Ridiculous Arguments Against Bike Lanes – I Couldn’t Even Make These Up

[bobco85]

I’m sure some of you have already read this, but over in Coronado, California, comments made by the public against a proposed bicycle master plan were pretty ridiculous. Sadly, they SUCCEEDED in suspending the installation of 12 miles of bike lanes.

Here’s the story in 2 articles:
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2015/sep/23/coronado-puts-brakes-all-future-bike-lanes-after-r/
http://www.citylab.com/commute/2015/09/objecting-to-bike-lanes-as-paint-stripe-pollution/407356/

Mind you, the city reported that 70% of its students walk or bike to school.

A few quotes from the public on the bike lanes:

“You are covering Coronado with paint stripe pollution,”

The lanes “bring to mind a visual cacophony that if you look there long enough it will induce a dizzying type of vertigo,”

“these black streets with these brilliant white lines everywhere because believe me, it takes away from your home, from your outlook on life.”

I wish I were making this up.

Topic

[Terpfan]

My favorite:

“The graffiti on the streets does not help our property values,” declared Aileen Oya.”

What they really need are more highways because living next to the Freeway greatly improves one’s home value. Hahaha.

[GovernorSilver]

Sounds like typical Coronado. Inhabited by rich people with too much time on their hands (retirees) looking out only for their selfish interests instead of the good of the community.

North County San Diego has much better bike infrastructure. It’s also full of rich people, but more of them are into sports, physically active, and more likely to ride bikes.

[Crickey7]

I can live with being called a terrorist, but I draw the line at being called an aesthetic blight.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Terpfan 125087 wrote:

My favorite:

“The graffiti on the streets does not help our property values,” declared Aileen Oya.”

What they really need are more highways because living next to the Freeway greatly improves one’s home value. Hahaha.

A freeway on Coronado?

[scoot]

@Terpfan 125087 wrote:

My favorite:

“The graffiti on the streets does not help our property values,” declared Aileen Oya.”

I’d guess that the bike lanes, if anything, would increase property values…

[GovernorSilver]

@ShawnoftheDread 125097 wrote:

A freeway on Coronado?

The 75.

[ShawnoftheDread]

I wouldn’t call Silver Strand Blvd a freeway, but okay. It is big and speedy.

[TwoWheelsDC]

I agree the histrionics are ridiculous, but Coronado is one of those places where bike lanes are needed the least. Most of the roads are wide and speed limits are low. Bike lanes downtown would be a much better way to spend money and political capital.

[GovernorSilver]

@ShawnoftheDread 125110 wrote:

I wouldn’t call Silver Strand Blvd a freeway, but okay. It is big and speedy.

Yeah, that’s what I remember of the 75 – people driving on it like it’s a freeway.

[GovernorSilver]

@TwoWheelsDC 125116 wrote:

I agree the histrionics are ridiculous, but Coronado is one of those places where bike lanes are needed the least.

Sounds like they could use some curb-protected lanes and/or separate bike paths though – given the fatality count cited in the first article. Speeding/reckless driving in Coronado was not uncommon when I lived in San Diego.

[Steve O]

@Crickey7 125092 wrote:

I can live with being called a terrorist, but I draw the line at being called an aesthetic blight.

Them’s some pretty sweet aesthetics if you ask me.
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I particularly like the “sky litter”

[Terpfan]

@ShawnoftheDread 125097 wrote:

A freeway on Coronado?

Touche, aside from the road people speed on, not really a highway there. Still, they seem to prefer more car lanes next to their homes, which baffles me.

[PotomacCyclist]

Reposted by the Alexandria BPAC

[Author]

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