As background, there are a number of single-lane one way streets around me with parking on both sides. If by some black magic one parking lane could be removed, it would open up a place to put a bi-directional bike lane or a bus only lane…but why not both? It would put busses out of traffic on the affected blocks; in one-lane one-way traffic a bus in traffic everyone loses, this would help reduce those bus tangles.
On the technical side it’s relatively simple. The picture is not quite what I’m imagining, but it’s close. Remove the post in the middle, and space the gaps so a bus can put tires in them. Most vehicles are only five to seven feet wide, while a bus is close to nine feet wide. Assuming no tight corners being made, it would be relatively simple to allow busses through while keeping cars out. I imagine the odd emergency would have an ambulance mounting the curb, but ignore that. [Fire trucks vary, but larger ones could take the gap].
At a bus stop, the bus could have a toe-in to the curb which would allow bikes to pass, or it could be full lane and you wait behind it. Either would eliminate the floating bus stop which for now, at least, makes a lot of people uneasy.
The real question is whether people will ride if there is traffic of that sort or whether that would be enough to deter most/many riders.
I would be happy to hear thoughts either way, or on some third point I’ve not thought about yet.
by kmoonster
4 Comments
In the UK it’s not uncommon for bus lanes to allow bikes.
It’s not ideal but it beats the lane being full of buses *and* cars.
I think that’s fine it would be a much lower volume of cars and the bus drivers would know bikes are in the lane and I bus driver is less likely to be on tik tok going 60mph it’s possible but less likely
Cycling on a bus lane is illegal in the Netherlands (as is the reverse by the way). Bus lanes are meant for busses to travel unhindered and they ride often at a pretty high speed. Since a bus traveling at 50 km/h has a much longer braking distance than say an ordinary hatchback, let busses and bikes share the same lane diminishes the advantages of these lanes while increasing the risks of heavy accidents. At least I know I’d rather share my lane with said ordinary hatchback than with a bus.
Emergency vehicles often do travel over bikelanes when the situation requires to do so. Often with blue lights flashing and sirens blaring. I don’t have any objection with that (although my eardrums sometimes disagree).
You want bus service to be fast and not slowed down by bikes. You also want lanes to be comfortable for people of different ages and abilities. Mixing bus and bike lanes, other than for short stretches, goes against both of these goals.
Sharing with an occasional emergency vehicle seems like less of an issue.