Abdt takes a look at the Hennepin Ave bike lane, which is having its own funeral tonight before its transformation: It is the only place I have ever been blown off my bike by a gust of wind. … On Hennepin, a tremendous rain storm kicked in out of nowhere, and the attendent wind went whipping through the buildings in way I’ve never experienced here before. A particularly strong gust knocked me ass over end onto the street, where I sat dazed on the pavement for a second, then picked up and headed off.
What are your experiences with this bike lane?
12 Reader Comments
11:54 am
The only place in mpls to pull off a killer Robin Thicke impression.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7K7orMOHqY
11:58 am
Ha! Excellent work, Alan Thicke.
12:17 pm
Why thank you.
You might be surprised how many drivers don’t really appreciate a good bike song and dance routine.
RIP Cab-Bus-Bike-Clunker sure-fire collision bang-up death route. Thanks for the mems.
12:46 pm
Personally, I prefer being in the middle of the street, outside the reach of doors being opened by inattentive parkers.
About a month ago, I was riding up Hennepin in the transition area where you go from riding “as far to the right as practicable” to the bike lane. I looked back, waited for a good opening (it was half a block), then got into the bike lane. A block later, a cop rolled down her window, and said “signal….” in a gentle-yet-nagging sort of way. A few blocks later at 7th, the very same cop made an abrupt left on red without any sort of warning at all.
1:26 pm
That bike lane is okay, but definitely sub-optimal. You have to be VERY careful to watch for careless drivers.
1:30 pm
Scares the hell out of me.
2:32 pm
Dang, I was planning on getting in a wreck where the lane ends and suing the city for negligent planning, after I brought the ridiculousness of the lane to their attention.
If a motorist can be compensated for pothole damage (if the city knew about the pothole) a cyclist should certainly be able to sue over these bizarre nonconforming bike lanes.
7:28 pm
The bike lane is deadly. The number of people, coming from both directions, making a left turn without looking is terrifying.
Let’s not even talk about those that drive in the bike lane.
7:31 pm
CSS: I think a license tab for bicycles (Say, $50 per year) would clear the way for such a claim.
Are you game for that?
10:10 am
My strongest memory of biking down Hennepin Avenue is getting into a screaming match with a cab full of drunk douchebags who kept yelling “Get off the road!” to us even though we were in a BIKE LANE. Their cab driver tried to run us off the road. Good times.
12:53 pm
So, does anyone know then where bikes are redirected to if the bike lane is ending now? I’ve heard that Nicollet Mall will allow bikes – but not yet.
And there’s still construction on Marquette and 2nd right?
I need to ride to work on Monday!
Also – the fact that traffic can make turns across the bike lane is heinous! Especially when it is a bus or delivery truck. Terrifying trying to guess if they see you or not!
2:56 pm
@Lorika: how does traffic not cross a bike lane on the right side of the street?
The problems of “left handed” bike lanes are just mirror images of the same problem on the right side of the street, but they at least keep some bikes out of the door zone and force the driver/biker to at least pass alongside each other, unlike the common “right hook” accident.