ROUTE ASSISTANCE!! BIKEBOY WILL HELP YOU GET TO POINT B!
AREA CLIMATE
ATTITUDES: OF MOTORISTS, LOCAL OFFICIALS, ETC.
CHALLENGES
TRAFFIC LAWS FOR BOISE AND IDAHO
LOCAL BICYCLING FAQ's
15 MINUTES OF FAME FOR BIKEBOY
LOCAL BICYCLE-RELATED LINKS
 

BIKEBOY ROUTE ASSISTANCE!  *** FREE!! *** (-;

If you live in the Boise area, and are frustrated about how to get from Point A to Point B on your bike, please contact me! I’m sure I’ve ridden every significant road in Boise and Ada County; I’d love to share my route ideas with you. (At one point, I was going to add some maps to the site, and highlight my preferred routes. And I might eventually do that. The challenges are that they’re always adding new roads, so my map would always be obsolete. And, I am of the opinion that every road should be considered navigable on a bike - after all, every road is legal for cyclists to ride on, so why should some roads be intimidating?)

NOTE: COMPASS of Idaho (Community Planning) has a County Bikeway Facilities map available online (and a printed copy is available for free at most local bike shops or at the Compass office).  It's an 880kb PDF, and takes a while to download... here .

EMAIL ME AT: bikeboy (at) idahospud (dot) net
(Sorry you have to type it in... blame the Spaminators!)


AREA CLIMATE

Boise’s climate is predominantly arid, with mild temperatures and gentle breezes.

The temperature rarely gets over 100, even in the dead of summer, and it’s rare for the mercury to drop below zero, even on the coldest days. Typically, in winter the temperature rises to above freezing during the day, so snow doesn’t stick to the ground very long.

Wind is typically a non-factor for cyclists. A 10mph wind, or less, is the rule, with occasional “breezy” days when the wind gets up to 15-20mph. What wind there is comes in predominantly from the west or northwest. It’s not unusual to have wind from the southeast in the morning, switching to west in the afternoon. With a little luck, you can occasionally get a gentle “push” to Star or Middleton in the morning, and a push home in the afternoon.

Precipitation is minimal in Boise. We get a few snowstorms in the winter, and some rain showers in the spring and autumn. Boise will frequently go 45 or 60 days without any precipitation in the summer months.

Boise Climate Table (Averages, 1961-1990)

ATTITUDES: OF MOTORISTS, LOCAL OFFICIALS, ETC.

MOTORISTS In my experience, the vast majority of motorists are cordial toward cyclists who are sharing the roadway. As long as you are riding in a predictable fashion, and are where you should be, you should experience very few problems.

There are a few folks on the streets who are a little, uh... “slower.”

There are some people who aren’t paying enough attention to their driving. I’ve had near misses with people who were yakkin’ on the cell phone, or pulling out of the parking lot without looking. A lady who was distracted by her infant’s crying actually rear-ended me at an intersection. Scary! I wasn’t hurt; she bought me a new rear wheel.

There are some people, very few, who don’t seem to realize that a bicycle is a legitimate and efficient form of transportation. I had one ol’ boy who rolled down his window and lectured me as I rode along, about how I should be on the sidewalk instead of on the roadway. Oh well.

And then there are a very few redneck-types, generally driving ol’ pickup trucks with an egg-suck dog and 60 empty beer cans clattering in the back, who take amusement in seeing how close they can get that side-mirror to your head without actually hitting you. You can’t tell me otherwise; I observe them pull to the right as they approach me, and then pull back toward the center of the road as they drive on ahead. Oh well, again.

LOCAL OFFICIALS The City’s elected officials, in my opinion, have varying degrees of support for cyclists. They all like the idea of Boise being a bike-friendly community, and they certainly hope cyclists will vote for them in the next election, but it seems that for some, it is merely lip service. Rumor has it that Mayor Bieter has ridden his bicycle to work from time to time, at least when the weather is nice.  And a couple of the City Council members seem to be genuine proponents of "smart growth" and such... which would suggest they support the concept of bikes-as-transportation.  Back in 1994 or thereabouts, the previous mayor, Brent Coles, formed a Bicycle Advisory Committee - I was invited to be a member. It lasted for maybe three years; we were continually frustrated by the impression that we were mostly to be seen, not heard. I resigned, as did a couple other members, and the committee was disbanded shortly thereafter. I will always be grateful for the chance I had to serve - I gained a much better understanding of the issues faced by planners and politicians, when it comes to bicycle infrastructure. I also met several great people who have remained friends and advisors ever since.

ACHD, or Ada County Highway District, is the organization that plans, builds, and maintains most roadways in and around Boise. It gets its direction from five elected commissioners. I give ACHD mixed reviews. One or two of the commissioners may be genuinely interested in making the area more bike-friendly; others give the impression that they feel bikes are toys, not transportation.  They prefer that the local cycling population remain a non-factor.  The ACHD engineers are sensitive to the local cycling community and IMO, are doing a good job of implementing bike-friendly infrastructure as roadways are built and improved.

In early 2004, ACHD implemented a Bicycle Advisory Committee, and I was invited to serve.  It has been mostly enjoyable.  John Wasson is our liaison/facilitator, and he's done a fine job of conveying our sentiments and recommendations to the staff, and explaining harsh reality to a bunch of bike-riding idealists.  And, he's also brought in experts on everything from chip-seal to speed bumps, and my time on the committee has blessed me with more knowledge of how the wheels turn.  (What's REALLY cool is that almost everyone on the Committee really IS a dedicated cyclist - on the nights when we meet, the lobby is generally filled with a wide variety of 2-wheelers.)

Everyone in government who is involved in local traffic policy must recognize the impact their decisions have on all the citizenry, regardless of transportation choices. Traffic is largely responsible for the quality of the air we all breathe, the amount of time we must allocate to getting around the community, the transportation our kids are able to choose, and many other quality-of-life issues.

CHALLENGES

The debate will always rage, as to how much public money should be allocated for bike facilities. The naysayers will always argue that money is better spent on more and wider roads for cars, since the majority of voters get around in cars, not on bikes. (I would suggest a look at Los Angeles, if one feels that more roads will provide a realistic long-range solution.) As traffic worsens, and inevitably it will as the population of Boise and Ada County continues to increase, hopefully there will be additional incentive for people to give cycling (or bus transportation, or car pooling) a try. As the number of bike commuters increases, so will support for bike facilities.

However, the big challenge is NOT lack of adequate facilities.  I recently sent this response to an ACHD request for feedback from the community on the subject of bike and pedestrian facilities:

Here's what we need most, in my opinion:

EDUCATION
- Educate motorists that bicyclists belong.  They can legally be operated on every street.  The design standards call for traffic lanes that are plenty wide for a car to safely pass a bike.  (With caution, of course.)  Some "P.R." could be included - "A bike on the road means one less car on the road - that's a good thing."
- Educate bicyclists that they have some responsibilities.  There are laws to be obeyed.  (My biggest pet peeve is morons on bikes who are riding against traffic, on a "chicken" collision course with me when I am riding in the correct direction.)  It's rude to ride two or three abreast and block motor traffic.  It's illegal to ignore traffic lights.  Etc., etc.
- Educate the citizenry (more P.R.) that bicycles are a viable, economical, safe and ENJOYABLE mode of transportation.  (As a year-round citizen, I feel a strange mix of contempt and pity for the single-occupant-vehicle slaves, who can't go ANYWHERE unless it's in their car.  I would never willingly go back to that mindset / lifestyle.)
- Educate parents that their kids aren't in mortal danger every moment they're riding a bike, as long as they know how to do so safely.  (And if their parents don't have a clue, and are unsafe riders, they won't be good teachers.)

ENFORCEMENT
- When a car/bike collision occurs, if the motorist is at fault he/she should be held accountable.  "I didn't see him" is NOT a valid excuse for causing an accident, if the cyclist was riding legally.  (I don't have statistical proof, but based on years of interested observation, I have to say that unless gross negligence on the part of a motorist is involved, the bicyclist is assumed to be responsible for any accident he's involved in.)
- Police need to vigorously enforce traffic laws for bicyclists.  As mentioned earlier, I see almost as many people on bikes riding AGAINST traffic, as riding with traffic.  It's stupid, unsafe, and ILLEGAL!  (Apparently it's not my job to educate them - if I try, you can probably imagine the "*@%$!!" response.)  When I call the police to complain, the reply is ALWAYS, "That violation isn't a priority for us."  I believe it's safe to say that bike violators get totally ignored by the police, unless an accident or observed near-miss is involved.  It should NOT be that way!  Stupid, illegal bicyclists are a source of resentment for other roadways users, and that's bad for all bicyclists, legal or otherwise.


TRAFFIC LAWS PERTAINING TO BICYCLES

(Bicycle laws have been summarized from Boise City Code, Section 10, Chapter 14, and Title 49 of the Idaho Criminal and Traffic Law Manual, Chapter 7.  A PDF Document of city laws, as found on the City website, can also be found HERE.)

All bicycles operated in Boise must have operational brake(s), seat(s), warning device (voice is OK), and lighting if operated at night (reflector on back, headlight visible from 500 feet on front).

Bicycle riders generally have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of any other vehicle, except as otherwise listed below or by their nature cannot apply to bicycles. A violation of a bicycle law is an infraction and a violator can be ordered by the court to pay a monetary penalty.

Every rider should ride carefully and exercise due care for their own safety and the safety of others.

The person riding the bicycle must sit upon or astride a permanently attached regular seat.

A bicycle may carry only the number of people for which it is designed and equipped.

An adult rider may carry a child in a backpack or in a child carrier attached to the bicycle.

You cannot cling to, or attach your bicycle to, any moving vehicle on a highway. This does not prohibit attaching a trailer to a bicycle that is designed to accommodate such a device.

A bicycle rider is prohibited from following a vehicle so closely as to be a hazard (drafting). Maintain a safe distance between your bicycle and the vehicle in front of you.

When you ride your bicycle on the roadway you must ride in the same direction as other traffic and as close as practical to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. It is illegal to ride on the left-hand side of the road directly into oncoming traffic. You may ride in other than the right-hand side of the lane when: (a) passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction, (b) preparing to make a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway, (c) necessary to avoid fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards or lanes that are not wide enough to continue safely along the right-hand curb or edge.

If you are riding on a one-way street with two or more marked traffic lanes you must ride as near the left-hand or right-hand curb or edge of the street as practical.

You may not ride more than two abreast except on bike paths which are twelve feet or more in width or on parts of highways which are set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. When you are riding two abreast upon a roadway, or bike path, return to a single file configuration when a vehicle approaches from behind in the same lane.

You must always have at least one hand on the handle bar at all times, even when carrying packages.

When you approach a stop sign you must slow down and, if required for safety, stop before entering the intersection. After slowing to a reasonable speed or stopping, you must yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in or approaching the intersection. After slowing and yielding the right-of-way, if required, you may cautiously make a turn or proceed through the intersection without stopping.

When you approach an automatic control signal you must obey the signal. If you are making a right-hand turn you may proceed without stopping as long as you slow to a reasonable speed and yield the right-of-way if required.

You must signal your intention to turn left or right for at least 100 feet before turning. The hand signal need not be continuous and if the hand is needed for control or operation of the bicycle a signal by hand or arm is not necessary.

You must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and give an audible signal before overtaking or passing a pedestrian or another bicyclist.

When you are riding your bicycle on a sidewalk or crosswalk you have the same rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances. (This means that if a "Don't Walk" sign is flashing you must stop and wait for the "Walk" sign just like a pedestrian.)

FAQ - ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS I GET ASKED REGULARLY

Q: Bikeboy, where should I buy a bike... or... where should I take my bike to get it fixed?
A: I’ve got two shops that I tend to gravitate to. George’s Cycles - they’ve been in Boise for 30+ years - I used to hang out at George’s when it was a tin shed off Warm Springs Avenue. The George’s people are cyclists themselves. They won’t try to sell you more bike than you want, and their repair people are competent. Also, I’ve had good luck with the folks at Idaho Mountain Touring.

Q: Bikeboy, I want to rent a bike when I visit Boise. Where can I rent a bike?
A: Far as I know, Idaho Mountain Touring is the only shop that rents good-quality bikes. They can rent you a road bike or a mountain bike. (There are a couple outfits along the Greenbelt, where you can rent a ‘belt cruiser.) Their phone number is 208/336-3854.

NOTE: I am NOT beholden to any local bike shop. My opinion is based solely on my own personal experience. If you have had a negative experience with somebody I’m recommending, please let me know about it. (I’d hate to think I’m giving out any bad advice here...)

Q: Bikeboy, I’m thinking of moving to Boise. Can you tell me about the recreation opportunities in Boise? (Or where I should be looking for a house? Or which schools are best? Or who’s hiring in the area? Etc.) MY ANSWER...