Korina

Because Caltrans doesn't now what good bike infrastructure looks like? Some of it's kind of hilarious; do I prefer chunky pavement or smooth? Wide shoulder or narrow? Anyway, it should take 15-20 min.
https://berkeley.qualtrics.com/jfe/f...5J7YL8NxLbGrLE

Leinster

Video clips aren’t working from my iPad, I’ll log into it from the laptop later.

Laptop worked, done.

bikingshearer 

Survey completed. My answers reflect my dislike for anything solid (curbs, parked cars, bollards) between me/a bike path and the main part of the roadway. We some paths in Berkeley between parked cars and the sidewalk, some with the path between hard curbs and the roadway, and some with the path between bollards and the main roadway. I dislike them all. When there is debris/broken glass, or a big puddle, or an idiot blocking the path with their car - and I've seen all of these scenarios - I have nowhere to go. I'm locked in. I want to have room to maneuver in case of blockage, and I don't like being forced into a narrow tunnel funneled into the aforementioned obstacles.

I suspect I am in the minority her in the Democratic People's Republic, and my views probably reflect roughly 50 years of cycling experience. That's a lot of time to get used to the idea of cars passing me not far away. Now get off my lawn.

I will say that the 3-foot passing law has had a very noticeable effect in these parts - people are far more likely to give plenty of room and to not pass when there is traffic approaching from the other way. A lot of people also no longer try to pass on blind corners and instead wait until they can see the coast is clear or I have signaled them that it is safe.

Joe Bikerider

I did the survey, some comments. I always prefered the routes with some kind of physical separation between traffic and bike lane. Those plastic poles are just an invitation for cars to cut through and even park on the bike path.

But really, none of those routes would be my preferred. I would rather cut through residential streets not do anything with that heavy traffic.

And furthermore riding along a flat straight street is not what needs improving. It’s the intersections, stupid.

Regarding the rewards, gift cards are a complete rip off. If you consider that the store makes a profit off the card then what’s it really worth? Very little. Why should I enrich Amazon anyway? There are ways to give cash, why not do just do that? I mean for every participant, these odds are terrible.

Also I agree that the three foot rule has improved things.

Barry2 

I will always opt for a physically sheltered bike lane (curb, bollard)
secondly, I’ll opt for a marked bike lane.
Third, I’ll opt for a marked bike route (bike may use entire lane)

3’ law… too many don’t obey this.
As for the new California 1/1/2023 law, If dual carriageway, cyclist to be given entire lane if other lane is empty. NOBODY knows this law exists!
People still whip by within 3’, let along giving me the entire lane.

I particularly liked the question “Do you consider cycling a high risk activity”, I’d reply….. is a helmet recommended ….Duh… Yes it’s risky.

Barry

skidder

Does this apply to other parts of California besides the Bay area and surrounding jurisdictions? Its not clearly stated on the introduction page (more of a disclaimer than anything else) so it makes me question their methodology before I even answer any questions. It makes no mention of SoCal, but Caltrans is Caltrans and it could apply statewide.

skidder

Deleted a duplicate post .

Joe Bikerider

The questions are not location specific. They are mostly animated scenes of riding along on different types of bike paths. Then being passed by different vehicles. It’s not very realistic, for example there are no intersections and the road is straight and flat. If you’ve got time to waste then take it.

caloso

I took it and signed up to do the follow up VR portion in Berkeley. I've been a bike commuter since I was an undergrad there in the 80s. I think I'll bring my bike and ride up Durant Ave just like old times. Of course, to really simulate the experience, I'll need a 30 lb Schwinn, a backpack full of books, and a double cap from Caffe Strada in one hand.

Korina

Bike riding isn't risky, cars are risky.

Barry2 

Then why doesn’t the Car wear the helmet ?

Barry

Calsun

In 1973 I worked as a consultant to the then California Division of Highways and with a partner we created an internal structure for having bicycle route planners in each district. We also produced the first map for bicyclists showing the routing from the Oregon border to the Mexican border. We had 10,000 copies and the highway engineers thought that was a 10 year supply but they were snapped up in the first month of their release.

It is not that highway engineers do not understand about the needs of bicyclists it is that they do not care. When I worked for the Division of Highways at their main office building the bicycle people were in the basement along with "Value Engineering", the people working on making freeways safer for motorists. Automobile parking takes priority over bicycle road access in every city in the United States. More than 50% of the land area of an American city is 100% devoted to the automobile.