SHOULD KEY WEST BAN BIKES ?
(This article is satire previously posted at savekeywest.com)
We at Save Key West decided to investigate the frazzled state of our Key West streets and are exploring the question, should the city temporarily ban bicycles? The following is our report.
According to un-named city officials, our streets have become overcrowded to the point that something has to give. A new state law (Florida statute §316.083) has recently gone into effect that requires a 3-foot horizontal buffer zone between bikes and cars. It is common knowledge that Key West’s streets are quite narrow and that the roadway is partially used for parking (storage) … which leaves a very limited area for a car or large truck to safely maneuver. This results in a hazardous situation with bicyclists.
“There just isn’t any room left for them! We don’t want to endanger the lives our citizens and visitors, un-documented or legal! We’re opening our selves up for a fatality or even worse a really big and expensive lawsuit” the city says.
County tax revenue office reports a negative contribution by bicyclists,”They put a lot of strain on our local services, automobiles pay a lot of road use tax so deserve more space.” A recent survey estimated 20,000 bicyclists in Key West. “We have been looking into program where everyone can turn in their bike to be recycled and we give them a gas station gift card equal to the scrap value … If they all buy new cars, the fees from tax, tags, titles, fuel tax and parking fees would generate at least $6.5 million into city coffers … which would get the city out of debt by 2016.”
The city transportation department explains, “The average old town street is 32 ft wide. 1 parked car on each side equals 7+7=14 ft and 2 moving vehicles 7+7+=14 allowing 6 inch clearance for side view mirrors = 31 ft leaving only 1 ft for a bicyclists, less than the 3ft minimum ‘safe distance’ for passing a cyclist and when the passing vehicle is large, towing a boat or trailer or tour train/ trolley tour bus, or traveling at much higher speed, greater lateral clearance is needed ‘their lack of ability to interface with larger vehicles may result in property damage and possible loss of life.’” With the new 3 ft minimum buffer zone, the bike lanes on Fleming and Southard are now insufficient, “We probably have to take the paths out or we could be liable.” It is not like the city hasn’t tried, they have been working on the North Roosevelt bike path for over 20 years now and have given up considerable city revenue removing parking meters in over 10 parking spots to place in bike racks.
According to code enforcement, Key West business are required to provide adequate parking for their customers, but you have to actually be shopping there. Most old town residences converted their driveways into pools or garage apartments years ago. If we mess with parking, we will upset a lot of tourists, car campers, and multiple vehicle families, seasonal residents and year rounders too.” They do admit though that there would be less traffic, air and water pollution if there was no need to drive around and around looking for free spot to store your car
We took to the streets to find out what the locals thought of the idea of a ban.
– Bill, a construction manager from South Carolina wondered , “A 3-foot horizontal buffer zone ? My military edition hummer has a 3ft vertical clearance as well so bikes aren’t a problem for me.”
- Theo, a local coffee shop owner said, “Look at that bike rack out front of my store taking up a perfectly good parking space. I could put another red hummer in there!”
- Svetlana, a new winter resident asks, “Is it really necessary to clutter the road with those things? They have spinning classes at the gym were they can do it out of the way.”
- We have to agree with Tom, a local food and beverage manager when he notes “It is always them cyclists complaining about pollution and stuff … why if they got a truck with windows and A/C like real people, they wouldn’t whine about it.”
- We talked with the islands new go-green initiative “People think bikes are clean, but in fact peddling reduces our islands oxygen and creates Co2 and other deadly gasses. Their carbon foot print is more pronounced on a 4 sq mile island”.
- Steve, a visitor from Norway, Maine “It is simple man, it’s the rule of tonnage out there! If you can’t get it up to speed, something’s gonna give and it ain’t gonna be my F350 turbo diesel.
We also hear comments such as “All these bikes make Key West look like a 3rd world country.” and “I thought bikes were for kids till I moved here.”
- Dane, a stock island live-aboard believes that it is time to give up his bike. “It is dangerous out their man. I feel safer in my 22ft box truck.”
- Dave, a NYC city engineer says, “I think the money Key West spends on bike racks would be better put to traffic study conducted by an “unbiased” out of town law firm.
- On a brighter note, Kimmie of the Key West Bike Club is talking to some insurance companies about providing a group plan for liability and collision coverage for Key West bicyclists. It will only work if the city will make it mandatory for all riders, enforced by yearly bike registration and operator licenses and inspections. Prices are coming in at $700 per year per adult, $500 per child (PIP not available though).
The city also generates 39% of its revenue from parking meter collections, broken meter and overtime fines in what could be a bike lane. “If they can come up with $ 5.2 million per year, we could open the lane up for the bikes, but not until 2021 when the city’s contract with its new computerized metering system expires.” In any case, the ban would only be “temporary … until people stop using cars,” the city said.
Note, this article is satire. We wrote it to bring awareness to the fact that we’ve always had a safe lane for all human powered transport joggers,speed walkers, roller bladers,bicycles, etc… but our cars are parked in it.
as John Lennon might have said if here were on the island …
It’s not that hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no pollution too
Imagine all the people
riding the streets in peace…
I hope I’m not the only one
And Key West will be a greener one
Sincerely,
rickeith steveking
Excuse me…Your car is parked in our bike lane !
KEY WEST TRAFFIC STUDY (FREE OF CHARGE)
We have done our own traffic study and determined the following: With approximately half of the available roadway used for vehicle storage, our streets are dangerously incapable of supporting a safe environment for the demands put on them. Just like the ban on smoking for the health and safety of our citizens, its time we realize the same thing has been going on with the automobile we have been putting the convenience of the auto owners ahead of the safety of the general population by letting them store their cars in what rightfully should be a lane for slower moving traffic, instead we have been endangering our visitors and citizens, putting them in harms way which has already resulted in injury and loss of life. And with metered parking the city is profiting by it ! We are not attorneys but we did sleep at the Key West Holiday Inn Express parking lot last night, and it would be in our judgement that the any municipality that puts it residents and visitors in harms way is ultimately liable. Written in the Key West City’s own codes Sec. 62-2. Obstructions. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person willfully to obstruct the free, convenient and ordinary use of any public right-of-way, street, roadway, alley, or sidewalk, by impeding, hindering, stifling, retarding or restraining the passage of either pedestrian or vehicular traffic or by endangering the safe movement of pedestrians or vehicles traveling thereon. And also a new state law (Florida statute §316.083) has recently gone into effect that requires a 3-foot horizontal buffer zone between bicycles and passing cars. When asked about removing a few spots on Eaton to “finish the bike path” a City Commissioner said “i don’t want to be the one to tell the residents they can’t park in front of their own homes” i wonder if he would rather be telling the family of the next victim he’s sorry but our cars are more important than their lives!
LESS CAN BE MORE EXPONENTIALLY- Most businesses and residences have their own parking there is plenty of off-street parking available and in old town we can adapt, smokers did! The parked cars are a blight on the landscape of our beautiful historic district how quaint are the old photos of key west before the automobile, what will the photos say of us in a hundred years ? How much carbon is spewing out in our air when we drive around looking for that free or closer spot? not to mention the oils dripping out on the pavement only to be washed into the waters every time it rains killing whats left of the reef. Limited on street parking in old town means less traffic congestion, resulting in safer quieter friendly laid back streets which will attract more bicycles and other alternative vehicles. If we put a speed limit of 15 mph we could go back to stop signs or more passive speed bumps at all intersections how many millions of dollars will we save getting rid of the obtrusive traffic lights. We can turn our streets back to there historically intended use to provide safe mobility of the people ! The pluses out weigh the minuses by far if you open your mind to it just like quitting smoking.
THANK YOU FOR NOT SMOKING- Key West should be passionately promoting the use of non-polluting vehicles such as bicycles, skateboards,roller blades, electric cars etc.. create local jobs through the rental, sales, repair, and development of new modes of public and private transportation, Lets take advantage of our flat sunny island and build an urban environment that all other cities will envy attracting the new breed of green tourists. And to our City Commission please don’t stifle a greener key west by limiting alternative transportation with a moratorium to stop sales or rentals of low impact transportation vehicles who are part of the solution not the cause .
Our free study recommendations:
1# Enforce rule 62-2. disallow storage of vehicles in public right-of-ways that can’t support safe passage of all users.
2# Place limits on tour vehicles that congest and endanger our roadways for profit.
3# Slow traffic down to safer pace and reduce traffic control spending.
4# Incentives for our visitors to rent or ride non polluting vehicles more applicable to our 2×4 mi island.
5#give property tax credits to vacant lot owners to develop affordable parking for residents
As John Lennon might have wrote if he were on the island …
Imagine there’s no on-street parking
It’s not that hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no pollution too
Imagine all the people
riding the streets in peace…
You may say I’m a dreamer
I hope I’m not the only one
I hope some way you’ll join us
And Key West will be a greener one
rickeith.com keywest
