There is a solution.
I suggest that “bikes” be replaced, perhaps, with “cars.”

Anyway, if people plan to demonstrate, at least do it in a way that instead of blocking every lane leaves at least one lane open for automobiles to drive the speed limit. The bottom line is that when you get a lot of people together to protest, the slightest thing can escalate into something far more serious than a simple protest… some people simply lack the ability of self control and will follow instead of leading in situations that are malicious, etc. This pertains to all protests, not just cyclists protesting automobiles and fossil fuel usage. Either way, both automobile and bicycle drivers/riders could have a bit more respect/patience for each other.. even though you don’t exactly see a bunch of people in cars protesting against those on bikes (unless you sneak in something stupid like “that’s what they do everyday when they are on the roads in huge numbers just… driving”).

As far as this construction goes, it is very common for them to shutdown sidewalks, not allow pedestrians, limit access to certain vehicles, etc. etc. etc. There are many regulations that they must follow and that is just how the law works, more unfortunate in some cases than others. However those that drive automobiles face the EXACT same situations when entering a construction zone, having to take an detour that adds X # of mins/even hrs. to travel time. But after reading what will be available once construction is complete, it sounds like the road will be even better suited for those on bikes.. but having to wait months and the lack of an alternate route w/o adding on substantial time does suck but I mean hey, this is why there are automobiles/buses/cabs/etc. so perhaps during this time, those of you that do have a car should take advantage… just for several months however some of the demonstrators are just too ‘hardcore’ to give up their bike, carpool, whatever. Just get over it, today’s society/economic situation/etc. sucks for everyone, not just those on bicycles. There are much larger issues that need attention than making sure your bicycle can access every area at anytime and block all traffic while doing so in large numbers even carrying your babies with you (yes I have seen the videos with people carrying babies on their back while on a bicycle on a congested street with other bicycles/automobiles/etc.) These people are so hell-bent on creating a fuss about their cause that they actually endanger the lives of their children… in one video even to the point of the child screaming and crying and the parent just yelling at someone in a car.

Relax people, bicycles are cool and so are cars but there is one lesson that repeats itself in every confrontation with a automobile and a bicycle. The automobile will win every time in a head-to-head battle so at least leave some room for cars to move, otherwise I’m sure more bicycles will needlessly end up being crushed underneath more vehicles and I’ve seen many posts by people who are apparently hunting for these people just to do that very thing and run as many bikes over as possible.

P.S. To the girl in the video with the old couple in the van, you actually had a panic attack, screaming, crying, shaking, etc. b/c your bicycle’s front tire was bent when it was partially ran over by the front right tire. You get the over dramatic award thus far in a video depicting cars/bikes and the outcome. Pathetic. And to the guy w/ the video camera yelling “Everyone who is NOT hurt and didn’t get ran over.. something something something….” that was just hilarious as NO one was ran over.

And on a closing note, If a big mob of people on bikes are purposely blocking the road by taking up every lane just to make people angry and you stop in front of me all of a sudden, I am going to run your bike over.. not you, but your bike.. and I’m sure there are going to be replies like “Yeah, and I will kick your ass, blah blah blah.” It’s not so much that I would be worried of a fist fight but that if someone ended up trying to enter my vehicle and attack me, they will definitely meet my problem solver and I’m sure you can guess it’s name. I doubt you are going to stand there and let yourself be ran over but based on the decisions I’ve seen in videos thus far, it wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see idiots doing this.

The hell with idiots of all creed, religion, race, etc.

Also… for you fellow Flagstaffians… there is a GoldSprints competition coming up this Saturday! Hype this event… it’s not like it involves either cycling or getting drunk…

http://robothouse.org/2009/03/16/mustache-march-flagsprints/

FlagSprints
Saturday March 28th
8pm @ Tacos Locos (signups@8 races start@9)
$5 entry fee, various prizes
Watch for free!
ALL AGES EVENT.
FlagSprints is Flagstaff’s very own Goldsprints, a bicycle roller racing and social event. Compete head to head to head in 400m sprint races. If you’re over 21 years of age, wear a mustache and get 2 for 1 PBRs! Various prizes from local businesses for male and female winners & the most proper mustaches.

If – when the Gordon Biersch on Mill gets its 2.0 update including the addition of 5 extra floors of arbitrary space for their “nik-nak” display to lure turons with – the construction dudes can make a little tunnel right next to the construction area that allows the little pedestrian gerbils to continue their mindless saunter without getting donked by the falling debris, they can accommodate cyclists on the road. It’s a matter of choice & a matter of voice.

oh, AND Lake Mary is THE ONLY road in flagstaff that is safe for road riding. they can accommodate. This is all about cyclists being a discriminated minority.

Closing the road to bicycles completely lessens risk for cyclists. Construction debris, road workers, constructions vehicles, narrower road for cars to travel on, and blind spots created by one or all of these things are just dangerous.
If a cyclist rides through, catches a wheel in a hole or on a metal plate and eats shit, what happens? In our overly litigious society, my bet is a lawsuit.
Risk and liability are concerns here.
Find a way around…doesn’t look too damn difficult.
Settle down…there are more important things to worry about than your favorite road being closed while it’s IMPROVED for safety!!!