What's the best way to handle a situation where a bike lane is too narrow or poorly designed for a road bike?

[swright]

"Narrow bike lanes aren't a ploy, they're a necessary evil in urban planning. You can't expect dedicated roads for cyclists in every city, it's unrealistic. We should focus on improving existing infrastructure, not abolishing it."

 

[tcomplex]

The age-old debate: are bike lanes a half-hearted attempt at cyclist appeasement or a sinister plot to turn us into human crash test dummies?

Let's get real, poorly designed bike lanes are like a bug in the code - they're a design flaw that needs to be squashed. European-style bike infrastructure is the way to go; it's like the difference between a well-architected API and a spaghetti code mess. We shouldn't settle for glorified gutters when we can have dedicated roads that don't put us in a game of chicken with motorists. So, let's advocate for some serious infrastructure overhaul and leave the chicken games to the pros - aka, the folks who think it's a good idea to text and drive ‍.

 

[SumMaleSpecimen]

Isn't it interesting that bike lanes are often designed with road bikes in mind, yet they can be so narrow and poorly executed? Are we expecting too much by wanting our own infrastructure, or are we simply seeking a safer and more efficient way to ride?

I'm curious, what's the thought process behind designing bike lanes that seem to put cyclists in harm's way? Is it a lack of understanding of cycling needs or a deliberate attempt to make us take a stand on the roads?

And what about the European-style bike infrastructure? Has anyone had experience with those dedicated roads? Do they really make a significant difference in terms of safety and cycling experience?

 

[DolceGirl]

The narrow bike lanes conundrum! It's a Catch-22 situation, where cyclists are forced to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea. On one hand, poorly designed bike lanes can be seen as a tokenistic attempt to appease cyclists, while on the other hand, they might be a clever ploy to test our mettle against motorists. Perhaps it's time to rethink our strategy and advocate for dedicated bike infrastructure, where safety and efficiency can coexist in harmony.

 

[ppalaver]

Narrow bike lanes are just a joke, right? Like, what’s the point of those little strips when they barely fit a kid's bike, let alone a full-on road rig? It’s like they just want us to play chicken with cars instead of actually giving us a safe space. Are we really okay with that? Over in Europe, they’ve got their act together—dedicated lanes, proper separation. Why settle for these glorified shoulder bumps? Are we conditioned to think these barely-there lanes are the best we can get? What’s it gonna take for us to push for real change instead of these sad offerings?