Warning this is a rant. I need to get it out, I don't have a blog, don't use Twitter so this will be on HN, sorry folks.<p>"[...]says Grant, who, mindful of the emotional nature of this issue, is careful to talk of “people who cycle” and “people who drive” rather than “cyclists” and “motorists”. “Our cities have been designed for middle-aged men driving cars, but of all the people who need consideration, they’re not top of the list.”[...]"<p>When I see the prevalence of this kind of "protectionist" thinking in first world societies I really wonder if I should think about relocating in a country where these kind of people are just laughed at.<p>These idealists make me angry, they think they're going to make everything perfect where nobody suffers but in fact they make life so boring that suicide is an entertaining prospect.<p>You can't speak your mind anymore because you're bound to offend one of the recognized minorities out there ("people that cycle" seriously ?).<p>I call this the dictate of the weak : put yourself as a victim and you're automatically right with a dozen NGOs to publicize your case and put shame on society.<p>What I wonder is if I'm alone (hey I'm a minority too after all ;-) or there are a lot of people like me, their voices drowned by the politically correct discourse enforced by the media.
I find it exciting to see that traffic engineers on both sides of the pond are working with a much richer palette, possibly enabled by public sentiment that has softened on the idea of how intersections "should" be done.<p>At grade, above grade, signalized, corner, or circle; these decisions require a balance of traffic flow, safety, real estate/cost, and aesthetics. To have engineers or local decision makers not consider an option out of unfamiliarity/prejudice is silly.
My own two cents, based on living for many years in Washington, DC: at low traffic volumes, traffic circles work well. At high volumes, they can become congested.<p>Am I wrong to be surprised that Minneapolis rates among the top 20 cities for bicycling? I would think that bicycling there would be uncomfortable in the winter, and that the loss of lane width to snow would might make it risky.