BLOG.JASONKEARNEY.NET: Recent Comments

Comment on Bike Lanes, Revisited

John — 2011-08-15T13:04:41Z

The Portland airport even has a bike area to assemble or disassemble your ride. As a starting point for many cyclo-tourists, it is a draw to srtart in Portland. Great article!

Comment on Bike Lanes, Revisited

Greg — 2011-08-06T20:47:03Z

Interesting article Jason. I read a couple of other articles recently that you and other readers might enjoy as well:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/opinion/sunday/the-dutch-way-bicycles-and-fresh-bread.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/06/opinion/of-bikes-bread-and-the-dutch-way-of-life.html?ref=opinion

Comment on Bike Lanes, Revisited

Stephen — 2011-07-27T15:10:47Z

Just got done reading "Joyride: Pedaling Toward A Healthier Planet" by Mia Birk, who was the bicycle coordinator for Portland before bicycling was big there. "Joyride" is a very inspiring book that makes it seem like Tulsa can make it happen too. It may take time, but I believe bicycling for transportation in Tulsa can become accepted and normal, in a way that motorists expect to see bikes around town, which will make everyone safer.

The great thing about Portland is they have established more than 300 miles of bike lanes and other infrastructure for the cost of ONE mile of urban freeway. To me, that's a smart investment. Riding a bike reduces congestion and pollution (Ozone Alerts?), improve health (Oklahoma has the fastest growing obesity rate in the U.S.), and saves money (AAA puts cost of car ownership at nearly $9k/year).

I am relatively new to bicycling for transportation (5 months - 1,600 miles), so I have waited to make up my mind on bike lanes. The more I read about them, the more I am convinced we need bike lanes and other infrastructure to assuage the fears of those who wouldn't otherwise cycle because most people will not get out on the roads with cars on their own like me. And we want everyone, not just the hardcore cyclists, to get out and about on their bikes. Plus, the mere existence of the bike lanes, bike boxes and bike signage communicates a sort of "legitimacy" for bikes; it sends a message to motorists that bikes belong on the street. And we know all too well that many motorists don't even think it's legal for a bicycle to be on the street.

There are drawbacks to bike lanes, but I think the positives outweigh the negatives if they are designed properly using best practices and standards, including granting bicycles the right-of-way at intersections to prevent right hooks. Both motorists and bicyclists will definitely need education when more bike lanes arrive in Tulsa.

Comment on Bike Lanes, Revisited

chuck davis — 2011-07-24T20:37:27Z

Perfect solution for Tulsa notwithstanding getting the so called cycling community on board might prove to be very difficult

Comment on The Perfect Commuter Bike

LBJ — 2011-07-07T16:02:14Z

That is seriously one awesome basket. My commuter is a Montague folding bike. I don't have a basket on it yet since I haven't found one I like, but I'm going to try to get one like that. I already have a rack though - are you sure the basket is only compatible with that one brand of bike rack?

Comment on Why Bike Lanes Are a Problem

Brian D. Potter — 2011-07-06T04:55:35Z

Hi Jason,

I don't blame motorists for parking in bike lanes--where are they supposed to park? I say this as someone who bike commutes every day. Someone once suggested bike lanes on Cherry Street--now how many business owners would feel good about the loss of all those parking spots? Are you more likely to stop at a store when there's no place to leave the car?

Insofar as cars stay out of them, though, bike lanes collect everything that you'd ever hope to see on a roadway--dirt, sand, gravel, glass, nails, screws, bolts, rebar, wire--trash and debris of all sorts. It's like a clearing house for all the junk you'd never want to ride your bike through. But don't worry, the city will clean bike lanes every 3 months or so.

These aren't even the worst aspects of bike lanes. Intersections. Eighty-percent of accidents happen at intersections. But BL's complicate intersections. I'm going straight in a bike lane. You're turning right in a car. Who has the right of way? Well, it should probably be me, right? I mean, I do have a through-lane. Odds are much greater when bike lanes are present that you pass me, cut me off abruptly, and possibly hit me. Why? Because I wasn't in the traffic lane, but off to the side, with a small profile, traveling faster than you realize. Not everyone has to make this mistake--just 15% more frequent conflicts (as a Danish study showed) make a bike lane highly undesirable. So to the general public--please stop asking for these unhelpful painted stripes. How about a right-hand lane for slower traffic and a left-hand lane for faster traffic? But wait, that's how we do it now. Hhmm.

Comment on Cycling is Tough Enough

chuck davis — 2011-06-24T14:39:44Z

You perhaps have unwittingly now become part of the problem

You might have better thought out the whys the and thereafters re the video in the first place

Your inchoate publishing of the video has impacted your credibility and diminished any positive end that might have been derived from it

Comment on Cycling is Tough Enough

Jason Kearney — 2011-06-21T01:20:41Z

Funny thing is, I feel more bullied by the cycling community over this than I did over the cop who made the comments. Funny how things work out.

Comment on Cycling is Tough Enough

Mike Flenniken — 2011-06-20T12:53:49Z

There would be a LOT less bullies if everyone stood up to them. Being hesitant is understandable but you know the right thing to do. You have a golden opportunity to make a difference for all of us - Mike Flenniken - President, Oklahoma Bicycling Coalition (OBC)

Comment on Cycling is Tough Enough

Ginger Renshaw — 2011-06-18T03:41:05Z

Yep. Paul Tay is a chinko commie jackass on two wheels. He hates spandex. He hates God. And, he eats dogs. Last time I saw him a few years ago at my friend Shane Hood's architect studio on 11th Street, Mr. Chinko was drunk and having sex with a chicken. Here he is on crack....http://pimpthistownvotepaultay.blogspot.com/