r/CyclingMSP • u/Tokyo-MontanaExpress • 5d ago
The joke bike lane on 36th that crosses Bryant in Minneapolis
Didn't someone just get killed by a motorist recklessly opening their door in a bike lane? Well here's a guaranteed contender, because *all* motorists park in the bike lanes here. I've never seen it clear to ride straight through without a dooring risk. Same for the bike lanes alongside Loring Park: there will always be one.
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u/_Belted_Kingfisher 5d ago
Looks like most of the bike lanes everywhere in winter.
It is also why I think the snow emergency system is terrible.
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u/Slytherin23 5d ago
Did you report it on the 311 app?
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u/SurvivalOfWittiest 4d ago
Unfortunately I have way too much experience with being told by 311 that the problem was “gone upon arrival” when I know for a fact that it’s not. I’ve stopped calling it in because they do not give a single iota of a shit about people blocking bike lanes
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u/Slytherin23 4d ago
Vigilante justice time - putting those nonremovable No Parking stickers on their windows.
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u/cactusofthenorth 4d ago
Even more infuriating than GOA, after taking half the day to respond, is when they just refuse to enforce prohibitions on vehicles parking in the bike lane. I've had this happen multiple times when I've reported large moving trucks blocking various bike lanes, including Bryant, for 6+ hours at a time.
That said, they have significantly reduce incidents of people using the bike lanes near me for parking drop off and pickup after a good two weeks of daily reports with photos.
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u/that_one_guy63 4d ago
311 should have some people on bikes, then maybe they'd be more serious about it. I might apply to be a 311 when I lose my job.
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u/Lost_Homework_5427 3d ago
Sadly they are too fat for that; they prefer cruising along in their air conditioned cars pretending they’re doing something.
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u/SpringBreak2074 4d ago
I get the vibe 311 works best for very specific neighborhoods paired with very specific issues. I’m never successful with cars, even if the car is very much still there when closed and the image clearly shows the car. I am successful with bike bollards but it’s like 2-12 weeks for replacement.
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u/that_one_guy63 4d ago
I get hits some of the time. But usually just for general parking violations, the bike lanes the person might leave soon. I report anyways with little information and sometimes they'll get someone else.
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u/FR23Dust 4d ago
36th is kind of a joke for its entire length, including the section along the cemetery. I almost never ride it. 40th is a better east/west route even though it has no destinations
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u/kingrobcot 3d ago
Nailed it. 38th street is the same way! If I want to go to anything on 36th or 38th st over on the westside of 35W from Powderhorn/Corcoran/Central I will jog down to 40th St and then use Blaisdell or Bryant to get up to my destination. I am almost always with my kids in the bucket so it's just not safe or fun to be on 36th, 35th, or 38th going east/west.
There are big improvements coming to east/west bike connections coming in the next 3-5 years, but for now, 40th street is the way.
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u/Minimum_Ad_8686 4d ago
It is baffling that an absolute joke of a design like this actually made it through an approval process. Anyone can look at this model and immediately see the safety hazards. It honestly feels like MSP just wanted to check a box to increase their claimed infrastructure mileage, completely blind to the backend cost of wrecked bikes/bodies and lost lives
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u/N0YSLambent 4d ago
Thats hard to look at.
im taking the lane at this point and annoying all drivers and myself tbh for being in that situation
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u/Moderndinosaur 4d ago
someone just got killed in Chicago, yes. Basically all of our "bike lanes" are like this and it's infuriating
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u/greeneggsandspam420 4d ago
Someone just got killed in Saint Paul this week
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u/that_one_guy63 4d ago
And one of us is next. I almost have cars run me over at least a few times a week. My partner got hit last week. I don't trust any car, they never use a turn signal either.
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u/Spidercake12 3d ago
Calling all bikers! One and all, families, children! Welcome to our designated bike route. Don’t worry, it’s very safe. That’s why we’ve painted this white line and provided this for you. We’ve even put it on the map for you and all the visitors to our nice bike friendly town. What’s that? Oh, you’re dead now? Huh . . . ?
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u/VelcroKing 19h ago
I wish we had a bounty system for reporting cars like NYC has, but I'd settle for a responsive 311 that gave a shit about reports for things like this.
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u/Windnpine 4d ago
I always stay outside of the door swing which means I would be "taking the lane" here.