Why don't cyclists just stick to the roads with designated bike lanes?
The same problems that arise with shoulders often accompany bike lanes (e.g. dangerous debris and a false sense of separation). In many municipalities, bike lanes--if they exist at all--do not cover enough distance to facilitate rides of any effective distance. Moreover, bike lanes are often intermittent, disappearing when the road becomes too narrow to accommodate them, like on bridges or at intersections, forcing cyclists to weave unpredictably in and out of traffic. Bike lanes can be good for cyclists who ride relatively short distances for transportation in areas with otherwise intimidating levels of motor traffic, but they come with risks. Ultimately, bikes belong on the road.
The same problems that arise with shoulders often accompany bike lanes (e.g. dangerous debris and a false sense of separation). In many municipalities, bike lanes--if they exist at all--do not cover enough distance to facilitate rides of any effective distance. Moreover, bike lanes are often intermittent, disappearing when the road becomes too narrow to accommodate them, like on bridges or at intersections, forcing cyclists to weave unpredictably in and out of traffic. Bike lanes can be good for cyclists who ride relatively short distances for transportation in areas with otherwise intimidating levels of motor traffic, but they come with risks. Ultimately, bikes belong on the road.
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