(07-28-2022, 09:30 AM)ijmorlan Wrote: That being said, you’re still not making sense.
You’re right that we settle for mediocrity (and worse)
I'm glad you managed to understand this despite me supposedly not making any sense.
Maybe it's just because I'm trained end educated a designer first and foremost, but the point I am attempting to make is that one doesn't need to settle for mediocrity. Look, if you guys are content riding your bike between moving trains (they're not a boogey man, though, I love trains/am a train foamer, I just don't think it's a nice place to bike, especially for older or younger demographics) and on streets with traffic zipping by at different speeds and even car doors opening that you can slam into, that's great. Personally, I'd rather see human centric design be implemented for our bike infrastructure. Sure you need to make sure it's all compliant with the rules, but you can still design things in a way that are pleasing to use. It is in some areas - like the former rail trails - which is great. I don't see many complaints about those regarding the infrastructure itself...at least until you have to cross a road. Then everyone hates it, which is what we ought to be solving. But those trails are a good start, though they have much room for improvement.
I'd rather we get to a point where we have our cities have bike infrastructure that is safe and pleasing to utilize (wayfinding, trees, places to have breaks, water fountains, built in calm environments so youth or old people aren't overwhelmed). And infrastructure that isn't forced to spend too much time mixing with traffic (it may be inevitable in some areas, but should be minimized as much as possible by taking different routes, building under or overpasses and so on).
As for the whole "let's cycle with the trains" thing you lot seem fixated on, I'll just try to think of some reasons off the top of my head why that would be really shitty (and yes, I know, many of these problems overlap with cars - so why would you want even more of that?):
- Noise: trains - while ours are quiet - are still loud enough to minimize situational awareness (Even more so if you have fences on either side of you causing acoustic changes...and because a lot of riders have earphones these days or look at their mounted phones. Bad news.)
- Cars frequently crash into the trains; most recently a cement truck pushed a train off its tracks
- Zero areas to move to if there was an emergency be it personal or external; when in a bike gutter, you often have a sidewalk to move to. Where does one go if you're stuck between not only two fences, but active railroad tracks?
- Re: the last point...if you fell and needed help, there is a lesser chance anyone would see you to help. What if a rider had heat stroke? A normal stroke? Cardiac arrest? Nobody would see them but maybe another cyclist
- It would be really ugly
- The heat island effect would make it really damn hot
- How do you propose these would be cleared of snow?
- Or ice?
And if we're handing out grades, I'll give you a participation award for your thoughts.
Edit: Randomly found a good video on why it's important to have pleasing infrastructure...nobody wants to wait/use a train or bus in the middle of a freeway - so why would anyone want to ride their bike between multiple lanes of traffic and two sets of train tracks?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vrQHMhZ3k4