Construction and Cycling.

Ok, yesterday I was spouting the benefits of getting on your bike when construction snarls our roads.  I'll stick to what I said...it makes riding your bike even better when you get to pass a ton of cars stuck at a standstill due to construction.  However, that same fact makes drivers (myself included) cranky, and sometimes seeing cyclists zipping along in the bike lane pushes them over the edge.  It may even make them fantasize about knocking us right out of our bike lane.

So....when construction contractors place detour / warning signs in the bike lane and force us to merge with traffic moving at speed, the potential for unpleasant interactions become exceedingly high!

So...I'm not sure where or how the signage needs to be placed...but I think we need a solution better than this!

Rock park river path construction update.

Yesterday I took some time on my way in to stop by the construction site on the river path (where Rock Blvd. crosses the Truckee).  The guy I spoke with didn't know the completion date, but was able to tell me that they are installing a concrete upgrade to the path in this location and some low walls along the outside edge of the path.  He didn't know the purpose of the walls (neither do I).  I'm guessing it's a flood control thing?? 

My only real gripe is that they let you ride most of the way through the park before they tell you the path is closed.  This leaves any trail user to turn back and retrace their steps to get out to the park exit.  The worst part about the "detour" associated with this closure is that you end up on the wrong side of the river with no way to get back to the trail!  It's not a huge deal, you can use the bike lane on Mill St. and then cut back North on McCarren to get back to the path, but not everyone is going to know about this unposted and unmarked "detour".  So if you need it there's your alternate route.

River path construction project.

Well, it appears that the construction on the path just east of Rock Park is a bit more extensive than fixing a few sprinklers.  They've torn out the path all the way under the bridge and started building a wall on the south (river) side of the path.  I'm not sure exactly why....as the path has never flooded here to my knowledge and it was in good shape.  I'm planning to stop by and ask the workers what's up and how low to expect the closure next week.  It's inconvenient at best and there is no easy detour.  Even if you head out on Rock Blvd. and try to cut down off the overpass to re-access the path they have the dirt trail blocked off.

So for know you're out of luck if you want to head east of Rock Park.

Bike path regression....averted. Also, I am not alone!

Just a quick update on the bike path construction woes I posted yesterday.  I emailed with Jeff Mann in the Parks Department and was relieved to find out the patches they put in are temporary while some of the construction is ongoing.  I take the to mean the final product will be much improved.

I'd say I need to calm down, relax, and take a breath before firing off such posts (and emails)....but it seems I might be one of a select few watching such things.  And if being a pest results in path improvements verses degradation, then a pest I am happy to be!

Speaking of those select few....looks like about 4-6 walkers and one other intrepid bicyclist!  I saw as many as 4 sets of tracks in various places along the path.  I don't know why people don't ride when it snows....I think of these as some of the most fun commutes!  I mean come on, it's like being a six year old.  Power slides through the corners, covered in slush and mud, 20 foot skid to the intersection with stop signs.  Best riding ever!

That being said, there was one power slide / skid I could have done without this morning.  It was here at the blind s-curve (where locust st. terminates at the river in an apartment complex).

While the image above may not be to scale....I meet a RPD cruiser right in the blind spot of the s-curve that was covered in snow and has a pretty good off angle slope.  I was moving along at a pretty good clip and so was he....fortunately, we avoided a head on collision.  Although my resulting two foot down, both wheels locked power slide was not graceful.

I always ring my bell before entering this corner and I did so today.  He had a window down but obviously didn't hear it.  I wish he would have give a quick beep of the horn since he uses both lanes.  Either way I'm glad to see RPD in any form out on the river trail.  In fact if they increase the number of patrol passes, I promise to work on improving the grace factor of my power slides!

Soon, my pretty!

First things first, I'm not suggesting anyone do this type of thing.  It's dangerous (well mildly), illegal, and inflammatory to say the least.  And in all reality I'm pretty much a blow hard about stuff like this.  It sounds good in my head and I talk about it, but in reality it usually never happens.

So all warnings aside here's what is on my mind.  Every morning I ride over I-80 usually on the Washington St. bridge.  Below are two photos (looking East and West respectively).  First notice that traffic is actually moving along pretty well (so kudos to Granite construction and their design team)....but I'm not looking at the lanes with cars in them.  I'm looking at that virgin ribbon of brand new interstate.  I know it's not for me....  I know it's not for bicycles....  I know somehow, in some fashion, for some limited length....

It must be ridden by a bicycle!!

Updates to follow, if I get motivated, and brave, and am awake at some ungodly hour.

In the mean time, here's something even more illegal, dangerous, and foolish!  I give you a really old video from Crimanimalz.  If your short on time forward along to about 1:30.


Crimanimalz - The Freeway Ride II from RichToTheIE on Vimeo.

*** Seriously, do not do this.  It's illegal and you could die!!!***

Just to be totally clear.  These guys did this as a protest / demonstration about highway congestion in LA.  They studied the area for places where traffic was at total standstills during rush hour and then targeted short sections to ride (like 1/2 mile segments).  It was not just people deciding to ride on the highway.  Again, do not do this!!!

Construction project vs. Bike lane.

In this case the pictures speak for themselves.  There is no doubt that this creates a potential conflict between riders and vehicle traffic.  The rider has little choice but to merge into the adjacent lane to avoid the obstacle, but the average speed of traffic is 45-50 mph on this section of Longley Lane.  This is a less than idealistic traffic pattern in any situation....what takes the cake is this parking lot and construction is directly in front of the Washoe County Roads Department office!  One would hope that this construction site (of all places) could apply better construction traffic routing than this.  It's also on my list of pet peeves because it's been in this state of "construction" for ~ 3 weeks now.  Strike one for Washoe County Roads Department.