The new bike lanes on North 21st Street are a good idea. Barely. The road is wide enough, and they were able to add turn lanes at some crucial intersections where drivers under highway hypnosis still insisted on sitting and waiting to turn left at green circles, while corking the traffic flow behind them for blocks.
The number one goal of all roads should be to make traffic flow smooth and fast. Many people believe safety should be the first priority, but I emotionally disagree. Every area, no matter how residential the idealist would like it to be, needs thoroughfares. Those who are concerned with pedestrian safety should certainly not be walking on North 21st. Even the bravest of walkers would agree that there are much better roads for walking than North 21st; it has always been and always will be a major arterial across the north end. Personally, I’m afraid that this road will be dangerous for cyclists, even after the lines are painted. Hopefully, I’m wrong.