Have you ever used a crosswalk at an intersection with cars? People constantly take a run at pedestrians and run red light which kills people all the time. Drivers constantly park in bike lanes next to empty driveways and empty parking lots. Does that mean I should not support roads for cars because “you guys can’t handle bike lanes?” See how absurd of a statement that is?

I will point out that the entire road looks empty, except out in the distance. Such a waste of space to have that many lanes.

But onto the photo. Is this a very new bike lane?

I see no signs, no painted indicators, nothing to indicate what it’s for. That could be for pedestrians for all we know.

Most cyclists don’t use sidewalks, because sidewalks are bumpy and uncomfortable to ride on, and sidewalks tend to be more dangerous than other routes.

However, I can think of a few reasons why someone like the person in the photo might:

a) they are unaware that the bike lane exists, especially if there are no way finding signs or painted surfaces.

b) they might not have a clear way on/off that path; for example, where does it end up putting them? Right on the road, or to other cycling infrastructure?

c) they might have a left turn coming up, and the path doesn’t take them there.

d) there could be some unknown variable that we don’t know about in this context. For example, since it looks new, it’s possible that there could be construction or constructions signs on the other part of that bike lane, forcing the rider to move onto the sidewalk.

e) it might actually be the safest way around, for one reason or another.

I’m not sure why the sidewalk and this apparent bike lane are connected like that. Seems like they built it out of spite, and not because they wanted to improve safety or convenience for either cyclists or pedestrians.

But I assume that it’s a very new (just made) bike lane, and that signs/wayfinding will come, and fewer people will choose the sidewalk.

What would the alternative be? Have them use the road? Wouldn’t we be back to square one with all the arguments to put in cycling infrastructure?

Zipping past elderly and toddlers on the sidewalk, while the hard curve divided bike lane sits empty. And this happens multiple times a day.

I won’t condone that kind of behaviour, especially if it jeopardizes safety. I know the feeling as a cyclist, but in my case, it’s usually multi-ton SUVs travelling at well above the speed limit, and punish passing me while they have a perfectly good empty lane beside them.