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Bike lanes help cyclists get out on the street

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By HILARY KINDSCHUH / Lincoln Journal Star

Tuesday, May 06, 2008 - 12:20:04 am CDT

As soon as the temperature warms up to about 50 degrees, Graham House is on his bicycle as much as possible.

And the downtown bicycle lanes the city installed in August 2006 make it easier for bicyclists like House to navigate their way through downtown traffic.

“I think overall it’s helpful,” House said. “And as drivers become more aware, ‘oh yeah, there’s a bike lane there,’ it will be safer for bicyclists.”

Story Photo
Chris Hoffmann waves to a familiar face while biking in the bike lane on 14th Street in Lincoln in this September, 2007 file photo. (Heidi Hoffman)

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It cost the city about $20,000 to stripe the lanes and put up the bike lane signs on 11th Street south from Q to K and 14th Street north from L to R.

Officials say it was worth the cost.

User counts conducted twice in 2007 and once so far this year have shown a “significant” increase in bicycle traffic along those streets from before those lanes were installed, said Dave Cary, transportation planner for the city.

And though more bicyclists  are taking to those streets, the number of bicycle-related crashes on those streets has not increased, Cary said.

“Motorists, especially those who live in the city and who work or go to school downtown, have learned pretty quickly how to maneuver with bike lanes installed,” Cary said.

During a bicycle count on April 16, about 100 bicyclists used 11th Street during a six-hour period, with only 33 using the sidewalk, Cary said.

On the 23rd, 142 bikes were counted on 14th Street during a six-hour period, and of those, only 17 used the sidewalks, Cary said.

Lincoln is moving in the right direction as far as becoming more bicycle-friendly, Cary said.

While there are no immediate plans to put in more bicycle lanes, the Downtown Master Plan does suggest adding bicycle lanes on M and N streets from east to west to coincide with the existing north/south lanes downtown, Cary said.

Bicycle lanes and trails likely will be incorporated into future development downtown, including the Antelope Valley Project, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln research facility and the Haymarket renovations, Cary said.

“There’s a whole lot of activity about to happen,” Cary said. “We are incorporating the bicycle portion with all of these things.”

Reach Hilary Kindschuh at 473-7120 or hkindschuh@journalstar.com. Anthony Roberts contributed to this story.


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Seriously wrote on May 6, 2008 1:05 am:
" Great! Now all we need to do is start ticketing those bikers who choose to ride on 12th, 13th and 15th Street. I don't know who conducted these "studies," but all I see is confusion among drivers and bikers choosing to avoid these lanes. This was a poorly thought out, knee-jerk reaction. I've spoken with bikers who won't use these lanes because they're too narrow and dangerous, and I've had to avoid drivers who use them as their personal turn lanes. Either enforce the rules on the existing lanes or remove them. Don't even start with the idea of adding more confusion. "

 Scott wrote on May 6, 2008 1:22 am:
" This is great news! When I lived in Lincoln, biking in traffic was like a suicide mission. Out here in Oregon, though, state law requires that all modes of transportation are given equal weight. Because of that, most cities have transportation plans that provide for bicycle lanes. In my town, all arterial streets (streets like A, 27th, 16th, etc) must have bike lanes, and we've got about 30,000 residents. It'd be really cool to see Lincoln adopt a comprehensive transportation plan that provides for bike lanes on arterial or collector-status streets. "

 Biker wrote on May 6, 2008 4:44 am:
" The people who put these lanes together have obviously never ridden bikes. The lane on 14th street is absurd. It's in the middle of the street, presumably to be more safe, when in reality, it is much more dangerous. Not only that, 14th street is now down to one lane - FROM THREE! The traffic there backs up from O street through N street when there are just a few cars. I would prefer the bike lanes be on the sides of the streets or non existant. Cant Lincoln do anything right? "

 Paul Schack wrote on May 6, 2008 7:19 am:
" The fact that the bike lanes make the city more bicycle friendly is rediculous. First of all, the lanes are in the wrong place. The bike lanes should be on the right side of the street so the cyclist only has to watch one direction. Second, the Northbound bike lane runs down 14th street a major street for downtown bus routes. At best this makes the job of the bus drivers much more difficult as they are forced to serpentine the bike lanes. At worst it is a MAJOR safety hazard. Third, the south route forces a cyclist to be in the left turn lane when it ends. This requires the cyclist to either stop and wait or merge with other traffic in order to continue South. The city can if it wants claim the lanes make the city more bicyle friendly, the reality is it is false. This is one cyclist that will never use the bike lanes, they are two dangerous. "

 stignob wrote on May 6, 2008 7:37 am:
" The bicycle lanes are right where they need to be. If you have any riding experience you'd know this too be true. You learn where not to ride and where to ride and the lanes are right where they need to be. Rest assured.
"

 matt wrote on May 6, 2008 7:38 am:
" Even if the city tries to make it bike friendly, that doesn't mean the drivers will. It would be even more bike friendly if they would put bike racks on the buses like every other city in the US. "

 biker wrote on May 6, 2008 7:40 am:
" As a frequent rider and driver on 11th Street, I have to comment on the number of drivers who regularly use the bike lane as either a driving lane or a turn lane. I am appalled to see so many people driving straight up 11th from N to M in the bike lane and then turning left, without ever looking for cyclists. In addition, there are a large number of people daily who use the bike lane between L and K as a driving lane while going to turn onto K Street. It scares me when I see a cyclist coming up the lane and these cars are driving in and out of the bike lane without looking for cyclists. On several occasions I have had to turn into the traffic lane to avoid a car that pulled into the bike lane while I was riding. I just want to ask people to be more aware and to respect the bike lane--they are for cyclists and not for cars. Thanks. "

 Pay up wrote on May 6, 2008 7:42 am:
" Now it is time to start charging bike riders to use the streets just like we do the cars. Don't let them tell you they have paid taxes on a car if you have more than one car you pay for all of them it is time to stop the free ride the tax payer has been giving them. "

 AD - Bike racks on city buses wrote on May 6, 2008 7:47 am:
" If the city really wants to be bicycle friendly, then it needs bike racks on the city buses. The bike racks are really needed in times of such high fuel cost and would increase bus ridership. Sometimes I want to ride my bike, but the distance is too great - so the option of taking the bus part way would be great - or the bus doesn't go all the way to my destination, or it is only feesible to ride my bike one way. Please lets get bike racks on city buses. "

 Its nuts wrote on May 6, 2008 7:53 am:
" If anyone has ever driven this street with large or wide equipment or with trailers, you would know this is not a good design. There is no possible way to leave it to the 'cycles given the buses and the parking already there.
I have never been able to yeild to 'cycles on this street.

Unless you start charging 'cycles a wheel tax, leave the streets to the tax payers. "

 gay wrote on May 6, 2008 7:57 am:
" I don't know who designed the bike lanes, but they should have put them against the curb sides instead of the middle of the street. Some one is going to get hit the way they have them now. "

 Anti Bike Proud of it.... wrote on May 6, 2008 8:26 am:
" Get rid of these ridiculous bike 'lanes'. Whoever does these counts is obviously a bike rider. There is a lot of confusion from drivers who one day WILL hit one of these bikers accidentally by the way. Will there be a counter out then? Biker friendly versus efficient use of city streets - two different things. If we have to put up with these dumb things at least ticket all of the bikers who do NOT use them, but instead use downtown sidewalks. One or the other. "

 Matt Platte wrote on May 6, 2008 8:39 am:
" The City hired experts who actually know about traffic and bicycles to come to Lincoln and produce a report. The expert solution would have taken a lane from sleepy 12th Street for bicycles, leaving 11th and 14th as they were. I guess the reason we ask for advice is so that we can ignore it. That report is still available on the City's website. "

 good in theory bad in practice wrote on May 6, 2008 8:42 am:
" I know the middle of the street is where they're "supposed" to be, but they probably would have been a lot more functional and/or safe if they'd have taken a chunk of sidewalk instead of eliminating driving lanes.

I need to use 14th street around rush-hour quite often, and I get trapped in a massive traffic jam because there are only two driving lanes left for cars. At O street, if a vehicle wants to turn left, another wants to turn right, and they're both blocked by pedestrian traffic, no one can progress through the intersection - well, they can and regularly do, but only because they completely ignore the bike lane and pretend like that's another lane of traffic. "

 Brian wrote on May 6, 2008 8:42 am:
" I haven't bought gas in 2008 and I love it.

Since May 3rd 2007, I've rode my bike EVERYday to work at UNL down 14th street, except for 3 days this winter that I bummed a ride. Snow, rain, ice, I was riding. The bike lanes are good, much better than no bike lanes. Sure there's buses, cars using the bike lane, clueless cell phone talkers, etc., but it's definately better to have a lane for bikes rather than not. Besides, it's fun to yell at cars, "Get out of the bike lane!"

Hey Lincoln, THANKS FOR THE BIKE LANES! We just need more now.



"

 sda wrote on May 6, 2008 8:45 am:
" I'm sorry to sound like a ranting youth, but those lanes are the dumbest things Lincoln has ever done. Mostly I am talking about being down the center of the lanes. This design is not using any logic. Someone will get seriously hurt soon. "

 just my thoughts wrote on May 6, 2008 9:05 am:
" why do you think we have sidewalks...use that to ride your bikes! i would think it's way too dangerous to ride your bike in the middle of traffic. accidents are waiting to happen! "

 Markus wrote on May 6, 2008 9:06 am:
" For all those who are opposed to the bike lanes in the middle, they were actually done that way because it is SAFER than riding next to parked cars that have to back out of stalls. Try telling businesses and LIBA that you want to take out a few parking stalls for a bike lane. Good luck. Secondly, yes, our buses do NEED bike racks. I think the cost would pay off because you would get more riders. I know I would ride it. I bike 90% of the time, but I don't even consider the bus the other 10%. I would utilize it if there were racks. Look at Sioux Falls, SD as an example. They have a thriving public transportation bus system with bike racks. Why can't Lincoln? And please don't even get into the "tax the bikers" argument. We are doing everyone a favor. One less car. "

 Jared wrote on May 6, 2008 9:09 am:
" The bicycle lanes in downtown are horribly conceived and irresponsibly implemented. What Lincoln's city council should do is come up with a comprehensive bicycle plan FOR THE CITY and implement it instead of having a mish-mash of different areas of town with different concepts of bicycling. The reality is that bicycling as vehicular activity should be treated as vehicular activity. Bicycling as entertainment and exercise should be allowed to continue on the bicycle trails.

But, currently, it's dangerous for a motivated bicycle commuter to hurtle along one of the multi-use trails at near-traffic speed. And, Lincoln's LPD-supported opinion that bicycles are not legal vehicles for road traffic is ludicrous and superseded by US law designating bicycles as vehicles, and hence legal traffic on all roadways (excepting interstate highways).

Lincoln has taken a step in the right direction by admitting that there IS bicycle traffic in downtown Lincoln. Unfortunately, they showed how ignorant and uncaring they really are about cycling. They should either scrap the plan, or really get behind bicycling, and make Lincoln a friendly town. "

 Paying for streets wrote on May 6, 2008 9:11 am:
" It is simply not true that cyclists somehow are freeloading off the tax paying car driver. Cyclists DO pay for the streets, just as car drivers do. First, most cyclists own a car and pay taxes, tags, registration for that car. Second, and more importantly, it is over all taxes (income, sales, etc) that pay for street construction and maintenance, *not* car taxes. If anything, cyclists are taxed for a resource that they put almost no wear and tear on. Car drivers receive in essence a huge subsidy from the government for their private transportation. "

 Dano wrote on May 6, 2008 9:24 am:
" Have to agree with most everyone. The middle of the lane is probably the worst place they could have chosen. they could have easily picked the right side of the road or left and gotten rid of some parking.

It took $20,000 dollars for this, wow, that must be some paint. I could have easily mucked up traffic with a stalled car in each lane & block for less than $500 a piece. I used to ride downtown, I can pretty much say I would never use theses as i have seen nearly a dozen or so riders nearly or hit by cars, trucks, or buses that didn't see them. Amazing what you see sometimes when you ride the bus. "

 tim wrote on May 6, 2008 9:25 am:
" great news. now lets buy bikes for the 3 people on each city bus and save the city 6 million dollars. come on mayor you save us $9000 on water bottles. now step up and find some real savings. "

 A wrote on May 6, 2008 9:38 am:
" I would probably use the bike lanes, but they're too dangerous. Drivers don't care about the lanes and drive right over them. It seems safer to just ride on the sidewalk. You can dodge pedestrians much easier than cars!!!

I've seen cities with similar bike lanes, but the drivers there are actually aware of them and stay out of them. Maybe it'll just take a couple of years (and bicyclist injuries) for Lincolnites to get used to them. "

 Late ODay wrote on May 6, 2008 10:06 am:
" @stignob ... Your argument presupposes that Lincoln drivers know how to drive. Since most consider "turning signals" a luxury item on par with air-conditioning, I guess I'll have to disagree with you. But what do I know. I've never had a license. I've only ever biked. For 45 years. "

 MIKE wrote on May 6, 2008 10:16 am:
" Stignob is right. I would be willing to bet that most of these negative comments come from people who don't ride. If they did they would realize what a good thing these lanes are. The reason they are in the middle of the road is to increase visiblity. I cannont count the times that a motorist has almost run me into a parked car. Also "Seriously" it is not illegal to ride on the street even if there is no bike lane. And most bikers don't use the sidewalk because we don't want to hurt pedestrians.I think this negativity stems from an unwillingess on the part of selfish motorist who are unwilling to share the road. Motorists, watch out for bikers and bikers will watch out for you. Lets be freinds OK? "

 ns wrote on May 6, 2008 10:28 am:
" In regard to the buses on 11th and 14th streets, the downtown bus routes will change dramatically in early July. Buses will no longer run the entire length of 11th and 14th streets. "

 Sarah wrote on May 6, 2008 10:49 am:
" It seems everyone in Lincoln enjoys complaining about something, whether it is directly affecting them or not. Sadly, Lincoln is a car dominated town, and drivers seem to ignore the fact that BIKES ARE TRAFFIC TOO! Having bike lanes in the middle of the street is the safest considering there are parking stalls with drivers backing out that don't even seem to see oncoming cars, let alone bikes. It should not be a bike vs. car issue, but both should recognize the other and learn to safely bike or drive. It is not a safety hazard if both parties know the rules and rights-of-way of the road. Having more bikers on the road helps reduce pollution from cars, hopefully lessening smog, fuel use, and overcrowded parking. Also, it makes our town more relational, healthy and vibrant.
Come on Lincoln, be a little more open minded to alternative modes of thinking and moving! Recognize a good thing when you've got it! "

 Adam wrote on May 6, 2008 11:08 am:
" Since they were first painted, I have yet to see drivers acutually use the dotted portion of the bike lanes as a merging point in order to get to the next lane. Until people driving downtown learn not to merge through solid white lines, I think it is a death trap for cyclists. "

 stignob wrote on May 6, 2008 11:11 am:
" Late ODayl, sounds like you got a few years on me. But I'm about 95% sure I've got more miles on the bike than you and I'm still alive to debate this, so it's safe to say my riding skills are about as good as they get and the bike lanes are there for a reason. "

 Rob wrote on May 6, 2008 11:40 am:
" Bikes AREN'T traffic, they are a pain in everyone's backside. Classifing them as traffic means that they can't pass the cars that they are behind, or ride on sidewalks, or drive up to the redlights next to the cars who are waiting in line. If you want equal rights, then follow the same rules. Yes, that's a stereotype, but drive downtown and tell me you DON'T see this happening. Also, it's not that we don't understand the lines, or what the lanes are used for, we just don't care. There are thousands of cars trying to get through the intersection at O street, without a turn lane because it now belongs to the 7 bikers, when the laws and design are this idiot, people won't follow it. Ride on the sidewalk, or follow all other traffic laws, and that means the same lanes as cars and trucks. You are also required to have a headlight, turn signals, and a horn, just like a motorcycle. If you can't meet the motorcycle standards, then get to the sidewalk, and get out of the way. "

 Late ODay wrote on May 6, 2008 11:41 am:
" I might -- MIGHT -- support stignob's point of view ... but I wanna see Cassady crack down on turn-signal violations for once, instead of sic'ing Officer Friendly on some hapless college student who grabs a patch of sidewalk occasionally. Sure, citing turn-signal violators may not be as glamorous as penny-ante drug busts, catching graffiti taggers or entrapping convenience store clerks ... but it'll do more good than all of those combined. Problem is, he'd be force to ticket people in business suits instead of Heavy Metal T-shirts, so I'm not holding my breath. "

 bad wrote on May 6, 2008 12:03 pm:
" Go ahead and leave the bike lanes down town. Just make sure you are enforcing the traffic laws on bike riders. I can't tell you how many times I am in the right lane and get passed on the right by a biker in the gutter. Then you have to spend more time attempting to get around them.
I'm not allowed to pass people on the right in the gutter on the motorcycle, why should cops look the other way for bikes? "

 share the road wrote on May 6, 2008 12:24 pm:
" The issue here is most Nebraska motorists are not looking for cyclists - bike lane or not. Unfortunately, in a time of $3.50 gas, global warming, and obesity, we all could benefit from leaving the car at home a few days a week.

Cyclists need to follow the rules of the road, be visible, leave the ipod turned off so you can hear, and assume the person in the car does not see them and won't yield the right of way.

Motorists need to be aware of cyclists (even when it's not sunny and 70), share the road, and follow good driving habits.

That said, since there are no bike lanes east of downtown, there's no way you'll ever catch me riding my bike on a main street (48th, 56th, O). I don't have a death wish. "

 Signal your intentions wrote on May 6, 2008 12:30 pm:
" This goes for bicycles and motorists. I can tell how peeved I get when cars do not signal lanes changes, turns, etc. It goes double worse for erratic bicyclists who are a million times more vulnerable. The key to these modes of transportation coexisting is predictable behavior by both. Signaling is key to predictability. Serious bicyclist commuters should look into turn signals (they can be had for under 20 bucks, http://www.amazon.com/Acclaim-Signal-Directional-Brake-Bicycle/dp/B000SMCY0E), and cars should ALWAYS signal their turns. "

 JB wrote on May 6, 2008 1:32 pm:
" Drivers don't know how to drive where there are bike lanes. Do drivers turn from the far left lane when turning right? Also the bus route overlaps the bike lanes. I always look to see if there are any bikers and then drive down them. "

 Steve wrote on May 6, 2008 1:39 pm:
" When it is time to leave work, it is difficult to get out of the parking garage with only one lane available. I don't think it is worth the cost. "

 Soylent Green wrote on May 6, 2008 2:36 pm:
" According to the Nebraska driving rules, bikes ARE traffic and must obey all the rules of the road that apply to motorized vehicles. Just as there are motorists that disobey the rulles of the road, so to are there bike riders that do not follow them as they should. I ride my bike to work 2-3 times per week. I do not have bike lanes to ride on, however, I ride the trails when I can. When there are no trails, I ride in the street and I take the lane. Lucky for me and the hurried motorists around me, the street I ride on has a turn lane in the middle that drivers can use to get around me. It is much safer for me to take a lane than to try to ride on the sidewalk. First, drivers do not look close enough to the sidewalk before backing out of their driveways or turning onto the street. In the street I am more visible and I have more room to manuver and evade than I would on the sidewalk. Secondly, sidewalks are for pedestrians and the kids going to school. I would hate to run down a kid on his way to school much as it is my hope that a driver would hate to run down me on my way to work!

Drivers, it is time you learn to share the road with bikers and other alternative and less visible vehicles. Bikers, it is time you start treating your bike ride as you would a car ride, obey the rules and protect yourself. "

 Chris wrote on May 6, 2008 2:47 pm:
" "Seriously" and "Payup"
You are in need of serious education. First, bikers cause no wear and tear on streets. Second, each biker takes a car of the street, less congestion, less need for new streets. Third, every biker I know also owns a car, so they pay just as much as you do. Fourth, each biker reduces demand for oil so that you can drive cheaper, plus we are not putting money into the hands of questionable governments overseas. Finally, bikers get a ticket for driving on the sidewalk, not the street. Bikers are supposed to ride in the street. All in all, bikers help the driving situation, not hurt it, but it seems you folks can't see the forest from the trees. "

 jaw wrote on May 6, 2008 2:56 pm:
" The main problem with the bike lanes is that we drivers are not sure of the "rules" especially since it is supposedly illegal to cross the solid lines which means everytime I need to park I have to break the law and cross the bike lane to get into a parking stall.Sorry bike riders, I sympathize with your problems but the bike lanes are not well planned and are pretty well hated by most drivers. "

 Chris wrote on May 6, 2008 3:13 pm:
" Headlight, Check
Taillight, Check
Turn signals (hand signals, not that anyone knows what they mean) Check
Idiot, uninformed drivers yelling at me to get off the road, Check

People: It is illegal for bikers to use the sidewalks downtown, they are legally required to use the streets. Deal with it and try and chill on the hatred and road rage. You will get home in plenty of time to watch t.v. or whatever it is that you are in such a hurry to do. "

 george wrote on May 6, 2008 3:52 pm:
" maybe the cyclists should get a type of license to ride, I've seen bicycles
run red lights and do other traffic violations with no inhibition. I need a license to ride my motorcycle and drive my car, register and plate the bike too, this would make enforcement a little easier and offset the cost of the painting of the lanes. "

 mike again wrote on May 6, 2008 4:25 pm:
" What burns me up is the driver who zooms arounds me honking or yelling only so that I can catch up to them at the next red light. Way to go! Sorry for slowing you down. "

 tim wrote on May 6, 2008 6:27 pm:
" I have been hit twice riding my bike in those bike lanes. I'll never go in there again! Good luck. Someone will be killed riding thier bike in those death lanes someday and then they will rethink the whole situation. Untill then I will ride where I feel the safest and if I get a ticket....so be it. "

 To You wrote on May 6, 2008 7:18 pm:
" To the bikers, if you bike and save carbon fuels for me to use, thanks! if you bike and like the lanes, thanks! if you bike and don't like the lanes, did you try them? if so, let city council know and be sure to vote.

To drivers downtown, each biker is saving carbon fuel for your driving, thank them and give them a break~! "

 chris wrote on May 6, 2008 8:59 pm:
" While some people on both sides of this argument try to convince everyone else that their view is correct, I feel that the situation can be summed up very simply. As a cyclist, I am concerned about traffic when I am riding in the downtown area. But I also feel that placing bike lanes in the center of the street seems like a peculiar location. The city decided to place the bike lanes in the streets to "protect" riders from the dangers you encounter riding in traffic, just as they try to "protect" pedestrians on the city sidewalks by not allowing bicycles on the sidewalks. Simply saying cyclists should get off the road and use the sidewalks won't solve the problem. At some point, that rider will have to use the street, even if to simply cross to the other side. By accepting that we all need to bear some amount of responsibility in this situation, a compromise can be reached. EVERYONE using the streets needs to be aware of their surroundings. When I ride my bicycle in the street, I obey the laws of the road as if I was driving the vehicle that I have paid my taxes on. I try to use the sidewalks as little as possible, but when I do I use caution to ensure that pedestrians know that I am there. The solution is simple. We need to learn to share. While there might not be room for each of us, there's definitely enough room for all of us. "

 Dan Oehlert wrote on May 6, 2008 8:59 pm:
" I am from the St. Louis Missouri area and frequently visit relatives in Lincoln and always bring my bike along. I ride a recumbent bike which I have been riding for about 4 years now, and must say that Lincoln has some of the best bicycling trails I have ever ridden. I still don't think I have ridden them all, but am working on that. Thanks for the great bicycling. Dan "

 Bill wrote on May 6, 2008 9:59 pm:
" A big issue that hasn't been brought up much is the fact that Lincoln streets were not planned nor originally designed to accomodate bike lanes. Instead Lincoln has cut the number of traffic lanes to meet the needs. Other major cities with bike lanes planned it that way.

Also, I don't see cruiser out doing selective enforcment on 11th or 14th streets. I cannot begin to count the number of bicyclist running the stop sign at 14th & R. I could easily have hit 3 or 4 bicyclist running that stop sign in just the last month. "

 Tom wrote on May 7, 2008 2:09 am:
" The planning on this by the city of Lincoln is yet another one of those ideas that have smallen into the 'not all that smart' category. For anyone that rides on the bike lanes, please be very safe as the average motorists will be confused by them. "

 nemo wrote on May 7, 2008 8:38 am:
" 1st I have never ridden my bike in Lincoln. I used to commute to work on my bike in Missoula, Montana. Much smaller town but similar situation as far as traffic with poorly designed streets and such. It took a while for me to get the hang of it but I did. At that time there were no bike lanes, the law said you had to ride as far to the right as possible and follow all traffic laws, just as a car. That meant no pulling up on the right of a car stopped at a light, at the same time cars had to wait in line behind YOU at a red light. The tricky part was trying to turn left, you have to merge into the left hand lane/turn lane to do it. So, I can sorta see the reasoning for those middle bike lanes. Drivers and bikers alike just have to be a bit more patient and courteous is all. Besides some of you drivers ought to try saving a bit on that high priced gas and get out your bikes, It's fun!! Oh and pedestrians really don't like bikers whizzing by them on the side walks, believe me, been there too. "

 Gary wrote on May 7, 2008 9:02 am:
" I Am in favor of bike lanes and bike rcks on the city buses. What I would love to see ALL US bicyclists do is obey all the same taffic laws as a car. If you have a stop sign or a red traffic light guesss what bikers we have to stop as well as the cars. It makes me so mad when I am biking and I see another biker run through a stop light. If we want cars to respect us we have to follow all the same rules. "

 JB wrote on May 7, 2008 9:27 am:
" Get tired of all people riding bikes on the downtown sidewalks. Is the law against riding bikes on the sidewalks not enforced? On the street I hate bikers who think they are "cars"! I ride my bike next to the curb because I know I don't move as fast as the cars. I would never ridden my bike infront of a car. When I ride my bike I stop and wait for lights. Some of these bike riders see no reason to stop. "

 Biker wrote on May 7, 2008 12:45 pm:
" Why do our city leaders try to make Lincoln something it's not? Poorly done research to be sure. Lincoln is no Portland, Oregon. Get real ! I do admire Brian for not buying gas. Good for you, I'm also trying to conserve in this nutty world! "

 Bus COULD help ..... wrote on May 7, 2008 1:37 pm:
" Other cities have bike racks on the city bus - that would be great in Lincoln. You could ride the bus one way and bike home after the bus stops running (bus service ends at 7 pm) or ride bus part way and bike the remainder. Or ride the bus to work in your work attire - and bike home. Increase bus ridership by adding bike racks. More bus riders, more bike riders = less wear and tear on streets, less traffic congestion, less fuel wasted and less polution. Also, a healthier population. "

 Time for some DE in LKN wrote on May 7, 2008 7:49 pm:
" Ummm JB,
The absolutely most un-safe place to ride a bike is in the gutter next to the curb. You have taken away the safety space you NEED on a bike to avoid things that don't affect you in a car like cracks, small pot holes, sand, Glass and un-even pavement. Bike safety experts agree a bicycle NEEDS 3 FT on each side to be able to avoid obstructions and if you look at the with of an average lane in Lincoln you'll see if a bike is using over 6 FT of a lane YOU NEED to make a safe lane change or passing maneuver to overtake them. "

 L wrote on May 7, 2008 8:26 pm:
" The bike lanes were put in place to give a safe place for multiple riders to travel together. This method is commonly used in many places.
Instead of whining, try to be a little bit open minded. The length of time you are in these streets can't be more than 2 minutes, yet it bothers you so much.
Since you don't like bike lanes what would you suggest? It is easy to criticize. Do you have any good ideas?
As gas prices rise, bikes will look better and better?
As it regards licensing, I would like that. Maybe then we would proscute the drivers who hit bike riders.
"

 dustin wrote on May 7, 2008 10:26 pm:
" Face it, this town is a college town. Not just a college town... but a large university with over 20,000 students DOWNTOWN! Bike lanes are a necessity to keep automobile usage down in this higher density area. Bike lanes also need to be more in the middle of the street in this area because many bicyclists use their bikes in the winter when they are riding for less than 2 miles (which is less time out in the elements than parking on the outskirts of the university and walking 10 minutes).

Bravo to the city finally realizing what it is just as Fort Collins, Boulder and many other mid-sized university towns have realized "

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