Category Archives: Roads

Fix the D**m Roads!

Posted on December 23, 2023 by RiderWalker

Take a poll on local issues, very likely that at or near the top will be: “Fix the d**m roads.” Great idea! Local lawmakers should respond to local needs. Except that many “local” roads are funded in significant part by … Continue reading →

Posted in Legislation, Roads | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Bike’ Boulevard. Not.

Posted on July 5, 2014 by RiderWalker

The worst thing a bicycling advocate can do is to advocate for bicycles. In this town, there just aren’t enough bicycles. You have to build your advocacy on something that most people actually care about. Such as safer, quieter neighborhoods. … Continue reading →

Posted in Commuting, Lanes, Legislation, Roads, Safety, Speed, Traffic | Leave a comment

What Limit Speed?

Posted on July 8, 2012 by RiderWalker

What determines a “speed limit”? Is it the speed at which the traveler feels safe? On a city street, the driver might feel safe at 35 or 40. On the interstate, the driver feels safe at 75 or 80… So … Continue reading →

Posted in Equipment, Roads, Speed, Traffic | Leave a comment

Changed My Mind: Sidewalks

Posted on June 17, 2012 by RiderWalker

Add “sidewalks” to the section I call “topics about which I’ve changed my mind.” A few months back, a neighborhood in our town objected to putting a sidewalk through their front yards. They told the city to turn down a … Continue reading →

Posted in Lanes, Roads, Safety, Sidewalks, Speed, Traffic | Leave a comment

All Hail the Rural Road!

Posted on May 27, 2012 by RiderWalker

My heroes: the rural township road commissioners and their constituents who are willing to spend the extra for oil-and-chip, instead of gravel. Oil and chip is considered a flimsy road surface that does not stand up to heavy traffic. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Roads | Leave a comment

Bike Lanes vs Bike Boulevards

Posted on March 3, 2012 by RiderWalker

Does our community, with its very modest resources, really need to build (or even paint) bike lanes? I believe that most communities would benefit more from bike boulevards: streets with fewer stop signs, reduced speed limits, and possibly  “traffic calming” … Continue reading →

Posted in Lanes, Roads | Leave a comment

Speed Research

Posted on November 27, 2010 by RiderWalker

Traffic engineers need to do more research. Consider: http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/pedbike/research/current.htm Where it states: “The National Bicycling and Walking Study goals are to: Double the percentage of all trips made by bicycling or walking. [and] Reduce the current number of bicycling and … Continue reading →

Posted in Roads, Speed, Traffic | Leave a comment