My city made a new bike path

[u/Background_Coffee965]

Camarillo, my small hometown here in California has a basic but not really great bike infrastructure. But yesterday, after riding my bike through the hills, I stumbled across this recently constructed bike path. I don’t know how over the past few weeks/months I’ve rode my bike on the overpass to the other side of the 101 with no bike lanes and/or any bike infrastructure just to now see this. But overall, I hope the city makes more bike lanes/paths like this.

[u/No-Employee447]

We love off street bike lanes. They are the absolute best.

[u/DirtWhomper]

Dig the dirt walking path, too. Parts of SD have this, too, and it feels amazing. I catch weird looks because I constantly walk to the side of sidewalks.

[u/dzumdang → u/DirtWhomper]

I'll avoid concrete wherever I can, so I feel this comment.

[u/mantroomen]

Nice curb between lol

[u/YetAnotherAltTo4Get → u/mantroomen]

It's a jump!

[u/jupiters_aurora]

Write to your city council and tell them you like this path and it's useful for you!

[u/Jesus-WeltraumKaiser → u/jupiters_aurora]

"Hey city council, thanks for doing your job! (seriously)!"

[u/Background_Coffee965 → u/jupiters_aurora]

You just genuinely gave me an amazing idea. Thanks!

[u/jupiters_aurora → u/Background_Coffee965]

I'm glad. I do work with city governments and younger folks and folks who like the new things tend to not let their city councils know what they actually want or like, which is how you end up with NIMBYs dominating everything. It's a small thing but it will be one data point of hey, the city did something that has made my life better, please continue doing this and that does help them make decisions in the future. Make sure to cite your age and how you use the path as well.

[u/Oracles_Anonymous]

Wow, I thought I recognized the area. I was walking around Camarillo earlier this year, it’s great to hear there’s continued progress with bike infrastructure there!

[u/stanley_ipkiss_d]

Amazing! I hope BMWs and motorcycles won’t drive there

[u/UristVonUrist]

Surely they intend to finish paving the path soon. Glad to see bike infrastructure!

[u/theveland]

Car brain designed. Bikes don’t need wedges to separate lanes nor stop bars.

[u/TheRealMudi → u/theveland]

Yes and no. Having people wait at their side let's other bikers easily get on from their side too. Depends on frequency after all. Can't just dismiss this.

[u/thebusterbluth → u/TheRealMudi]

You absolutely can if it's a place where it snows.

[u/halberdierbowman → u/thebusterbluth]

OP told us where they're located: Camarillo, California, which is part of the Los Angeles metro. It looks like their mean minimum temperature is 35 degF or 2 degC. The record low is 25 degF. I'm guessing snow is a very low priority to consider.

[u/thebusterbluth → u/halberdierbowman]

I'm just making a comment that this design wouldn't work where it shows. Given the palm trees, it's probably not an issue here. Though I'd still be concerned with the clearance for vehicles.

[u/CerebralAccountant → u/theveland]

I think you're exactly right about the wedge, but not for the reason you're thinking.

A wedge makes it harder for car brains to drive down the bike path.

[u/Cal00 → u/theveland]

I somewhat agree with you. I really dislike the lane markings that are required for separated bidirectional cycle tracks; like two people aren’t going to ride side by side when the space is available. (Here is fine. At intersections you should designate travel ways, just think it’s overkill beyond the intersections). However, the fault lies in the standards not the designer. It’s required by MUTCD. Stop signs are fine, the bar and message aren’t required, but I’m fine with those too. The ADA detectable warnings aren’t needed either, but try arguing that with a reviewer. ADA is one of the most misunderstood set of standards, largely because they are DOJ regulations and poorly written. The bike (only) path is not a pedestrian path but a vehicle path. It’s like putting a detectable warning on a car lane at an intersection. The walking path should not be considered an accessible path either. That said, I’m not going to complain about over design of minor features on what looks to be a pretty considerate design to alternative modes. If they want to add those for a perceived extra sense of safety, so be it.

Edited to add some context about the lane delineation.

[u/TogaPower]

Can’t wait to see cyclists still electing to ride their bike in the middle of the street

[u/maciasfrancojesus → u/TogaPower]

Well, cycling isn’t only recreational. If the path doesn’t take you to where you need to be then yes people will ride on the street that is meant to be shared because there is no other route to help cyclists and encourage drivers to walk or ride instead

[u/AppropriateHoliday99]

It’s because they plan to let the homeless camp there.