Senator Kit Bond Defends Funding for Bicycle Issues

Senator Kit Bond (MO) urges his fellow senators to not strike funds ear marked for bicycle issues from legislation in this video called Pork for Bicycle Paths. In the beginning of the video I was a bit apprehensive about what I thought he was going to say but he turns it around and I think his message is for the common good of bicycling. He is specifically advocating separate lanes for bicycles and pedestrians in high traffic areas separated by some sort of barrier to prevent dangerous interaction with cars on the roadway.

I know some would argue that by separating bikes from the main roadway would send a message to motorists that bikes do not belong, but I feel that in some circumstances have a separate lane divided off from automobile traffic would be much safer and would increase the number of cyclists on the road.The main reason most women do not commute by bicycle when polled is that they do not feel safe interacting with cars on the road. I’m used to dealing with cars but I wouldn’t take kids down my commute route to work. Most of the complaints by drivers stem from having to slow down for bicycle traffic and that can sometimes lead to road rage incidents. Having a separate lane for bicycle and pedestrian traffic would solve these issues.

I think that separate lanes should only be put in place on very busy or dangerous roadways. I think it would also be a good idea to have them near schools to make things safer for kids.

I would like to get your opinion of this issue as well. Do you think separate lanes for bicycle and pedestrian traffic is a good idea?