Comments on: Bus vs. Bicycle

By: JM Palacios

JM Palacios — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:15:22 +0000

Silver, the cop was unable to find me in violation of a law so he gave me no ticket. I talked to a lawyer, he said the cop finding me at fault in this case is just his opinion and nothing else. With that in mind, I’ll be talking and writing to BCT about the damage to my bicycle. Of bigger concern to me is not the cost of repairs, but the overall safety of bicyclists riding in bicycle lanes in South Florida. We already have enough to worry about with cars drifting into the bicycle lanes without seeing us. But if the bus is going to do it, and come all the way over without looking? That’s a deadly combination, and it is up to agencies like BCT to prevent it.

By: Silver

Silver — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:41:07 +0000

Make sure you request a court hearing on that ticket. Don’t pay it.
You could be looking at points that will go against your driver’s license, even though you were on a bike. Especially because it didn’t seem like the officer knew what he was doing.
Go to court. (or hire an attorney) It may mean some additional time/expense now, but you’ll be a lot happier later, when you’re insurance rates don’t go up because of this idiot bus driver.

By: Steven

Steven — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 05:21:28 +0000

Or perhaps the bike is there because they have to go simply too far for the electric motor and pedaling to accomodate. We in South Florida do enjoy putting housing really far out west away from the business centers. Biking to the busstop in a neighborhood in Pembroke Pines and then bussing to downtown Ft. Lauderdale and then having the bike as a viable mode of transit in that area is a great way to commute.

I think that there is a severe problem with FDOT not considering various alternatives. These short bike lanes that are unmarked as well as the HOT lanes on I-95 are a clear example of sideways thinking. The best way to reduce traffic is to give people alternatives to cars, including Bicycles.

By: JM Palacios

JM Palacios — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:03:00 +0000

The HOT lanes on I-95 are more important to FDOT than encouraging alternative modes of transportation. Planners do not account for the recent decreasing trends in traffic on I-95 and other roads in their always-increasing traffic forecasts, either.

The bicycle lane in the picture is another one of these fairly short bicycle lanes, 1 mile in length, and as such doesn’t have the bicycle symbol pavement markings that make it a “designated” bicycle lane. It is still a bicycle lane, however.

I expect most automobile drivers to be ignorant of the bicycle lane and as such I take due care to avoid conflicts with drivers. What I did not expect (until now) is for a county bus driver to be ignorant of bicycle lanes. Trust me, Broward County Transit will hear more about this issue from me.

You know the most ironic thing in the picture? That bicycle on the bus rack is an electric model. Minimal exertion for the cyclist to ride it instead of the bus. I’m guessing the reason he put it on the bus was to avoid getting hit by the bus.

By: Mom

Mom — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:38:26 +0000

Why call it a bike lane if there is no regard for the cyclists?

By: Steven

Steven — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:18:04 +0000

As posted and discussed several times on this site in the past, bike lanes in this area of the state are a joke. Some last only short distances while others dissapear and re-appear on a whim. Additionally, there is generally a lack of signage to remind drivers of the bike lane.

Until the counties start putting more emphasis on bicycles as a viable transit solution, and start creating the propper signage and infrastructure needed to support them as a viable transit solution, people will continue to ignore the bike lanes. Additionally, as shown in a picture saveral weeks back, even local law enforcement blocks the lanes unjustly.

While talking about needing to put better infrastructure in place, how about those new HOT lanes on I-95?