Not having actual "bike lanes" on the streets around here is probably safer than having them on the streets. My opinion. I advocate sharing the road with cars but common sense, self preservation, awareness and experience will dictate the accident rates for increased bicycle use. Unless they propose to put a guard rail between the lane and the road, someone is going to be injured due to ignorance.
I agree that this is not a bike friendly town at all, which also dictates that most drivers and bike riders are not experienced enough to share the road together. If there is to be any type of coexistence on the road, there needs to be a mandatory public awareness class or safety course for both rider and driver. People need to realize that given certain situations, like having an actual lane to ride in is going put bike riders into a false sense of awareness that can create a dangerous accident. There's also, if you have ever ridden a bike on the road, the dreaded "RIGHT HOOK TURN". This is where a rider will be going straight and pull up next to a car that is turning right. It puts you the rider in a blind spot situation.
They would need to put signs up alerting drivers there may be bicycles in the lane. The rider must also be aware of the drivers around himself. Now if a dump truck or any tall vehicle turns right and runs over you on your bike, you have no one to blame but yourself.
Another thing that is dangerous is the attitude of who has the right to be where. A rider can have the attitude to say "they can just go around", while the driver will go around and get as close to the bike as possible just out of spite for them hogging the lane. Most of the time it's not spite, it's an opportunity to pass the biker in a limited amount of space. Believe me, they will knock you off the road, it has happened to me. I laughed when they made old Henderson rd a bike lane; I thought for sure the city was just trying to invite people into an already dangerous situation. Most riders who have been riding the streets for a while have developed certain instincts and view themselves as invisible to everyone around them. Trust me I have been hit, hit other cars that pull out. It only takes one time for that to happen and I promise your awareness and self preservation will go up 95 percent.
I am constantly aware of everything around me. I may have the right to share the road, but around here, if you drop you guard you put yourself at risk. Without proper experience, a bike lane can possibly create a much more dangerous situation for both rider and driver.
Besides, Bike riders and drivers have been mortal enemies for years. It's a cultured egotistical fact. Drivers will tell you flat out tell you that riders do not belong on the road. This causes them to ignore safety all together and sometimes get down right angry. Been there, done that, have the scars to prove it.
Regards, Tim
Here's a few great links for street riding safety.
Bicycling Street Smarts
Evansville MPO's Bicycle and Pedestrian Webpage!
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