Originally Posted by
soho2009
Dont really understand the issue of debris. I ride by two junk yards on my commute and have "learned" to equip my bike with tires and tubes that can handle the debris. Why somone would commute with a tire set that would keep them from riding in bike lanes is beyond me.
It's more the slippage issue that makes debris a danger, not the puncture issue. Sand and glass in the gutter (or the bike lane) makes it just that little bit more slippery, and larger debris or holes in the surface can cause loss of control if you come upon them unexpectedly. Anyway, I prefer to ride in the traffic lane, so for me, the debris issue simply allows me to do that legally in a state that mandates bike lane use when one is present on the road. So it's not a question of debris 'keeping me' from using a bike lane - it's an issue of debris 'allowing me' to use the road (as I feel I should have the same right to as any other vehicle).