Greenfield Road

A Very Sensible Bike Lane in Schenley Park

Except to those who oppose all bike lanes, the Greenfield Road bike lane is a fine example of sensible bike lane policy.  The bike lane runs only northward (uphill) from along Greenfield Road in Schenley Park (not to be confused with Greenfield Avenue) from the Greenfield Bridge to the intersection where Panther Hollow Road becomes Hobart Street, and Greenfield Road becomes Bartlett Street. Intersections are problematic for bike lanes, and there are no intersections across this bike lane. There is also no parking along the bike lane, and very little demand for parking on that road generally. It does get substantial northbound traffic during the morning rush.

We generally advocate that bicycles use the same lanes as motor vehicles, but we also recognize that there are cases where even slow motor vehicles, such as heavy trucks, are relegated to slower lanes to make passing easier going up hills. Such slow lanes are not often necessary for bicyclists, who usually have the good sense to let people pass when it is safe to do so. However, this road has an additional problem: a blind curve that motorists - especially in sporty cars, tend to take at speeds that are only safe if there are no obstacles further up the road. The inside of the curve cuts into a heavily wooded embankment, concealing the road ahead, especially during seasons of thick vegetation.

The speed limit is only 25 miles per hour, and if cars even stayed under 40 miles per hour, they would have little difficulty seeing and safely passing cyclists. In that case, savvy cyclists would protect themselves by riding toward the left side of the lane where they could be seen sooner, and would veer to the right at the approach of motorists. But when a motorist is testing the limits of his road-hugging sports car, there just isn't time to get over. In that case, it's better that the motorist knows the five feet on the right-hand edge are off limits to him.

We appreciate that there is no bike lane on the downhill side of the road, where cyclists can travel at higher speeds and where there are no problems with blind curves. We also appreciate that the bike lane ends at Overlook Drive, well before the busy intersection with Panther Hollow Road / Hobart Street. It would be better still if the intersection ended somewhat earlier, so motorists would not be confused by cyclists who leave the bike lane to turn left onto Bridle Trail or Overlook Drive.

It might also be that cycling safety would have been better served with signs that said simply "Watch for Slow Cyclists," but this is still one of the city's better bicycle lanes.

We are interested in comments and questions that lead to light, not heat. Comments will be accepted or rejected accordingly.