News / 2011 / December / Indianapolis Bike Lane Analysis

December 30, 2011

Indianapolis Bike Lane Analysis

by Benjamin Hunt | 5 COMMENTS

In response to emails sent to both INDYCOG and Bicycle Garage Indy (BGI) expressing concerns about the implementation and design of the bike lanes on Capitol Ave, Illinois Street and Broad Ripple Ave, our organizations decided to develop an analysis of these new bicycle lanes.

Connie Szabo Schmucker, BGI Advocacy Director and Kevin Whited, INDYCOG's Executive Director, conducted a thorough analysis of the areas of concern and researched possible solutions. These solutions may include repainting of road markings, signage, and general education of both motorists and drivers.

Our analysis is organized by street and then intersection, with corresponding photos of the areas. In some instances, we have images that demonstrate suggested signage or exhibit worthy examples from elsewhere. In our analysis we use lane numbering in our descriptions. Lane numbering starts at the right most lane in the direction of travel (e.g. on Illinois, lane #1 would be the eastern most lane, while on Capitol, it would be the western most lane). It should be noted that neither Connie Szabo Schmucker nor Kevin Whited are transportation engineers.

Our knowledge has been derived from our professional experiences in bicycle advocacy and transportation consulting and our personal bicycling experiences. In addition, we are both certified by the League of American Bicyclists as League Cycling Instructors. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the authors of this document.

Download Full Document in PDF format

filed under Bike Lanes tags safety, Design

5 COMMENTS

There is a dead possom in the south bound bike lane on allisonville right after 75th st. been there for 3 weeks. Also, I would like allisonville bike lanes cleaned, really bad after 75 to 56th st. I commute to work 62 miles round trip 1 or 2 days a week.

John Cook February 17, 2012

PO- nobody takes you seriously anymore. Your willingness to try and impose your views of what a "serious commuter" and a "recreational" rider are very condescending. I ride the bike lanes every day on my commute to work, school and play and I never feel unsafe....even when riding next to parked cars. How is that you ask? I pay attention, seeing as I am a part of traffic.

JH January 10, 2012

The authors of this analysis simply accept it as a fact that these bike lanes make bicycle commuting more safe. I would encourage people to research the issue. Contrary to what is portrayed in this report, the bicycling community is very split on bike lanes. As many bicyclists note, it is very difficult to design good bike lanes and poorly designed bike lanes make bicycling more dangerous, not less.

I am going to try to address the points in this study when I get a chance. But the fact that the report doesn't even address one of the most serious flaws - bike lanes that pass right next to parked cars, one of the most dangerous riding condition a bicyclist can face - suggests to me that the authors are more about advocating for bike lanes than advocating for safe bike lanes.

Bottom line, if you go out and talk to people who commute by bike riding several miles, very few have anything positive to say about Indy's bike lanes. Most avoid them. Unfortunately, the recreational bicycling community, represented by groups such as IndyCog, is more interested in scoring points putting down bike lane lines than actually making bicycling in Indy safer.

Paul K. Ogden January 06, 2012

Kurt-I'll notify DPW but more importantly, IMPD because that isn't a design flaw as much as a driver's education issue. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. If you contacted me before on this, because someone did, I passed that initial report on as well. Again, thanks for staying vigilant and let us know what other issues you see when your out there.

Kevin Whited January 03, 2012

You might want to check 21st and Capitol Ave for morning rush hour. The conflict comes when motorist use the parking lane to move south through the intersection. The bike lane is continually travelled over by motorists making both right turns as well as traveling south on Capitol.

Kurt Greggs January 01, 2012