lanes

[Scott Ellington]

Separate bike paths can be much safer in the winter, but that's  
primarily because the side streets otherwise used by cyclists are  
poorly cleared of ice and snow.  (And, in Madison at least, the bike  
paths are generally well cleared.)  Before the SW path was completed,  
I did not ride to work when there was ice and snow because my route,  
mostly on Gregory Street, was usually ice-covered with treacherous  
tire ruts.  However, there is no reason bike routes can't be kept as  
clear of ice as bike paths, if it is just made a priority.  I would  
suggest that, where a separate path is not available, bike routes be  
designated on quiet streets and then those routes be designated for  
effective snow removal, such as is currently done only on  
thoroughfares.  This, it seems to me, is a more timely and cost- 
effective solution than building bike paths where there are quiet  
side streets.

Scott Ellington
Madison, Wisconsin
USA


_______________________________________________
Bikies mailing list
Bikies@lists.danenet.org
http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org