Comments on: Adopt-a-Bike-Lane? http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/12/10/adopt-a-bike-lane/ Just another WordPress weblog Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:29:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Barb Chamberlain http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/12/10/adopt-a-bike-lane/#comment-10666 Barb Chamberlain Sat, 16 Jan 2010 06:02:45 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1329#comment-10666 I've been thinking about this idea too, and am looking for models. I'm going to suggest it for my city initially as an informal thing--will people remove debris and broken glass, rake pine needles, leaves and the like, shovel snow from that the way they do driveways/sidewalks (in theory)? I used to have an adopt-a-highway-mile and can see it going official eventually with the sign recognizing the person or group who adopts it. Bike clubs and others might go for it. I'm working on a blog post for CyclingSpokane.blogspot.com on the topic and welcome comments there if people find any examples of working programs, or you can reach me on Twitter. @BarbChamberlain Co-chair, Bike to Work Spokane @Bike2WrkSpokane www.biketoworkspokane.org I’ve been thinking about this idea too, and am looking for models.

I’m going to suggest it for my city initially as an informal thing–will people remove debris and broken glass, rake pine needles, leaves and the like, shovel snow from that the way they do driveways/sidewalks (in theory)? I used to have an adopt-a-highway-mile and can see it going official eventually with the sign recognizing the person or group who adopts it. Bike clubs and others might go for it.

I’m working on a blog post for CyclingSpokane.blogspot.com on the topic and welcome comments there if people find any examples of working programs, or you can reach me on Twitter.

@BarbChamberlain
Co-chair, Bike to Work Spokane
@Bike2WrkSpokane
http://www.biketoworkspokane.org

]]> By: Ed Hillsman http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/12/10/adopt-a-bike-lane/#comment-10417 Ed Hillsman Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:48:54 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1329#comment-10417 The Hillsborough County Bike/Ped Advisory Committee has discussed this, but so far nothing has come of it. I think it's a great idea. The Hillsborough County Bike/Ped Advisory Committee has discussed this, but so far nothing has come of it. I think it’s a great idea.

]]> By: John http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/12/10/adopt-a-bike-lane/#comment-10178 John Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:06:51 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1329#comment-10178 I might add the more general Pick Up One Piece Of Litter A Day idea. I might add the more general Pick Up One Piece Of Litter A Day idea.

]]> By: David Hembrow http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/12/10/adopt-a-bike-lane/#comment-10175 David Hembrow Sat, 12 Dec 2009 10:15:05 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1329#comment-10175 As Michiel says, here in the Netherlands, the cycle paths are looked after by the government. It's just as well, as they do a very good job of looking after them, and don't just take an interest in the bits which go past a bike shop (or whatever). So <a href="http://hembrow.blogspot.com/search/label/leaves" rel="nofollow">leaves</a> are removed, the <a href="http://www.cyclestreets.net/location/19971/" rel="nofollow">paths</a> are kept <a href="http://www.cyclestreets.net/location/19972/" rel="nofollow">clean</a> and in winter the cycle paths <a href="http://hembrow.blogspot.com/search/label/gritting" rel="nofollow">are free of snow</a>. If a city can afford to maintain its roads to a good standard, why not its cycle paths ? As Michiel says, here in the Netherlands, the cycle paths are looked after by the government. It’s just as well, as they do a very good job of looking after them, and don’t just take an interest in the bits which go past a bike shop (or whatever). So leaves are removed, the paths are kept clean and in winter the cycle paths are free of snow.

If a city can afford to maintain its roads to a good standard, why not its cycle paths ?

]]> By: hokan http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/12/10/adopt-a-bike-lane/#comment-10165 hokan Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:56:19 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1329#comment-10165 Not a bike lane, but a very successful rails-to-trails project that runs all the way across south Minneapolis has a similar program: http://www.midtowngreenway.org/adoptagreenway/ Not a bike lane, but a very successful rails-to-trails project that runs all the way across south Minneapolis has a similar program:

http://www.midtowngreenway.org/adoptagreenway/

]]> By: Holly Parker http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/12/10/adopt-a-bike-lane/#comment-10162 Holly Parker Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:29:11 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1329#comment-10162 Ooops! I see that your question was whether or not anyone knew of "Adopt A Bike Lane" efforts... This page from Transportation Alternatives has some good guidance: http://www.transalt.org/campaigns/bike/adopt And apparently an "Adopt a Bike Lane" campaign was launched recently in cooperation with Transportation Alternatives in NYC http://www.livablestreets.com/projects/transportation-alternatives-brooklyn/projects-pulaski Ooops! I see that your question was whether or not anyone knew of “Adopt A Bike Lane” efforts…

This page from Transportation Alternatives has some good guidance: http://www.transalt.org/campaigns/bike/adopt

And apparently an “Adopt a Bike Lane” campaign was launched recently in cooperation with Transportation Alternatives in NYC http://www.livablestreets.com/projects/transportation-alternatives-brooklyn/projects-pulaski

]]> By: Holly Parker http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/12/10/adopt-a-bike-lane/#comment-10160 Holly Parker Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:05:37 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1329#comment-10160 Have you seen: The NYC guerilla DIY bike lane video: http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/12/10/nyc-ironically-announces-bikes-in-buildings-law-while-cutting-bike-lanes/? The LA bike lane-painting incursion: http://info.interactivist.net/node/12910 This Toronto Blog about guerilla bike lanes: http://urbanrepairs.blogspot.com/ Have you seen:
The NYC guerilla DIY bike lane video: http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/12/10/nyc-ironically-announces-bikes-in-buildings-law-while-cutting-bike-lanes/?

The LA bike lane-painting incursion: http://info.interactivist.net/node/12910

This Toronto Blog about guerilla bike lanes: http://urbanrepairs.blogspot.com/

]]> By: Alex Nevelle http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/12/10/adopt-a-bike-lane/#comment-10159 Alex Nevelle Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:19:23 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1329#comment-10159 It's an interesting idea and as Carlton says would probably be a good fit for a local shop with sizeable pockets. One problem I can see is with the idea of ensuring lanes are kept free of motorised traffic: unless the sponsor had powers under the law their ability to enforce compliance with the lane priority would be effectively down to motorists allowing them to do so. It's not like they can hand out tickets, is it? Another concern is liability. As sponsor of such a facility could you be held responsible in the event of an accident? Worth considering as I can't imagine insurance would be easy to secure. However, sponsoring facilities such as storage racks etc could be a great, relatively inexpensive opportunity to get involved. It’s an interesting idea and as Carlton says would probably be a good fit for a local shop with sizeable pockets.

One problem I can see is with the idea of ensuring lanes are kept free of motorised traffic: unless the sponsor had powers under the law their ability to enforce compliance with the lane priority would be effectively down to motorists allowing them to do so. It’s not like they can hand out tickets, is it?

Another concern is liability. As sponsor of such a facility could you be held responsible in the event of an accident? Worth considering as I can’t imagine insurance would be easy to secure.

However, sponsoring facilities such as storage racks etc could be a great, relatively inexpensive opportunity to get involved.

]]> By: Michiel http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/12/10/adopt-a-bike-lane/#comment-10158 Michiel Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:12:28 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1329#comment-10158 Here in the NL bike lanes are adopted by the local government ;-) Here in the NL bike lanes are adopted by the local government ;-)

]]> By: Carlton Reid http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/12/10/adopt-a-bike-lane/#comment-10157 Carlton Reid Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:54:52 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1329#comment-10157 That's a very good idea and would certainly be a good fit for a local bike shop. In the UK, Sustrans - a charity - operates a volunteer ranger system for bike trails. The ranger is expected to regularly ride the trail and keep it clean it, too. Sponsorship of routes and transport nodes is becoming more common and sometimes this isn't a good thing. Lots of UK roundabouts are sponsored by local companies and this can lead to ugly commercialisation where before there was none. And some railway stations are being sponsored. Odd, but needs must, I suppose. That’s a very good idea and would certainly be a good fit for a local bike shop.

In the UK, Sustrans - a charity - operates a volunteer ranger system for bike trails. The ranger is expected to regularly ride the trail and keep it clean it, too.

Sponsorship of routes and transport nodes is becoming more common and sometimes this isn’t a good thing. Lots of UK roundabouts are sponsored by local companies and this can lead to ugly commercialisation where before there was none. And some railway stations are being sponsored. Odd, but needs must, I suppose.

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