My Morning Commute

[bobco85]

@Tim Kelley 95595 wrote:

Can we call it a Protected Bike Lane? The language we use is important because often times the general public thinks of a cycletrack as a sporty, athletic velodrome where people race. We want to make biking as accessible to everyone as possible! Besides, PBL is much shorter to type than cycletrack….

It’s an interesting point. After trying to see if there is a general consensus online, it appears the 2 are used interchangeably. It almost seems like a soda/pop/coke sort of thing.

That said, I personally prefer to use cycletrack.

To me, cycletrack gives the impression that the cycling infrastructure had more planning behind it as part of a larger interconnected bike network. Protected bike lane to me sounds like a slight upgrade to a normal “unprotected” bike lane that is singular in nature.

Of course, this reasoning is mostly in my head, and TRUST ME, you don’t want to venture in there

[jrenaut]

PBR is a Russian beer now, the hipsters will have to move on to something more ironic.

I don’t have a problem with protected bike lane but PBL reminds of Dilbert’s PHB. Also I work for the government, riding my bike is something I do get AWAY from acronyms.

[cyclingfool]

@Tim Kelley 95613 wrote:

“You can’t drink all day if you don’t start in the morning!”

It’s 5 AM somewhere… :rolleyes:

[cyclingfool]

@jrenaut 95620 wrote:

PBR is a Russian beer now, the hipsters will have to move on to something more ironic.

What could more ironic than a classic American beer brand owned by a Russian beverage conglomerate based in Cyprus? Bottoms up…

[Tim Kelley]

@bobco85 95619 wrote:

It’s an interesting point. After trying to see if there is a general consensus online, it appears the 2 are used interchangeably. It almost seems like a soda/pop/coke sort of thing.

I think cycletrack was the original term, and we’re trying to get away from that.

Why don’t you do a quick poll? Ask around (your family, your coworkers, etc…) and see what they think? Be sure to focus on the non-cycling folks to see what they think.

Most everyone on this Forum falls into the “Fearless” or “Enthused and Confindent” but we want to try to reach the other 93% of the population…

[jrenaut]

@cyclingfool 95622 wrote:

What could more ironic than a classic American beer brand owned by a Russian beverage conglomerate based in Cyprus? Bottoms up…

Well, the fact that all the big American breweries are owned by non-American companies. PBR is just like Bud Light now.

[Geoff]

@Tim Kelley 95610 wrote:

Would you mind expanding on that?

Do you not think that “cycletrack” sounds sporty?

Um, I’m not sure how much expansion is necessary. “Protected Bike Lane” doesn’t exactly flow off the tongue and sounds like something you would hear in a briefing, not in everyday talk. Which would be why you immediately suggested “PBL”.

Maybe “cycletrack” doesn’t conjure images of velodromes for me because I have close to zero interest in racing (or in other organized sports, for that matter. I have heard that the Nationals have had a good season and, more importantly, the Detroit Tigers won their division, but that’s about it.)

[Tim Kelley]

@Geoff 95627 wrote:

Um, I’m not sure how much expansion is necessary. “Protected Bike Lane” doesn’t exactly flow off the tongue and sounds like something you would hear in a briefing, not in everyday talk. Which would be why you immediately suggested “PBL”.

How do you feel using a term like “Buffered Bike Lane” or “Green Bike Lane” as well?

(I suggested PBL because it’s fun to say and fits on Twitter much more easily. And no you don’t hear it in everyday talk–but that’s what I’m suggesting we change.)

[Anonymous]

I think cycletrack sounds a little sporty.

And I think Protected Bike Lane sounds like calling a sidewalk a Protected Pedestrian Path—so, yeah, it sounds like gov-speak or technical jargon. I don’t know that I see a random person not involved in transportation planning or advocacy as likely to pick it up in everyday usage.

[jrenaut]

Why don’t we start calling everything else an Unprotected Bike Lane?

[Tim Kelley]

@jrenaut 95631 wrote:

Why don’t we start calling everything else an Unprotected Bike Lane?

You’re probably being tongue in cheek, but it’s not a bad idea as a way to demonstrate that we need better bike facilities.

Build it for Isabella: http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/a-new-north-star-in-bikeway-design-build-it-for-isabella

[jrenaut]

I’m only half tongue in cheek. Calling everything else unprotected drives home the point that it’s just paint and there isn’t anything keeping giant hunks of metal piloted by angry people talking on cell phones from entering the space reserved for bikes.

[cyclingfool]

@jrenaut 95625 wrote:

Well, the fact that all the big American breweries are owned by non-American companies. PBR is just like Bud Light now.

Don’t insult PBR like that!

[dasgeh]

@jrenaut 95631 wrote:

Why don’t we start calling everything else an Unprotected Bike Lane?

This is why I like “protected bike lane”. Unprotected bike lanes are outdated, and, with the 3-foot passing laws, possibly worse than nothing. I see cars drive in unprotected bike lanes *all* *the* *time*. And I find that cars pass me (on a bike) in the bike lane closer than they do when we’re sharing a lane. It’s kinda like: “as long I’m on one side of the line, and you’re on the other, we’re good”. but there are all sorts of hazards in the bike lane, and sometimes we have to swerve… and that little line of paint is no protection. Not to mention that cars seem to be even more annoyed when there is a bike lane and a bike is in the main travel lane, even if the bike lane is obviously blocked (like FAIRFAX DRIVE BY GEORGE MASON LAW EVERY DAY!!!)

[Kolohe]

Saw the Prime Minister of India and the guy he just took over from at Q and Mass this morning.

[Author]

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