Motorists Too Demand Protected Bike Lanes

Presently, most bicyclists agree for protected bike lanes. Studies reveal most people feel safer riding in barrier-protected lanes.

But what about the people in cars?

Most media represents motorists as bike-hating whereas, on the contrary, they are happy to share the road provided it is done safely.

A survey analyzed the roadway comfort of 265 non-bicycling drivers, bicycling drivers, and non-driving bicyclists in the San Francisco Bay Area to determine their preferences on various forms of bike infrastructure. Most bicyclists reported highest comfort from cars and discomfort in shared space and most motorists feeling higher comfort with separation.

Paint-only bicycle lanes are rated highly among motorists who believe they led to higher bicyclist predictability. Barrier-protected bike lanes were rated most popular by majority respondents.

The findings of this study are a fresh addition to the debate around protected bike lanes that represent them as an advantage to cyclists. The survey outcome reminds us that most people driving cars intentionally don’t want to kill someone with their cars and are happy with any infrastructure to reduce that possibility.

The study appropriately named “We can all get along: The alignment of driver and bicyclist roadway design preferences in the San Francisco Bay Area” is a breath of fresh air.

Now if only we can get a survey entitled “Cars are too heavy: The nation’s parking spaces would prefer to be bike lanes instead,” then maybe we’d be getting somewhere!

2016 S-Class Mercedes: