07-17-2018, 09:17 AM
The colour (unobtrusive brown instead of either a brighter red as many european countries do for bike-only lanes, or our green) was a design choice at the behest of UpTown BIA beauty advocates. The roll curb was, I believe, in part to allow for two lanes to part so that an ambulance, fire, or police vehicle could go up the middle, and also for snow clearing budgets I expect. I would certainly advise for more obstacles to make it seem less like a weird turning lane or parallel parking, namely making it impossible to drive on near the intersections, and probably taking the triangle of pavement that occurs as parallel spaces start to appear (but aren't at full width) and turning that into greenery or bike parking.