08-06-2016, 09:10 AM
(08-06-2016, 07:45 AM)Canard Wrote: I'll turn the tables a little bit - I'm a fan of focusing on the positive, so I'll mention that in the few months I've been riding a bike in the city, I've had lots of good experiences - drivers being very courteous and careful and waving me through (when appropriate), that sort of thing. I'm acutely aware when people are giving me a little extra space. I've found it to be an enjoyable experience, and it's helped me build my confidence to ride in traffic.
I'm still a bit too self-conscious to fully take the lane with the "sharrows" on Queen, between Lancaster and Weber, though. I still always ride to the side, there. Is the intent with "sharrows" that it is recommended (required?) that cyclists take the whole lane, or only that it enables one to do so, at their discression?
By the way; the trail adjacent the ion line, from Columbia to where it meets Wes Graham at the North, is now all finished up - new pavement, and sod down at the sides (instead of the gravel drop-off). It's lovely!
https://www.kitchener.ca/en/livinginkitc...14_FNL.pdf
https://www.kitchener.ca/en/livinginkitc...chener.asp
Sharrows definitely do not require you to ride in the centre, but it is at least "recommended", but not moreso than I think it would be without the sharrows. Our city seems to do a decent job of positioning sharrows correctly, so that, on narrow roads, like Queen, they're in the middle. The point is of course, to discourage close overtakes. But for some people, I suppose it may be picking your poison, do you prefer close passes, or tailgaiting.
For me, personally, sharrows don't change my cycling behaviour, on too narrow lanes, I will almost always take the lane, especially if there's oncoming traffic. Sharrows, I think at best, provide wayfinding, and perhaps something to point at when a negative interaction does occur. Generally, I, and most other advocates I've talked to in the region, don't feel that sharrows qualify as infrastructure.
The one exception that I'll mention is King St., or any street with parking, it is important to ride away from parked cars, the page says at least 1 meter, but that's still pretty close to the door zone, I would highly recommend riding centre on King
.As for good experiences, I'm glad you've had positive interactions. It is always good to focus on the positive. I think the type of interactions one has have a great deal to do with when (and where) one rides. When I go out riding on Sunday's, I basically experience no bad interactions. Driver's are almost always polite and courteous, and generally, paying attention. During rush hour, on a busy road, things are somewhat...different. I'm not sure when exactly you've been riding.