Peeve O' The Day: December 3, 2009
Thu, 12/03/2009 - 11:52am | by Anonymous
Tell Summit where to park
I guess it could be happy hour for bikers?
I saw this today on my commute in and watched the workers move 2 loads of kegs while I got the camera out. Why do companies (limos, valet, taxis, the city, etc.) feel the bike lane is a loading zone with either thier vehicles or thier stuff?
Of course I could be wrong and maybe Summit was hosting happy hour this moring for bikers!
Comments
Neutral?
I would probably call this a Neutral O' The Day. It's annoying that there are kegs in the bike lane, but at least the truck isn't in the bike lane like it would have been before the orange plastic bollards were installed. This strikes me as the sort of stuff roadway users should be willing to put up with, especially in downtown areas where we probably want to discourage things like loading/unloading docks, curb cuts, driveways, etc.
Just prior to this picture
Just prior to this picture when it was entirely full of kegs one would have had to go around into the far left lane of traffic to pass the truck which in my opinion is not a valid option.
I understand where your
I understand where your coming from Devin, but If this building has no loading dock, what then is your suggestion for this truck driver?
1st Ave lane is too narrow
The real problem with 1st Avenue is that the bike lane is too narrow. That is why properly designed protected bike lanes are wider and have a buffer.
However, it is simply not OK to completely block a bicycle lane. Why can't the beer kegs go behind the truck itself? Or on the sidewalk outside of the through passing area, next to the street light?
Wouldn't it be great if someone someone like this could bicycle to shop in downtown Minneapolis? http://www.huckleberry-friends.net/sfbakfiet/family/
(The spot where she's riding is the Embarcadero in San Francisco, which used to be a freeway). http://www.streetfilms.org/lessons-from-san-francisco/
Same issue on bike trails
I experience this same thing all the time on bike trails as well. The utlity folks seem to think it is no big deal to use the bike trail as an off road parking facility. Telco, local water works, xcel, ... it seems to be the norm. Even when their is a shoulder or lane available on the road.