Bike Advocate 3 Bikeways

Bike Advocate 3

Class I bikeways

Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code describes Class I bikeways as serving "the exclusive use of bicycles and pedestrians."

The above section is taken directly from the California Department of Transportation Highway Design Manual, Chapter 1000. Summer is coming and again our beaches will soon be filled with people who are not riding bikes! The days of enjoying clear bike paths are coming to an end. Perhaps you had always thought that bicyclists had exclusive use of bike paths? I know I had. However, I was disappointed when I recently discovered the above statement made in the Streets and Highways Code regarding bike paths (defined as Class I bikeways). When did this happen? What this means is that as bicyclists, we may not have the exclusive right of way on a bike path. We are sharing that path with others. This seems unfair to me because many of these paths may have been funded with money designated specifically for bicycle projects. So now, not only are inattentive, speeding, motorists sometimes commandeering our roads but also our bike paths are not really ours! Make safety your first concern of course. Class I bikeways tend to attract less skilled riders. At least there is a place being provided for the less skilled and we should encourage them to ride by being courteous. Who knows what level they may eventually advance to? However, ask any paramedic and they will tell you that they respond to far more bicycle crashes on bike paths than they do on the streets. With that in mind, you probably should slow down when other users are present. For this reason, I have never really been a fan of the beach bike paths and have always preferred the streets. I have also discovered that the safest time to be on a bike path is often at night in a rainstorm! Then there are no conflicts with other users! Where there are specific rules and laws upon the streets, there are none that I see on a Class I bikeway. The choice has to be yours on whether to ride in the streets where rules apply, or ride on a shared multi purpose path where anything can happen. This does not mean that you have to stand by and watch your favorite training route get spoiled each summer. On the contrary, the Design Manual also states, "However, experience has shown that if significant pedestrian use is anticipated, separate facilities are necessary to minimize conflicts." "Dual use by pedestrians and bicycles is undesirable, and the two should be separated wherever possible." That statement could get us separate facilities from pedestrians in some areas. All we have to do is ask. If you live in an area where there is crowding and conflict on your favorite Class I bikeway, take some initiative in making a change for the better. It does not take much to write a letter or make a telephone call to your local municipality and request that a separate facility should be provided for us where crowding and conflicts exist with pedestrians. Consider it your attempt to enhance bicycling environment. Keep in mind though that Class 1 bikeways are very expensive, will never go everywhere and the need to use streets will always exist. Fortunately, we will always have the legal option of using the streets.

This page was last updated 02/17/07