around here, mostly big shops with multiple locations have been bought up. i have a feeling this is due to it being a good time to sell (while business is up), so big shop owners are ready to cash out.
but i know historically it’s been the small shops in debted to trek or spesh who got caught up.
Yeah, two best years on record probably made the pitch pretty good for Spec. I mean, it probably won’t continue apace, but now that isn’t really the problem of the old owner.
Let’s all point and laugh at the cars disabled by bike infrastructure:
“You cannot chalk it up to bad driving…"
Lol, sure you can.
Those mid-road low curb things are all over Washington. Especially between straight travel lanes and turn lanes. I’ve always thought they were kind of dangerous. Seems like they aren’t a big issue here because most folks have grown up with them and see them everywhere.
I can imagine that putting a low barrier on a road where drivers aren’t expecting it would create a lot of problems. Even if it is being used for something good.
I think we’re going to agree to disagree. ATMO it’s not at all unreasonable to expect drivers to keep it between the lines. I mean, they expect us to remain in the bike lane at all times, right? I can only imagine the room for error given the size of the lanes in Texas.
car brain is a helluva disorder
The answer 100% of the time if cars are hitting things and not understanding road layouts is that they are going too fast.
On that big road, I think it’s good to have a physical barrier between the car lanes and bike lanes. But those things will cause new problems. Like tire damage at corners.
Also some other issues:
They’re not gonna stop all vehicles from getting into the bike lane.
They’re gonna be a problem for any riders who have to make evasive maneuvers. A quick swerve to avoid glass or something could put your wheels into the curb and throw you into the travel lane. I wouldn’t want to ride in that bike lane with anyone.
If we’re willing to accept the limitations and new dangers, then they’re probably a good solution.
I will say that part of me wants to say that good road design doesn’t have people running into things. But then I’ve seen some thoughtfully designed roads here, and drivers literally run their cars all over everything rather than slow down. The speeds and angles you have to attack those curbs at to get blow-outs don’t leave me with any sympathy.
The streetview really gives the goods
Driving too fast, not paying attention to where they’re going, same shit as everything else idiot drivers complain about.
don’t they have potholes or some other shit to complain about instead?
Having a sloping edge on the bike lane side would help for sure, as would a wider lane where you could actually ride side by side, or pass someone easily, but that would require thought and effort (or just looking at the best examples already out there), along with folx/depts willing to put up with the wrath of the motorists for even taking a small slice of their space.
I am definitely pointing and laughing, for sure. that said:
my assumption would be the vast majority of the tire death results from right turns from side streets onto the road, and they don’t realize until it’s too late that they need to swing wide to avoid the low curb “in the middle of the street”? and also maybe right turns off the stroad as well as onto it (although that’s less excusable)
stick a bollard or a short line of flex posts on top of the curb everywhere the curb begins and ends and I bet you’d cut down on shredded tires by 90%
Agreed
And I think they started them too close to the corner. Imagine being on a bike and swinging out into the road to avoid a right turning carr that edged too far forward (close to an every-day occurance) and then being trapped in the car lanes because you can’t get back into the bike lane.
From the corner, the bike lane should be a painted line for ~50 ft maybe before turning back into a curb.
Oh you mean the car parking area?
Ha
Yep
This is like the invisible gorilla of road design. We’re so focused on the bike lane curb, we don’t notice that the road is 6 lanes wide with a curb-separated left turn lane in the center! I’m sure no driver has ever blown out a tire on that center curb!
That whole right-of-way must be over 100 feet wide. How appropriate that it’s named Slaughter Lane. It’s the perfect place to mow down granny crossing the street.
I’d guess it’s mostly people going straight and wandering too far to the right and hitting the edge where it starts. It’s not that visible (kinda looks like a wide painted line) and if it’s new it’s easy to drive wide out of habit.
Yeah that’s my read. It’s way too stealthy as it is. At least paint it black/yellow stripe or something.
