http://practicalpedal.com/summer2007/traffic.html

If ACHD really wants to do something for bicyclists, I hit on a few possibilities today. There’s a lot of extra loose gravel on West Boise’s pavement following the rash of ACHD summer projects. This afternoon one piece gouged and flattened my road bike tire on my afternoon commute home. As I was walking my bike the last two miles, I found problem #2- a couple hundred square feet of puncture vine in gravel on the Cloverdale right of way just north of Ustick. Other puncture vine was just south of Ustick in a lot on the west side of Cloverdale that ACHD’s contractor was using for the early to mid summer project.

Many developments currently allow pedestrian and bike traffic only along auto routes. Here in the valley thru- traffic sometimes only occurs on the square mile corridors. A welcome goal might be to provide a rough X of pedestrian pathways, through each square mile and to have each development provide access to those pathways. Just like drivers, pedestrians will sometimes use pathways in an effort to actually go somewhere, diagonals may provide a much shorter route, and there should be better alternatives than having to walk or bike along main auto thoroughfares.

Canal bank right of ways would be of real value if we find joint design improvements that benefit the water users, pedestrian and bike traffic, and improved safety for children

EDITOR NOTE–in my usual humble tone, I must admit Bikeboy first voiced this and I saw it in action in Holland.

http://www.achd.ada.id.us/Departments/PP/RoadwaysBikeways.aspx

Overall it is an ambitious and wonderful project, but it will need everyone’s help to reach completion (and adoption!).

..Discussion of Copenhagen’s civic rationale for supporting and encouraging bike transportation.

Right now, ACHD is hosting a series of open houses for the public to attend and be introduced to the master plan. Input is highly encouraged. It’s true that an Amsterdam type system will be some time off, but there will be some new “bike boulevards” contructed that will emulate the European commitments. The first ones will be on 3rd and 4th street.

What must be realized, both by transportation planners and the public, is that TRANSPORTATION cyclists have the same destinations as motorists. Not all bicycle destinations lie along the Greenbelt.

IMO, Dave, the ACHD is doing a fine job of incorporating bike-friendly facilities into new projects and upgrades. There are some streets – you mentioned a couple – where it just ain’t gonna happen due to inadequate street width. Another example is Orchard Street. Since I live just off Orchard, I ride it regularly, and I realize I’ll be sharing a lane with motorists for the forseeable future. I can deal with that, and 98% of motorists can, too. (The other 2% are idiots. You don’t have to be smart to get a driver’s license.)

What we lack is EDUCATION and ENFORCEMENT.

There is no formal effort to educate kids (or adults) on how to safely navigate our streets on a bike. Adults teach kids the bad habits they learned – mostly riding on the wrong side, against traffic. (Does anybody else ever see that?)

And the law enforcement community is very forthright about “bicycle violations are not a priority for us.” (They tell me that, every time I call to complain after I have a close call with a law-breaking cyclist. Their recommendation is for me to call Dispatch on a cell phone, and then follow the perpetrator, until a cop can be summoned to the scene. Can you imagine if DRIVING the wrong way was “not a priority violation”?)