The pitch is great: Let’s take a car culture waste product that would otherwise be burned and instead turn it into a barrier to protect the lives of people biking.
Meanwhile, researchers at UW have identified a tire chemical — 6PPD-quinone — that is likely a major cause coho salmon population decline. The chemical gets into waterways through wear and tear from cars and trucks driving on roadways.
This style of barrier has been in use in Toronto for some time, albeit concrete, and they are tall enough that vehicles can’t drive over them without damage. Being waist high (like a jersey barrier) would prevent pedestrians from just walking over them.
I haven’t seen anything to indicate bicyclists have been falling because of this type of barrier.
Lot of pictures online like this though
You haven’t come down south and seen American trucks. Those barriers won’t stop shit.
We unfortunately have plenty of American trucks in Canada including the ones that come pre-lifted with adult-sized grilles
In a similar vein, I’m sure a Fiat 500 could jump a jersey barrier driving at freeway speed straight at it.
Toronto barriers work well enough for preventing the average vehicle from casually driving through a bike lane to cut a corner or avoid a pothole, while also not being a hindrance for foot traffic.
It’s a pretty good middle ground. If it increases ridership, maybe fully segregated bicycle infrastructure could take root.