vvvvvvvrrrrrrrrroooooooooooommmmmmmm, sssssssssswwwwwwwwiiiiiiiiisssssshhhhh. (the sound of approaching and passing cars and trucks along side of me as I pedal my bike) Dang Public Works. They design and make all these wide Vegas streets and forgot/overlooked/didn't consider marked bike lanes on most of them. Some bike lanes are strangely placed 12 feet from the curb, to allow cars to pass on both sides of you as you pedal. This makes no sense to me, especially, since the cars in the curb lane aren't allowed by law to occupy that lane for more than 300' prior to a right turn anyway. (actually, the NRS is not clear on how far one can drive in the turn lane, only that one has to signal their intention to turn, a minimum of 300' on a non-residential street) A few years back, my questions to the various public works in the valley about re-marking bike lanes with a different color were answered with typical "ostrich" attitudes: "That's not the way the National Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) says to mark them." I think it's past time for a change in this manual, but who am I to question a government published text?
That said, I participated in the Vegas's version of he National Ride of Silence tonight that recognizes those cyclists killed this past year in our county. Pitiful turn out, about 25 riders here compared to estimated 2,000 in Dallas TX where this started. Several names, with their ages, were read. It was sobering to hear the names of those my age or younger who lost their lives doing something they enjoyed. Granted, I don't know any details of them, some may have been self-caused, some may have been driver inattention. I've seen some less-than-intelligent-cyclists riding around. Like tonight. I had a guy drafting me on a single-speed, no brakes, road bike. . . he was no more than 25 years old, immortal attitude.
The ride went well, albeit the advertised 10 miles turned into 15, which was fine. The organizer didn't calculate it correctly prior? Head wind and incline the first half, but then smooth pedaling, with the last three miles mostly costing down Sahara. I think I like more rural riding. . .
1 comment:
Oh! i totally forgot about this! That sucks about the poor turnout!! Wonder what could be done to have it be like other places??
I had originally thought about doing this with you, until i realized it was our Strategic Initiative Meeting...that was mandatory that whole bureau HAD to attend. I didn't get home until after 7 that night...
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