Sunday, June 26, 2011

Why we can't "ride in the bike lane!!!!"

Motorists who aren't yelling "Get that thing on the sidewalk!!!" are sometimes yelling "Stay in the bike lane hippie!!!" I was followed by a guy in a white pickup truck for about half a mile until he could roll his passenger window down and yell the last one at me. I simply responded, "I can't. And you're too close." He can't see or doesn't care that there are rocks, glass, and sand bags in the lane. It was worth it to him to nearly kill me with his vehicle to make a point, and he was completely wrong. I could ride in the middle of the lane, but I wasn't. By state law, Vehicle Code 21202 (a), I am to ride "as far to the right as practicable." Not as far right as "possible." Someday I will post my back and forth with the editor of the local newspaper's transportation column on that issue. She was wrong, she argued with me that she shouldn't have to correct her column, and then relented and was forced to quote a CHP officer who agreed with me. It's the law.
This link goes to a great video of the kinds of things we seen in "bike lanes" (quotes added for emphasis) around Temecula.  
http://vimeo.com/21580758
Check it out. Thanks Zak!

Red Trolleys add bike racks

My wife and I were pedaling around Temecula the other day when we were passed by a Red Trolley. I said, I wish they had bike racks on those. Well presto! From my one comment, RTA has added bike racks. Ok, it could have happened that way, but it didn't. I like seeing bike racks on buses and trolleys. In a place like Temecula where public transit usually doesn't go anywhere near where you need to go, adding a bicycle changes everything. If you can get close, you can go the rest of the way by bike. Even for recreational rides, it lets you start your fun ride miles from home, without starting your car. http://www.pe.com/localnews/transportation/stories/PE_News_Local_E_wracks26.3fcdf5d.html Kudos to RTA for the new racks. And when they add a third rack to the regular buses, some of us won't have to wait for the second or third bus to come for an open spot. Nothing worse than standing at a bus stop only to see it pull up with both racks filled. You could buy a folding bike and carry it on, but a lot of people who survive on public transit are probably not going to have the cash to spend the money on a good folder. The cheap ones are no fun to ride.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Riverside follows up on Bronze medal cycling friendly community

If you want to read about one city's commitment to cycling:


http://www.pe.com/localnews/riverside/stories/PE_News_Local_W_wbicycle01.3bc1623.html

My reasons for bicycle advocacy

Everyone gets involved in causes for different reasons. I've been a cyclist my whole life, starting at age 10 when I was able to scrape together $120 to buy a Schwinn Continental. It was a beautiful bike and let me go anywhere. I have lived in the valley for 25 years. Cycling here has changed. The place is just busier now. About five years ago, I attended the dedication of the Vietnam memorial at the Duck Pond. Feeling great, I got on my bike and headed east on Rancho California, which used to be two lanes with a wide shoulder for cyclists. But things had changed. It had become three narrow lanes, no shoulder. (City staff said, "We have to move cars.") I got about 50 feet up the road when I felt a truck mirror brush me. No big deal. We all get that. The toy hauler he was pulling nailed me. I went over the curb and landed upside down on the grass, still clipped in. The event was breaking up, the crowd flowed out and people started stepping over me. Am I invisible? One woman stopped. "That guy didn't even stop!" she said. "Are you OK?" I was, but I started thinking we need to do something. A bunch of like minded cyclists began lobbying the city. Has anything changed? We did start the Ride of Silence, now in its fifth year. Each year cyclists support that event. We honor our dead and wounded. But we should be doing more. Lots more. At the last Ride of Silence, there was interest in taking another shot at lobbying the city for cyclists again. We live in a town that attracts cyclists from far and wide for its beauty and climate. But we also live in a town where bike racks are as hard to find as a bathroom after your last Starbucks stop and you can't remember how many times some red faced motorist is shouting for you to "Get that thing on the sidewalk."  We can change it. Look at Riverside. They have a cycling plan. They are hiring a cycling consultant. They have Bronze medal as a Bike Friendly Community. We can do the same. We can do more. Where's that competitive spirit that makes you sprint for the doughnut store? It can happen.

Friday, June 17, 2011

What's wrong with these pictures?


The top photo is of the Bike Velibe system in Paris, rent a bike with a credit card at any kiosk in town. When I was there, most of them were checked out they are so popular. The same system is being used in progressive US cities. The second photo is the new bike rack at Temecula City Hall. Wouldn't it be nice to see a few bikes in the rack? Wouldn't it be nice to see a few bike racks in front of businesses in Old Town?

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Why is the bike lane chained? -- The city responds

We asked why the bike lane on the east side of Murrieta Creek at Rancho California Road was chained. Here is the city of Temecula response:

The area in question is an old ADA access ramp that used to lead to a crosswalk at the old traffic signal, it is not a bicycle entrance to the multipurpose trail.  The trail serves many users, including pedestrians, not just bicycles.  The chain and posts serve a dual purpose, yes the posts prevent vehicles from entering the paved pathway, but it also alerts pedestrian that this is not an appropriate place to cross the street, particularly a blind pedestrian.

Another bike lane blocked

This is a bike lane on La Serena blocked by a contractor. This happens all the time, forcing cyclists to swerve into the traffic lane with little warning. Any solutions to this one?

Monday, June 13, 2011

Why is the bike lane chained?

There is a bike path on the east side of the river starting at Rancho California Road. It is chained off. Does anyone know why? Too narrow between the poles for a car to enter the bike lane. Cyclists must dismount, push bike around the posts. The Fix: Remove the chain. The cost: Nothing. Sending to city staff.

Picture of chained off bike path

Bicycle Temecula

Welcome to Bicycle Temecula. The Temecula/Murrieta Valley in Southwest Riverside County is a wonderful place to cycle, but it is not without problems. We envision this site to be a place where you can post concerns, questions, concerns and more about cycling in the Temecula/Murrieta Valley. We need a place to post concerns about cycling -- chained off bike paths, bike paths that start in the middle of nowhere and go nowhere, lack of bike racks and parking, debris and obstacles in bike lanes, unsafe traffic design, threatening motorists, threatening dogs, interactions with law enforcement/city/county officials -- and get answers. Collectively we can make this area better, safer, for cyclists. Start posting and we can get the conversation started.