Raise the Hammer

Wonderful initiatives. (Both the cycle track concept, and the Mayor's office producing and issuing the video.)

Hopefully, we'll be seeing such engagement in Hamilton at some point.

Where would one go locally to get one's bike buffered?

Well it looks great BUT; as a life long cyclist I can assure nothing will change here until we can convince the 'thugs' that it is proper for them to ride on the road. I was just coming along king william on my way home from downtown. I was doing a fair clip, when i was overtaken by a cyclist riding on the sidewalk ( young male hooded and tall). Until we as cyclists convince these idiots, that they are part of the problem, you'll never see bike infrastructure built in Hamilton,

>> as a life long cyclist I can assure nothing will change here until we can convince the 'thugs' that it is proper for them to ride on the road.

Classy...

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ll=43.256737,-79.859619&spn=0.008626,0.027595&t=m&z=15&layer=c&cbll=43.256659,-79.85933&panoid=dIS_lyb3rYw_S9hgyAcXFQ&cbp=12,225.18,,1,12.3

Like the miniscule number of drivers that are insanely dangerous don't taint the conversation here? OK. This is not nearly as simple as making the same number of clowns a lower percentage by increasing numbers.

Great to see a city actively trying to improve the commuting experience for cyclists and drivers.

Still, I'm a bit skeptical about the bike track buffered by a row of parked cars - particularly at cross streets. I know they showed this scenario in the video, saying that drivers turning right just need to look out for cyclists the same way they look out for pedestrians - but cyclists are moving MUCH faster than pedestrians. This to me is the same danger as cycling on sidewalks. I much prefer the second option in the video. I hope that this is the model that the city implements when bike lanes are added to Herkimer and Charlton.

I hate to sound like one of those 'it won't work in Hamilton even though it works elsewhere' people, but thinking about my daily downtown commute route, there are too many intersections due to Hamilton's short blocks. The cycle track option would also eliminate the ability to create 'bumpouts' at intersections (such as those at the corner of Herkimer and Caroline). These bumpouts can really help the streetscape, effectively shortening pedestrian crossing distances and creating great gathering places / bus stops.

Comment edited by kdslote on 2012-03-02 15:22:13

"We're proud to be one of the first cities ... to try this." I'd love to hear that in the Hammer!!!!

What about Cannon St? That is one of the biggest cross the city streets going. Or Main or King!

Never seen start ever and it was awsome

While Portland is not scared to try new things (new to the US or North America), they are also very good at letting others know. Seeing how narrow-minded most other cities are I guess this is a good thing becuase then they realise that "wow that idea from those students/Europe/Asia/Latin America can work in North America".

Monteal has had buffered lanes for a loong time - but they don't self-promote to the rest of the North America (or care what we think), and ergo, never garner the attention that Portland pulls to itself.