A rogue bike lane was created a few weeks ago in Wichita, Kansas—but this time with a twist. The lane was already painted, but wasn’t protected. So, some urban warriors took matters into their own hands with a common houshold object: toilet plungers.
According to a report from KSN, when cyclists started pedaling to work at the end of February, they found their bike lane had been staked out by lines of plungers wrapped with reflective tape, creating a safety barrier between riders and traffic.
Cyclist Todd Ramsey was the first to share a photo of the plungers on social media, asking a reporter about the new additions:
@SuzanneTobias is this a City thing?
Now that’s a creative use of bathroom gear. And, of course, the puns have been flying on Twitter and Facebook as the story has been shared. ("Is this bike lane in the toilet? Or did activists take the plunge for good reason?” tweeted DandyHorse.)
The stunt isn't just about fun and games—studies have shown that people feel safer (and therefore are more likely to ride) when protected bike lanes are available, compared to the more common painted lanes that still flow with traffic.
RELATED: Paint Your Own Lane
As for Wichita, the city does have a cycling infrastructure that’s steadily been growing. Barry Carroll, founder of the nearby Bike Walk Wichita, told CityLab that the city already boasts 100 miles of bike lanes, with more being added regularly. But clearly, someone (perhaps a plumber’s union?) felt that there was more Wichita could be doing for cyclist safety.
Bike lane vigilantes aren’t uncommon—just two weeks ago, a video from one Philadelphia cyclist stickering cars parked in the lane went viral. These DIY-style lanes (painted or protected) tend to crop up in major cities, and last year in San Francisco, a rogue set of soft-hit barriers illegally installed actually became a permanent fixture in one lane. ( Subscribe to our daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on all bicycling-related news, gear, and more!)
It's important to stay safe while riding in traffic. Here are a few ways to make a left turn when bike lanes aren't an option:
