These are all notably bad roads for cyclists. I have ridden, or avoided riding all of these roads, at one time or another.

I vote the Archer and 34th intersection the most dangerous crossing. Too many cars and things going on there to be safe to cross. But there are a lot of intersections to choose from in the danger category.

It should be noted though that in almost every case these roads have decent (but not necessarily safe) sidewalks accompanying them. Sidewalks are an acceptable alternative for the leisurely paced cyclist with fat tires who recognizes the inherent dangers of side walks and stays alert for them.

However there are some issues with sidewalks for most riders.

1) Its difficult to maintain a high speed that would be acceptable to commuting cyclists.

2) Curb ramp design and obstructions in the sidewalk, and adjacent to them, make the sidewalks dangerous.

3) Sidewalks are sometimes too irregular and uneven to provide a good ride for skinny tires.

I mention sidewalks because I personally prefer to ride them on many of my leisurely rides in the city, because the distance between the cyclists and cars is increased, so the road noise from trucks and cars is less painful and objectionable (and less fatiguing and frightening). The likelihood of interaction with vehicles in the road is less at a greater distance too. Naturally the odds of encountering vehicles crossing your path in driveways and entrances is greater so that is one of the real dangers to consider.

The real reason to give sidewalks greater consideration however is not because of adults riders like myself, because we are not great in number. Most adults simply won't ride where the road itself is not suitable or safe. The real reason is that children use sidewalks, so sidewalks need to be given much greater design consideration when being constructed or reconstructed, with some serious thought given to bicycle use.

These are the considerations for better design that I see which in many cases seem to be ignored by whoever is building our sidewalks. There appear to be no standards at all for these constructions.

1) A curb ramp to the road needs to be the width of the sidewalk, not a ramp that is some reduced portion of the width of the sidewalk. A cyclist crossing the wrong point on the curb is going to take a fall. I saw this in recent sidewalk construction west of the new I75 overpass at 39th ave. The sidewalk is probably 6 feet wide, but the ramp was only about two feet wide. Very dangerous. Two cyclists, going in opposite directions at the same time also cannot use this curb simultaneously. The point on either side of the ramp needs to be painted bright yellow to demark the lack of a ramp, so the cyclist can tell where it is, without having to search too hard for it. In this particular case, two white lines were painted to define the crosswalk from sidewalk to sidewalk. If one stayed within the line and tried to use any part of the curb but the center, they would be injured.

2) Sidewalks and their curb ramps need to continue straight on from the crosswalk, not be angled off to either side. The ramp at the curb seems to be a good point in many cases for loose sand to collect. I have no idea why this happens, I just seem to see it often. Having to do any twisting maneuvers on a bike, like making slow right angle turns, makes this a place for a fall.

On a recent Strays ride we noted a particularly dangerous example of a displaced curb ramp on the NE corner of 39th ave where the Waldo trail crosses. This is extremely dangerous. A cyclist (or for that matter, wheel chair or pedestrian) has enough to watch for with lights and cars, without having to worry that there is going to to be a regular curb where one would expect a ramp to be placed. And then the ramp is way off to the left of the painted crosswalk. That was a waste of money. Really bad design!

3) Some sidewalks actually have obstructions in the sidewalk. If my memory serves me, there are concrete light poles nearly in the middle of the sidewalk along the north side of 23rd ave just east of Wards Grocery. Apparently the sidewalk builders could not be bothered to meander the sidewalk around these obstructions. A similar situation, though less apparent, exists along the south sidewalk along 39th ave. between Santa Fe JC and NW 51 st St.

4) In a couple of places ( I can't remember exactly where now) I have seen cables crossing a sidewalk that a pedestrian would have to duck under to avoid. These were placed to support a light pole or telephone pole. Better not to have a sidewalk than make one that dangerous.

5) Cross walk buttons need to be identified as to the road for which they provide a signal. Fortunately, many of the crosswalks are identified this way in Gainesville, but not all. And all of the buttons need to be on the corner of the pole that is closest to the road or intersection. Reaching, or walking, around the pole is no issue for a pedestrian, but it is an issue for a cyclist who is trying not to fall while hanging on to his bike from the opposite side of the pole.

6) Sometimes the cross walk button is broken, it would be nice if the telephone number to call to report this were painted on the pole. With cell phones so prevalent, cyclists and pedestrians would call this in for repair before intervening events make them forget about it.

7) On a really busy intersection where cyclists frequent, it might be necessary to make right turns on red illegal, with signs to this effect. I find that legally crossing pedestrians and cyclists are at greatest danger of injury by cars that are failing to stop, as the law requires, before making their right turn. Many near misses there.

I know that many serious and thoughtful cyclists will disagree with me about riding sidewalks, saying you just shouldn't do it. However I don't see this as an attitude any different from the car drivers who think that we should all be on the sidewalks. Where we should be, when we are riding our bikes, is where we judge the best and safest ride to be obtained. Sometimes that will be the sidewalk, even for skinny tires.

On Sun, 11 Dec 2005 18:49:47 -0800 (PST) "K.S. Winans" <kswinan@xxxxxxxxx> writes:

FWD: Call for Riders? Participation in Ride on Tuesday Morning 8 AM ? 11 AM.

Ron Cunnigham and a photographer with the Sun would like to capture a few photos of riders riding "the worst places" to ride in Gainesville. He is going for a time of day when the ?worst? part is apparent.

?8 A.M. rush hour traffic on a weekday!? Should do.

If you would like to participate in this photo shoot, reply via phone to 335-3959.

The group (max. 6 persons) will meet downtown in front of t! he Hippodrome State Theatre @ 7:30 AM on Tuesday morning. You will need to bring your bike and your helmet.

The photo shoot will take place at the following locations:

VOTED SIX WORST PLACES TO RIDE IN GAINESVILLE (Please feel free to provide additional feedback, your thoughts on the top six worst places to ride in Gainesville.)

Note: This list is not in priority order.

1. University Avenue east of UF Prez House and west of Waldo Road & from N.W. 8th to tower road ...maybe beyond.

2. 13th (441) from Archer Rd. to N. 39th. & crossing the intersection with Archer Road - the slip lane/ beginning of Archer Road is very dangerous & especially @ 8th Ave overpass

3. Archer from 23rd to interstate ? especially @ Archer & SW 34th Street intersection

4. Main St. fr! om depot to n. 23rd.ave ? especially @ NW 16th Avenue & Main Street intersection

5. NW 34th St north of University Ave and south of 16th St

6. Draw for sixth worst place to ride in Gainesville:

NW 6th Street

NW 8th Avenue between NW 6th Street and Main Street

NW 16th Avenue west of Main St

S.W 20th from 34th to interstate

North 23rd Avenue

SE 4th St - between Depot Ave and Williston Rd