Separated Bike Lanes: Could Jacksonville Benefit?

[thelakelander]

This could turn into a turf war between motorists and cyclists.  It's probably more politically doable to put something like this on streets in the urban core not typically used by suburbanites passing through.

It would be smart to start in the urban core.  Right now the burbs have more bike oriented facilities than the core does.

[Jumpinjack]

About 10 years ago we visited the Netherlands on business with some time for fun. We traveled around on the trains and at each station rented bicycles and obtained a free map of the local bike paths. Train stations provide rental bikes and also space to park your personal bike. Many people ride a bike to the commuter station, park it and ride to work. At the other end, they collect their in-town bike and ride it to their work destination. This reverses at night.



The bike lanes for the most part are separated from pedestrian and sometimes motorized vehicles such as motor cycles.


In the country, they may share the same path especially if it crosses a bridge or goes along a dike. Some older roads in old towns do not have bike paths and you just have to mix it up with the cars. People ride for pleasure or work. Restaurants provide bike parking as well as other places like museums and parks.


I love this image because the narrative says that cars are considered the guests of the bicyclists on this road!!

Biking is so safe in Holland that most kids ride bikes to school and most people do not wear special bike clothes or gear. Women frequently ride in skirts and business men in suits.

[hanjin1]

Instead we are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on overpasses and flyovers.

These are actually just really big bike lanes. You just have to watch out for the cars and trucks.

[hanjin1]

I've been riding the 10 mile trek to work for the last month and a half and I could only wish that there were bike lanes. Beach Blvd is a bitch to ride on the sidewalk, especially with all the drivers not looking both ways before they pull out of the parking lot.

[Jumpinjack]

How about hopping a ride on the BRT after leaving your bike at the station? Will those BRT stations have secure bike parking?

[tufsu1]

Instead we are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on overpasses and flyovers.

remember that this overpass is being built (and paid for) by the developers of Nocatee....and I believe they are also constructing miles of bike trails through the community.

[Doctor_K]

Isn't that the new flyover from I-95N to 9A South, near the airport?

[jandar]

When I visited Ireland, I was impressed with how Dublin and other cities all had separated bike lanes. I was also amazed at how many bikes used them. Jacksonville is sorely lacking in providing bike lanes, where as most major cities have created them years ago.

Dublin also has tons of bike rental racks throughout the city. But in many streets, the bike path and bus lane are shared. This threw me off trying to drive in that city (yes, I was crazy enough to try), along with the fact that the bus lane ended without warning and merged with regular traffic that had condescend from 3 lanes to 1 just 50 feet back.

[Lunican]

remember that this overpass is being built (and paid for) by the developers of Nocatee....and I believe they are also constructing miles of bike trails through the community.

Don't get hung up on the specifics. It doesn't matter where it is because they are all over town and they are still a waste of money.

[Captain Zissou]

Isn't that the new flyover from I-95N to 9A South, near the airport?

Possibly not.  I don't think there are enough lanes on the Southbound side for it to be I-95.  That just goes to show how many of the things there are around town.

[cayohueso]

These would be awesome. I've been riding the mean streets of Jax for 20+ years and...damn, I'm old...anyway, these would be progressive, practical and just a great attractor for anyone who wants to ride in our city.

[Mattius92]

Let me remind everyone on what our lovely JTA and city officials like: ROADS ROADS and more ROADS! I will 'bout fall over if JTA even considers putting in separate bike lanes anywhere in the city. Yes it seems so logical and simple, but JTA doesn't see things like we see it.

Commuter Rail, Streetcars, Bike Lanes, and improved pedestrian walkways would make our city so much better. Instead we get BRT, buses, more highways and less ability to not need a car.

On a side note, Vancouver looks like a wonderful city, should schedule a vacation there.

[Ocklawaha]

Bike Jax, are you familiar with the "Pottsburg - Julington Creek Trail" proposal? I saw this at a cherrette in the Saint Nicholas area. I don't know who is behind it but it is one of the most exciting and boldest trail ideas to ever come out of Jacksonville. Imagine being able to ride from Mandarin to Arlington with 99% being through forests and wetlands. Some of the route would be through Tiger Hole Swamp, close to the Town Center.

What think y'all?

OCKLAWAHA

[CS Foltz]

Doctor K.......that is the overpass going in to connect Phillips Highway to Nocatee! I think that is called Nocatee Parkway and connects up inside Nocatee  proper! Been building on it for awhile and yes.......Nocatee is paying for it!  When it is operational, you will no longer have to use SR216 as the only road into their world! Ock............someone is thinking outside of the box and I , IMHO, like it! More of a intermodal type system that caters to anything mobile! Off of the top of my little pointy head, I would say City Hall had nothing to do with it!

[cline]

When it is operational, you will no longer have to use SR216 as the only road into their world!

I think you mean CR210.