Q. Dear Honk: Here in the San Fernando Valley some of our major boulevards have been recently re-striped with the far-right lane now a dedicated, combined bus and bicycle lane. I have yet to see a single bicycle in these lanes. But suppose a bicyclist claims his or her rightful place in one, are the planners envisioning that the bus will slowly and carefully, and at a safe distance, drive behind the bicycle for whatever distance the bicyclist rides in that lane? If the bicyclist were to ride for a mile at 10 mph, would the bus simply follow behind, regardless of the bus schedule? I can’t help but feel that this is another example of an idealistic city planner. If it is I who is missing something, Honk, please enlighten me!
– Robert Rakauskas, Winnetka
A. Honk’s referee uniform is at the cleaner’s, so he won’t pick a side but rather lay out Los Angeles officials’ thoughts and let you, Robert, and other readers decide what’s best.
Some other cities have shared bus-bike lanes, as well. Such lanes are a compromise.
“In appropriate conditions, bus-bike lanes are an option on streets where dedicated bus and separate, high-comfort bicycle facilities cannot be provided,” explains the National Association of City Transportation Officials’ website.
“Shared bus-bike lanes can accommodate both modes at low speeds … where buses are discouraged from passing, and bicyclists pass buses only at stops,” the group says.
Generally, the lanes should be reserved for buses operating at 20 mph or less, with buses coming by no more than every four minutes, the association figures.
Colin Sweeney, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, said a bus coming upon a bicyclist could slide into the next lane to pass if need be.
In Los Angeles, some lanes operate as bus lanes just during peak hours. In some stretches, buses and bikes each have their own exclusive lane, adjacent to one another.
California law, Sweeney said, says bicyclists in most cases must roll along to the far right of streets if not going the same speed as traffic.
“Barring bicyclists from bus lanes where there are no adjacent bike lanes would force bicyclists to ride in the middle or left lanes,” he said, adding it is safer to have buses and bikes share.
Expect to see more bus and shared lanes – especially leading up to the Olympics in four years.
Q. I have noticed that 90% of Teslas do not have a front license plate. Have they changed the law regarding front plates? Years back, I got a warning from a sheriff’s deputy for not having one. Do Teslas have an exemption?
– Dave Astrachan, Thousand Oaks
A. No.
If drilling holes into the stylish bumper isn’t an owner’s thing, there are kits available to attach the plates.
To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. Twitter: @OCRegisterHonk
