For months it looked like this. Yikes!
Ennis City road department has completed their resurfacing project on Kaufman Avenue.
They have done a very good job!
There is a special delight in driving on smooth pavement.
It sports four 12 foot lanes and a center common turn lane in the 35 mph section. I am allowed to travel on this part of the roadway.
It has four 12 foot lanes with disappearing shoulders in the transition between 45 mph and 35 mph section.
It has not been established where along here I am allowed to leave the shoulder and begin operating on the roadway.
There is no indication of where along here I am required to abandon the roadway for the shoulder. (Or is that a “designated bike lane”?)
I am not allowed to travel on the roadway along these part according to local police, the local prosecutor and the local court, contrary to State law. Go figure!
It seems strange and ironic that where the pavement is new and beautiful, you're allowed to ride on the road, but where it's pock-marked and terrible, you're being directed to ride in the even-worse shoulder ... especially on a road that has passing lanes.
ReplyDeletePerhaps one day Ennis, TX will understand that tax-paying cyclists are a better buy than tax-paying drivers, since they produce less wear and tear on the road, and get its ducks in a row? From all you've said about the police and so forth in Ennis, they do seem to be good people, just ... misguided.
Also, if I were the Ennis PD, I would be issuing summonses for people placing what amount to non-emergency calls to 911, not bugging the cyclist they're calling about (unless, of course, the cyclist in question actually needed help!).
Glad to see you're still riding!
Great page of photos, Reed! You are documenting this crazy story so it can't be forgotten. The truth will prevail.
ReplyDeleteKokorozashi said...
ReplyDelete"Also, if I were the Ennis PD, I would be issuing summonses for people placing what amount to non-emergency calls to 911, not bugging the cyclist they're calling about (unless, of course, the cyclist in question actually needed help!)."
Excellent point, sir.
That shoulder sucks.
ReplyDeleteKhal said...
ReplyDelete"That shoulder sucks."
Khal, Andy Clarke (in his fact-impaired missive yesterday)says that is a 'perfectly rideable shoulder'.
Who are you going to believe? Andy or your lying eyes?
I routinely ride on very similar shoulders. I haven't crashed my bike, been hit by a car, or gotten a ticket.
ReplyDelete