Wednesday Afternoon Commute - This is why we can't have nice things

Good afternoon

• "An Ohio building constructed around the first Wright brothers’ bicycle shop has been declared a public nuisance and may eventually be demolished, despite a resident’s effort to preserve the site." If only there were some source of federal money that could be used to preserve buildings of importance to the history of transportation. If only.
• Bikes Belong will "provide financial and technical assistance for cities to develop physically protected cycling infrastructure. The six to-be-determined cities will then serve as models for other American cities looking to incorporate street designs that make cycling appealing to residents of all ages." Are you listening Alexandria and Arlington. 

Comments

[I forgot]

This bicyclist prefers non-protected bike facilities. BTW, Arlington probably has more "protected" multi-user trails than the district has cycletracks (and MUPs) on a per capita basis. I don't find either MUPs or cycletracks particularly friendly to bike on.

[Greenbelt]

Protected facilities vital for getting inexperienced riders to try. They're safer at slower speeds in my opinion. High speed riders may indeed be safer in all-traffic lanes. But inexperienced or slower? No. Slow riders don't get doored, and can stop in time to avoid no-look alley pullouts etc.

[Froggie]

My preference is for protected facilities, but I have no problem hitting the street if I need to. I see no reason why local jurisdictions couldn't apply for this grant. Heck, at least one member of the Alexandria BPAC (not me) has been a vocal proponent for a cycle-track through Old Town.