On the national site, as well as the Santa Fe site, bike lanes are shown as protected bike lanes, that is, there is a physical barrier between the fast (buses, trucks, cars) and slow (bikes) modes of transportation.

However, when it comes to the examples drawn up for different locations in Santa Fe, no protected bike lanes can be found. For bikes, the same old solution, namely a stripe on the asphalt separating high-speed trucks and cars from bikes is shown. Although some decorative paint is better than nothing, it is very far from safe. Often you can see people biking on the sidewalk rather than in the unprotected bike lane, proof that people don't feel safe in unprotected bike lanes.

Below I propose some upgrades to the examples shown. These typically involve moving the curb-and-gutter, and paving bike paths. Clearly this is more expensive than opening a few cans of paint, but as a planning and advocacy organization, it is not appropriate to self-censor and go with the status-quo cheapest solution, and if we don't press for proper protected bike lanes or paths now, then we will never achieve the goal of a bike-friendly town.

The car lanes are a bit narrower, and white and green paint define a bike lane. Note to the right of the bike lane is a curb, a few feet of plantings, and a sidewalk. Two bikers are shown riding side-by-side on the bike lane. Also, the curb/gutter cuts into the bike lane by more than a foot, causing a seam that presents a danger to bikers.

We know from experience that on roads like Airport, when there is a decent sidewalk available as shown here, bikers will ride on the sidewalk, rather than alongside high-speed cars and trucks. We also know that cars will frequently drift over the white line into the bike lane.

Ideally, the green strip should have substantial shrubs and weeds in it, visually contributing to the separation between fast and slow traffic modes, and helping to moderate speeds in the rh car lane.

Two car lanes are reduced to one, and white and green paint define an unprotected bike lane. Note again to the right of the bike lane is a curb, and a sidewalk. Also, the curb/gutter cuts into the bike lane by more than a foot, causing a seam that presents a danger to bikers.

We know from experience that cars will frequently drift over the white line into the bike lane.

Note two lanes are reduced to one (good!). The newly available asphalt is painted to define a bike lane. At the approach to the stoplight, the bike lane merges with the right-hand turn lane for the cars.

Note two lanes are reduced to one (good!). The newly available asphalt is painted to define a bike lane. You think the little girl is safe?

Note three lanes are reduced to two (good!). The newly available asphalt is painted to define a bike lane. At the approach to the intersection, the bike lane merges with the right-hand turn lane for the cars.