Quote:
Originally Posted by shermanator
Having worked downtown for 7 years, I've never really understood why people insist on driving downtown to get to work. It's by far the most costly option, and on the majority of the days there is congestion on the roads in some form.
As someone who will never drive to work downtown in my lifetime, I'm curious why others do? Is it simply a choice of convenience? Is it because those who do work downtown and have customers out of the core? Is it because transit service to the far flung suburbs is spotty? Because as someone who walks to work everyday the majority of rush hour drivers seem absolutely miserable every day.
From my own experience as someone who lives in the core, but doesn't use the bike lanes, the only thing I've noticed is that the driving lanes on 12th aren't consistent from 11th St to 1st St. There are always 2 driving lanes but the lane in which cars park changes up between the left lane and the right lane. Get that straightened out and I have no complaints.
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I wouldn't be so confident in that assessment, as things change. I used to live downtown and walked everyday. Worked perfectly, as I couldn't afford car/parking and I could go boozing after work without worry. Fast forward a few years, I moved out of the downtown core. Wanted home ownership, wasn't as interested in the night life and I took transit every day for 7-10 years. Didn't love the bus, but it did work to some extent, as I didn't have any specific commitments after work. Now, married with young children, I live even further from downtown, need to schlep kids to and from daycare/after school activities. Biking isn't workable in my current situation. Bus/Train isn't workable either. I am fortunate to have company parking and I drive. Isn't a perfect solution, but it is pretty much the only alternative for me right now.
For the record, I don't mind taking lanes from cars for bikes. Seems like a no-brainer to separate bikes and cars for safety reasons, and more bikes mean less cars. I am concerned that the climate here is not conducive for full utilization of the bike lanes and I still see cyclists on the regular roads seemingly choosing when they want to be treated as vehicles, and when they want be treated as pedestrians.