I am sure I will get flamed and torn to bits for this one but here goes my rant in the form of a question.

Does anyone else get nervous/upset when they see very inexperienced cyclists cruising down Lyndale Ave?

I do. I live right off of Lyndale now and I see people with no lights riding down it all the time and I have witnessed dozens of people almost getting cremated by people who drive like 40 mph down Lyndale. Many times I have pointed out that there is a safe route just 2 blocks west on Bryant and they all give me the finger or tell me to fuck off. Maybe they don't realize we are in the same boat or they think I am being snide but really I am just concerned that I'm going to have to stare at a blood smear on the pavement right outside my house. I don't want anyone to get hurt for any reason, it just seems like you could almost effortlessly move over to Bryant and have a much better experience with less traffic and your own designated street!

Am I unjustified? We all spent our tax dollars to get that bicycle blvd. so why not use it?

Just curious what other people think...

I'm not flaming you or tearing you to bits, and I'm also not inexperienced nor do I ride at night without lights. So here is my rant in the form of an answer

I just moved to Lowry Hill East and think I have valid reasons for riding on Lyndale. I usually only do it when riding southbound from downtown. Instead of taking the poorly-designed Lyndale Ped bridge aka Wedge bridge, I use Dell Place (aka the 94 offramp) to Lyndale southbound. It is much faster, and avoids two obnoxious turns and a pointless hill.

Once I'm moving south, there's not really a reason to turn until I get to 26th. Traffic is so impeded by the Franklin light, the Wedge parking lot, and SA, that I can manoeuvre quite easily to my destination.

Also, Lyndale is cleared of snow and ice, and I can take a full lane on Lyndale instead of having to 'share' (not an Uptown virtue) a lane with oncoming traffic on Bryant. In fact, I choose Colfax over Bryant if I have to travel any significant distance, regardless of what the city thinks about its safety--it's wider, has less traffic and easier-to-negotiate signals.

If the bike boulevard didn't have parking on both sides, or had enough room for two vehicles to cross paths safely, I might use it more.

Just because it is designated as a bike boulevard does not mean that it functions well as one nor that we should be obligated to use it.

I like taking that route, too. but usually from the east side bike path.

I used to live right in that area. The worst part about it is Ridgewood Avenue, where I used to live. Coming down on Ridgewood onto Lyndale Southbound (you can't go North) is always tricky for automobiles, particularly in winter. It's a blind turn in both directions (traffic in one and pedestrians in the other), and you have to pull into the crosswalk to make a safe turn. It is always tricky with cyclists coming off of the bike path and choosing to use the sidewalk instead of taking the bjorn route or the bike bridge.

I once was coming down Ridgewood in a car, stopped to make sure the sidewalk was clear in both directions, pulled forward only to see a cyclist coming towards me at about 16-20mph. Looking behind me, I realized that the car behind me had pulled forward when I did, leaving me no room to backup. I shifted into reverse, hoping guy would see my lights, but he didn't budge. The girl on the bike swerved into oncoming traffic, then back onto the sidewalk and flipped me off as she rode past the 'no bikes on the sidewalk' sign in front of Rudolph's.

I agree the bike bridge is crapily designed, but I usually end up taking it just because I prefer biking the side streets in uptown.

If I'm going south in that area I like Garfield. It's a 1 way and all the parking spots are taken so no one drives on it.

ALSO, if they're that dumb why care if they get hit by a car or not? It sucks for the driver, but the person on the bike put his/her self into that situation. They made the choice to act stupid when they woke up and put on their big boy skinny jeans.

I hear what you are getting at and respect what your saying. I guess all in all I was mostly talking about Lyndale through the "Uptown" area and south of Lake street. There are better options all around like you said Colfax because it is nearly deserted. When I drive I am very alert to watch for pedestrians and cyclists and every time I drive even I almost nail some dumb ass with no lights.



Because I don't share your point of view. While what they are doing is incredibly short sighted, I still care because they are human beings and if I was doing something that was inherently dumb and there was a better way to do it, I would hope someone would speak up and let me know so I could correct myself.

You learn these things from experience and from other people who know more than you. Getting creamed by a car and ruining your life, your family's life, and some driver's life, is not the right way to learn these things... in my opinion.

These are people who, when you gave them advice, reacted aggressively with obscene gestures and words. They disregard common sense out of a sense of entitlement. It's fine if you don't want to wear a helmet, but if you weave your unlit fixie like a moron through traffic you're endangering everyone.

You are correct. Still can't not care.

While I have given up on trying to educate the public on many many topics, I would simply causally mention your advice and leave it for them to take it where they want. You have then done your part to try to help.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

Yeah, if people aren't provided with the resources it's one thing. If they ignore them with extreme prejudice it's entirely different.

Some people are fine with advice offered to them without them asking for it, others are not. However I do love that "fuck you" stare when you provide some advice.

Ignorance can be cured with education.

Stupid, however, is forever.

I don't understand why anybody would choose to ride down Lyndale or Hennepin. Most of the folks who do strike me a "political cyclists" who enjoy doing battle with cars. To each their own I guess.

I like Lyndale now because it's been repaved.

But I don't ride lightless anymore, either.

Cyclists have as much a right to the road as autos so I don't see how there's anything political about trying to get where I'm going in the most efficient way possible.

I don't ride it often and it's usually just for a few blocks but sometimes it's the best way to go.