Worst Bicycle Lanes Kyoto 2013

京都市専用自転車レーンワースト３

It is time for CycleKyoto's annual "Worst Bicycle Lanes" list. Kyoto does not have any bike lanes that are completely separated from either pedestrian or automobile traffic. Therefore, one is talking degrees of separation, or degrees of less bad bike lanes.

In recognition of the city's half-hearted (baked?) effort at laying down an infrastructure for cyclists - excluding, of course, the many parking lots for bicycles here is the second annual awards for Worst Three Bicycle Lanes in Kyoto.

We have not included any of the "lanes" painted onto sidewalks. The winning lanes are on the road.

3. Bronze Medal - Oike Dori on the south side of Nijo Castle

Going east towards downtown as you ride past Nijo Castle on your left, the left lane of Oike Dori in is a "bike lane." (A picture of the lane is on page 12 of this Kyoto City report on bike lanes.) We know this because on the street in large block white letters it is noted 自転車専用 (exclusively for bicycles). However, the lane has been colonized by cabbies, salarymen, delivery trucks, and others who park there, which forces cyclists back out into the remaining lane and traffic. Moreover, aside from the lettering, there is nothing - no construction, no signage, nothing - to indicate its putative purpose.

Useless and dangerous.

2. Silver Medal - on Shinmachi Dori in front of the Police Headquarters

This "lane" is brilliantly bad (see left). It is just one city block, or roughly 250 meters long. It goes to nowhere, and comes from nowhere. It is the Dante Tenth Circle of Hell Bike Lane: you can circle the two sides of the street, within the lanes, forever, getting nowhere, going nowhere, accomplishing nothing.

Moreover, a taxi lane is built into part of the lane on the west side, so that cops and bureaucrats at the prefectural government building next store can catch a ride home. Also, because of complaints about the coloring - it was too bright and blue - the lane was repainted a more subtle, a more "Kyoto" brownish purple. According to the Yomiuri newspaper, that cost the taxpayers 6.5 million yen ($78,500). In typical Kyoto fashion, the awful original paint job, and then the money involved to redo it, nearly caused a riot.

Awful.

Drum roll, please. It is time for the 2013 CycleKyoto.com award for the worst bicycle lane in Kyoto. And the winner is:

1. Gold Medal - The "lanes" pictured at the top right and below right on Rokkaku Dori, Higashinotoin, etc., in the center of town north of Daimaru Department store. The lanes are barely as wide as normal handlebars. Outside the white line is the space designated for pedestrians; cyclists are allotted the space within the white and purple lines; and automobiles are squeezed into the middle space.

Absolutely hopeless. A complete and utter waste of time and money.

To give the city its due, we will look at the best three lanes next week.


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Kyoto Bike Lanes Three Worst

京都市専用自転車レーンワースト３

Kyoto does not have any bike lanes that are completely separated from either pedestrian or automobile traffic. It thus has degrees of separation, or degrees of less bad bike lanes.

In recognition of the city's half-hearted effort at laying down an infrastructure for cyclists - excluding, of course, the many parking lots for bicycles - well done, Kyoto! - CycleKyoto hereby hands out the first annual awards for Worst Three Bicycle Lanes in Kyoto.

We have not included any of the "lanes" painted onto sidewalks. The winning lanes are on the road.

3. Bronze Medal - Oike Dori on the south side of Nijo Castle

Going east towards downtown as you ride past Nijo Castle on your left, the left lane of Oike Dori in is a "bike lane." (A picture of the lane is on page 12 of this Kyoto City report on bike lanes.) We know this because on the street in large block white letters it is noted 自転車専用 (exclusively for bicycles). However, the lane has been colonized by cabbies, salarymen, delivery trucks, and others who park there, which forces cyclists back out into the remaining lane and traffic. Moreover, aside from the lettering, there is nothing - no construction, no signage, nothing - to indicate its putative purpose.

Useless and dangerous.

2. Silver Medal - on Shinmachi Dori in front of the Police Headquarters

This "lane" is brilliantly bad (see left). It is just one city block, or roughly 250 meters long. It goes to nowhere, and comes from nowhere. It is the Dante Tenth Circle of Hell Bike Lane: you can circle the two sides of the street, within the lanes, forever, getting nowhere, going nowhere, accomplishing nothing.

Moreover, a taxi lane is built into part of the lane on the west side, so that cops and bureaucrats at the prefectural government building next store can catch a ride home. Also, because of complaints about the coloring - it was too bright and blue - the lane was repainted a more subtle, a more "Kyoto," brownish purple. According to the Yomiuri, that cost the taxpayers 6.5 million yen ($78,500). In typical Kyoto fashion, the awful original paint job, and then the money involved to redo it, nearly caused a riot.

Awful.

Drum roll, please. It is time for the 2012 CycleKyoto.com award for the worst bicycle lane in Kyoto. And the winner is:

1. Gold Medal - The "lanes" pictured at the top right and below right on Rokkaku Dori, Higashinotoin, etc., in the center of town north of Daimaru Department store. The lanes are barely as wide as normal handlebars. Outside the white line is the space prescribed for pedestrians; cyclists are allotted the space within the white and purple lines; and automobiles are squeezed into the middle space.

Absolutely hopeless. A complete and utter waste of time and money.

To give the city its due, we will look at the best three lanes in a future blog.


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Kyoto
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Worst Bike Lane in the World in Kyoto Update

京都での世界一番最低の自転車専用レーンのアップデート

Last week we reported on a bicycle lane in Kyoto, which we called the "worst bike lane in the world."

Last year, installed a lane in front of the police headquarters. The lane was originally blue with white lettering indicating its purpose.

It was - and is - a disaster.

First, the lane is just one block. Second, on the west side, the lane runs through a taxi parking zone, which means cyclists have to weave out into traffic to go around the parked taxis waiting for cop clients.

Third, other vehicles often park in the lane.

Recently, however, a new development came to our attention. Kyoto, which is blessed with many beautiful buildings but horrific city planning and zoning enforcement, requires many businesses to tone down the colors of the building fronts. The best known example is McDonalds, which uses a warmer and more subtle red in its signage than can be found in other cities.

Thus, the once standard blue bicycle lane (above right) was offensive to the delicate sensibilities and thus was repainted a dull brown (below left).

More money down the drain for a meaningless lane.



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Worst Bicycle Lane in the World in Kyoto

京都での世界一番最低の自転車専用レーン

Kyoto has stalled in its work on bicycle infrastructure.

Last year, a lane was installed on the wide Gojo Dori sidewalk.

It runs from the Kamo River to Horikawa dori. It is imperfect, but welcome.

Since then, to our knowledge, there has been no work on bicycle lanes.

The city has ample parking, but getting to those bicycle lots often involves salmoning between cars, taxis, buses, pedestrians - or jumping up onto sidewalks.

The city also built a lane - pictured above and below - in front of the police headquarters and just down the block from the prefectural government building. And, we can say with confidence that it is the worst bicycle lane in the world.

For one block, the lane runs on both the east and west sides of the street. However, it is so meaningless as to be a cruel joke - and a complete waste of money and time.

First, the length of the lane is perhaps 300 meters. It is one block.

Second, on the west side, there is a taxi parking zone - inside the bicycle lane. The picture at bottom left shows the bicycle lane - clearly marked 自転車専用 (bikes only) - with a taxi parked and waiting for a customer.

Third, delivery trucks park on both the east and west lanes.


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