hmm, I would rather have street sweepers adapt to bike lanes than removing them
You really don't want to share a road with cars. I did not have someone swerve at me to hurt me yet, but I see that regularly on social networks (just a local bay area user group too .. not something national).
I already had cars accelerate until they are caught up with me, and then do something dumb like klaxon loudly or yell to hope to make me trip.
And of course multiple occurences of cars that think it is ok to cut up right in front of you and brake, or that want to overtake you when there is no space and there are literally less than 10 cms between you and the car.
So I would definitely rather have a secure lane .. even if it means that we must adapt cleaning equipment.
That's what's done in the Netherlands, and I can confirm: it's far safer and comfortable to cycle in separate bicycle lanes, and it greatly encourages people to cycle.
The infrastructure has not caught up to them yet though. Many roads are in a terrible state. It is ok for cars or bikes, but skates have small wheels so you have to stay vigilant at all times. Even on the same street from one day to the next, some extremely large pothole might have appeared.
If bikes and skates had reserved lanes with :
- a barrier ! So cars can't park there and crazy drivers can't try to kill you (sadly it happens)
- good smooth pavement.
it would be way safer and could encourage many more people not to use a car.
Especially since SF does not have a good public transport system (that would be another thing to improve drastically)