Today’s ride was a quick on, just down to Harbor East for a quick trip to the gym and then back home to meet S. for an evening out. I snapped this picture of the cobblestones on the roundabout at the end of PresidentStreet because every time I ride down here I get frustrated by this part. Cobblestones? Really? I’ve complained before and I’ll complain again~cobblestones are the worst. I have big tires on my touring bike, but still this surface unsteadies and shakes me around, and I hate it, so much so that I will get off my nike and walk around this to avoid that ride. I guess it’s there to look “authentic” or something, but it was clearly chosen by folks who never move across surface streets any way other than some SUV or something. I can’t believe I have fashioned a life for myself where I can get this worked up about road surfacing, but there you go. Death to cobblestones! Next time: Why I hate tthe new roundabouts on Guilford, despite their traffic-calming effects.
Would you like to find an anger management class with me?
The cobblestones may have a functional purpose like slowing traffic in that circle.
Yes, I believe they are intended to slow traffic, as well. A non-cobbled bike lane would have been nice! Do you notice any difference between those cobbles and the ones in Fell’s Point?
Yeah, I just think there has to be a better way to slow traffic, because it makes it so challenging to navigate for so many users.
Or…they could have extended the bike lane into the traffic circle and made it a smooth path. Yes. That would have been fantastic.
Did you stop in LaMill coffee for something beautiful! Great coffee, piping hot beignets?
I did that a few weeks ago! So good! I ❤ pastry happy hour.
Roundabouts in Nampa, Idaho just caused a young boy’s death and he was on a bicycle.
I was chatting about our problems on Thames Street with the director of the Fells’ Point Preservation Society and she reminded me that these blocks are properly known as Belgian Block. Cobblestones have rounded tops. There is even a Wikipedia article about it – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sett_%28paving%29
Thank you! I’m adding Belgian Block to the list of road surfaces that are trying to kill us. 🙂