BIKE: Kunstler's Eyesore of the Month

[Tom Wood]

What you wish for may not be what you expect.

IMHO, those of us that bike in Austin are better off than the survivors in
Gainsville, FL.  Gainsville one of the most bike-friendly places I've seen.
Most roadways have bike lanes.

The Florida DOT discovered that it was cheaper to maintain a bike lane on a
state highway than to not have one.  The occasional car that strays off the
road into the bike lane does not harm the road.  A road without a bike lane
suffers damage from the same situation where the car briefly runs off the
road.

As a result, nearly all the state roads have bike lanes as do the city
roads.

The problem isn't so apparent.  Basically, think of that same car that
strays a bit, but this time it hits and kills a cyclist.  Couple that with
more novice riders who don't realize the danger they're in.

At least here in Austin, cyclists and motorists aren't deluded!  Some
facilities are bad and it's obvious to everyone.