A bike lane on DeKalb Avenue? Seriously?

Both drivers and bicycle riders need to know the laws and be aware of each other to prevent accidents. Bike messenger Caitlin McElroy is shown in this file photo. (Seattle Times)

Both drivers and bicycle riders need to know the laws and be aware of each other to prevent accidents. Bike messenger Caitlin McElroy is shown in this file photo. (Seattle Times)

So the city's considering removing the "suicide lane" from DeKalb Avenue — that middle lane that changes directions with the flow of traffic — and making space for a bicycle lane.

Great idea. Take one of the only crosstown routes that actually moves traffic efficiently and turn it into a parking lot. Now, a lot of New Urbanism folks will tell you that it's time to change the focus on cars and put it more on pedestrians and cyclists.

But this is lunacy. Don’t just take it from me. Ask people like Tim Hovey, who owns a gym on DeKalb Av and is also a regular bicyclist.

“That doesn’t make sense; it’s crazy,” he said. “Does it need bike lanes? Definitely. Is there room? No.”

Read Torpy's full column on the continuing war between cars and bikes.