Cyclists have mixed reaction to biking the Hatem Bridge

A few hardy souls showed up last Friday to be among the first to ride their bikes across the bridge

"It's historic, being the first person across," Lee said, but he would not do it again.

He also probably wasn't the first across.

"Historically, there was a sidewalk on the bridge," [Andy Hamilton, the mid-Atlantic coordinator for the East Coast Greenway Alliance] said. "When they put in the center [Jersey barrier] divider, they took out the sidewalk."

Still, it's a nice change, even if it doesn't include rush hour.

Bike riders were officially allowed on the Route 40 bridge Friday, as the Maryland Transportation Authority unveiled a flashing-light warning system to help cyclists merge onto the 1.3-mile overpass with no bike lane or shoulder. Police escorts will also be made available to groups of cyclists.

"Now you are going to tick off a lot of people that are rushing to get across the bridge [in cars]. In that respect, it's kind of crazy," Geis said as he prepared to ride his bike, for the first time in a year. "I am hoping this is used enough that it will promote it until money is a little less scarce to get a permanent [bike crossing]."

To get across, cyclists should push a button that turns on flashing lights to warn drivers a bike is on the bridge. Once on the Hatem, cyclists should stay in the right lane and ride in single file.

The first group across is already breaking the rules. Single file! Sheesh. 

If you follow the link, there's also a video that includes Maryland Bicycle Programs Director Michael Jackson.

Comments

[jeffb]

Is it Hatem Bridge or Hate'em Bridge which is what some motorists will think when stuck behind a slow moving cyclist.

[Barry]

2 thoughts.

First, look at the guy on the Penny-Farthing! Nice!

Second, what a bunch of crap they took out the sidewalk in the first place. Riding on that bridge looks so scary.

[Josh]

The lane is not wide enough for a car to share the lane side-by-side with a bicycle. Passing cars have to change lanes to pass legally. So, if cyclists do ride single-file, they should remember to stay in the center of the lane.

Riding single-file at the right edge of the lane would mislead many drivers into attempting to pass illegally within the lane, rather than safely changing lanes to provide safe passing distance.

[Mabel]

Pathetic.