Actually the chance of a collision between a car and and a bike on paths such as we have here on Martha's Vineyard is not 180% more likely than if a cyclist rides the road way with traffic but rather 2.5%, 250% more likely.

These paths give the novice cyclist a false sense of security,

The problem is in the design. A two way path on one side of the road. Half the time the cyclist is going against traffic thus breaking the law. Motorists for as long as we have had such paths here on the Vineyard still fail to look both ways when crossing the paths.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, (AASHTO), guide to bicycle facilities lists the design problems of a two way path on one side of the road.
It's a picture perfect description of paths such as we have here on Martha's Vineyard and in it, the potential dangers inflicted upon the path users.

The problem is indeed motorists not looking both ways when crossing the path way, entering and exiting drive ways and side roads in their constant mad rush to get wherever.

The powers that be try to compensate for the known design flaws, not by attempting to educate the motoring public but rather further making things worse for the cyclist by installing unenforceable stop signs for the path users further giving motorists the false sense that they have the right of way over the cyclist when in reality, and in law, the cyclist and other path users have the right of way over motorists.

Here on the Vineyard these paths are used for VTA bus stops, turning lanes, passing lanes, staging areas for contractors, parking for FEDEX and UPS and parking for every other inconsiderate motorist out there, for what ever reason, what ever lame excuse. 
Just look at the so called vegetative buffer between path and road ways on our Vineyard, side of the road paths. They are for the most part dirt as the motor vehicles have obliterated the vegetative part of the ineffective buffer from driving on it.

Think of the visual impact such a path would have on Chappy if it were to be built correctly with the safety of cyclists and pedestrians in mind and not for the convenience of the motoring public at the expense of the path user being the true reason behind this path.

A 10' path with at least a 5' wide separation between path way and road way. A physical barrier to keep motor vehicles off of the path. Markings and signage on the path way at road crossings and drive ways directing motorists to stop and give right of way to path users.

Then there is the surface material. Crushed stone is not a good idea in regards to maintenance. Look at the snow out side your window this morning. Think of what such a path would look like after it was plowed. Plus a heavy summer rain storm could trash a crushed stone path way.

The best design to accommodate pedestrians would be a side walk.
There already is a multi use facility on Chappy. It's the road way.

The closer a cyclist behaves (predictable) like a motorist the safer a cyclist is. 
Posted by David Whitmon on Thursday, 1/1/09 @ 6:29am