Lots of people ride bicycles in Japan and there are a few bike lanes in streets. But most of the designated bike lanes are on sidewalks.
Today I walked on a street in Kyoto that was eight lanes wide. The sidewalks were split by a small fence with one side designated for pedestrians and the other for cyclists.
It struck that if anyone suggested dividing U.S. sidewalks into pedestrian and bicycle sides, many people would be outraged that pedestrians would have to give up space to bicycles. Yet these same people expect motorists to be willing to give up street space for bicycles.
I’m not saying the Japanese way is necessarily right. I still think the best way to protect bicycle riders is to designate local streets as bicycle boulevards. At the same time, I don’t think the real agenda of those who want to put bike lanes in busy streets is not pro-bicycle but anti-auto.
Separating modes of travel with differing speeds in dedicated spaces is much safer, so I agree with bicycle boulevards. The same is true with walking: many (newer) planned communities now have separate walking paths that connect directly to schools and amenities, negating the need to walk down busy arterials.
Japanese culture is why for a lot of things including including urban constraints. Years ago Inremember a documentary news shirt about efficency of Japanese recycling. Bitter pill.
Rural villagers including aged seniors walk or drive nearest recycling center and separate their trash into 34 categories before depositing.
In another called Karoshi, how young men suffer issues of men twice their age due overwork stress and enormous burden stress keep that culture functioning. It’s core design meant to aid in culture of overwork, not overtime,OVERWORK.
WordPress_ anonymous wrote, Separating modes of travel with differing speeds in dedicated spaces is much safer …
Of course. And more costly. But then breaking your wrist isn’t exactly cheap …
Microsoft Copilot tells us this about a Colles’ fracture (common in bicycle accidents), “For non-surgical treatment, costs can range from $500 or less for a mild to moderate sprain and up to $2,500 or more for a fracture that requires a cast. If surgery is needed, the expenses can be significantly higher, potentially ranging from $7,000 to $10,000 or more. These costs typically include the X-ray, facility fees, and doctor’s fees.”
@rovingbroker,
Walking trails actually have a positive ROI, which is why they’re used extensively in places like Towne Lake, The Woodlands, Valencia, Santa Clarita, etc.
Bike trails are more mixed though, but communities like Bridgeland incorporates both into a single trail system.
The problem with giving up space to bicycles and pedestrians is how to pay for it? I suggest licensing and tolling for bicyclists and pedestrians. Unlike drivers, we unfortunately let pedestrians and bicyclists run rampant without contributing anything for the enormous delay and congestion that they cause to automobile traffic. Those found walking or bicycling without the proper documentation should be subject to immediate execution by police, or where appropriate, citizens drivers who have passed certification to carry out such enforcement.
This discussion should be framed by discussing a particular very busy walkway or trail. Like roads, the rules will vary a great deal by how busy they are.
Obviously 90+% of miles of sidewalk would make no sense to separate because they are rarely used by more than a few people at a time. But the very busy ones are the ones with the problems and need different rules.
I guess Wuhan in China has some great experiences in making space for bike lanes. Some of the arterial road in Wuhan had no bike lanes at the beginning. But they managed to build them on the side walk.