A fine SDOT crew was hard at work this morning as I headed into work. Yep, it’s one of the green lanes we blogged about last February. I’m still thinking the green is a bit of “Emerald City” gimick, but it sure looks nifty on a sunny day. Overall, I’m on the fence about their effectiveness, but this individual spot is probably going to get the thumbs up from me.
This lane helps in an odd spot where cyclists are forced off the Fremont Bridge deck/sidewalk and onto the street right where motorists—often feeling rushed and frustrated because they just waited for the drawbridge—need to make an immediate right. Unlike the new Dexter and Green Lake locations, I can imagine this effectively warning motorists that they are crossing a bike lane.
I’m still waiting to hear if the city is going to bother doing anything with the deadly Fuhrman/Bryce Lewis intersection at the University Bridge. I’ve already speculated that fears of admitting liability will keep city officials from acting there. I still hope I’m wrong, because this one needs attention!
Have you ridden any of these “lanes” yet? Lemme know what you think.
edit: added Green Lane Flickr set here
Anne & Tim
Tim King
Anne
cfdgirl
Tim K
Car Free Days 
Love the monster truck in the background
Its not a monster, just lost and misunderstood. Probably trying to get back home, doesn’t understand about those maniacal two wheel contraptions that are on the street.
Tim hope the paint isn’t going to be a hazard on a rainy day. (slick)
From the SDOT webpage:
The material used in the bike lanes is a green construction material that is glued to the pavement. SDOT tested the product and found it to be a very durable, non-slippery surface.
There are Green Bike lanes in Portland, Chicago, and New York, etc.
Allie — Agreed, the lanes seem to have nice traction. We’ll see how they hold up, say six or seven years from now when city is in maintenance deferral mode on the bike paths (like they are now with everything in the SDOT world).
I know the green lanes are catching on, but I still think they should have gone with the blue world standard color. Green “means” something to drivers and just from watching them interact w/ the green lanes this week it doesn’t seem to mean “Don’t drive here.”
Saturday night, for example.