Clarence: The Purple Traffic Calming Wizard
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA 
on 02.23.08
OK, we said yesterday when we wrote about an NYC Bike Move that we were “posting one more time” about StreetFilms, but we just can’t seem to leave these guys alone. We’ve already covered their videos on everything from raised cross-walks to chicanes to cycling heroes - what more can be left? Plenty by the looks of things, as we realized when we came across Clarence the Purple Traffic Calming Wizard. Could he be any relation to a certain cycling sasquatch we’ve come to know and love? Watch out for some shocking, though unsurprising, disregard by motorists for New York City's fabulous new separated bike lanes. ::StreetFilms::via site visit::
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It's hard to see, but Madison, Wisconsin has some divided bike lanes for traffic in the opposite direction, along with ~6' dedicated lanes in traffic for traffic in the same direction as University Avenue:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=43.0733,-89.4055&sll=43.073496,-89.405494&sspn=0.011489,0.019462&ie=UTF8&latlng=&ei=doLAR_yDDYGiqwLbr7jCDA
It's too wide! that's why the taxis and trucks are going in. If you're going to compare it to holland, know that separated bike lanes are half that size. I'm sure it's a firelane issue, or something, though.
Solution to keeping them out is easy. Its evil but effective. Just smash into the car and call 911. Make sure your friend is on the side video taping it for the judge to see. Next it will hit every news stand and media and then people will start to keep out.
That take care of the education part lol.
No for real thats the only civil way people will learn. The other solution is to spend Billions of dolllars for education to teach each individual on how to drive. add the courses to drivers ed, and change out all the books.
My Idea is cheaper and it happens every day.
Couldn't there be an overhead bar that keeps oversized vehicles like trucks from going in? I'm sure that would be too expensive, though, to put at every entrance, but it's an idea.
Sorry, but this is overengineering at it's worst. Stick to the basics: Same roads, same rights, same responsibilities. Making weird special lanes for everyone just complicates life, and makes it messy to get anywhere. Put sharrows in all the lanes and be done with it. Please?