[Fradow]

There is a definitive solution to debris on bike lanes though: puncture-resistant tires. Sure, they are not cheap, at around 100€ for both (which is as much as a whole cheap bike), but they do not puncture. In years of having puncture-resistant tires, I have not had a flat tires, and I commute by bike daily in a busy city. Now I don't even bother avoiding glass even if I see it in advance.

Snow, ice and wet leaves are definitely concerns though. If there is a hint of snow/ice, I will not ride my bike, as bike lanes aren't plowed/salted and I don't have snow tires (not enough days of freezing temperature here to make it worth it). It's the only weather reason to not take my bike actually.

[ndsipa_pomu]

I think you're approaching the issue from the wrong direction.

Broken glass is not a desirable feature of any part of the road, bike lanes or pavements (sidewalks). Puncture proof tyres won't help if someone loses their balance and gets a face full of broken glass.

The answer is to remove broken glass and other detritus. This is surely just a basic function of society.

[loeg]

Puncture-resistant tires have awful ride quality; this is not a general solution to the problem of debris.

[ndsipa_pomu]

Whilst I agree with it not being the way to deal with debris, tubeless tyres have great ride quality and can shrug off most punctures. Their only downsides are excessive cost, expertise needed to install/change them and occasionally getting squirted with sealant if a hole doesn't seal immediately.

[loeg]

Tubeless tires and the kind of stiff, slippery, puncture resistant tires GP is talking about (Gatorskins or Marathons) are somewhat orthogonal. Tubeless certainly helps! I ride tubeless Conti GP5000s (which have fantastic ride quality) personally, but they would not work well if I was constantly riding in glass. (I also regularly go thousands of miles without flatting, but that is in large part because I don’t have to ride through broken glass.)

[ndsipa_pomu]

GP5000s for the win!

I doubt any pneumatic tyre would be suitable for constantly riding over broken glass. Solid tyres, however would last a while until they got completely shredded, but the ride quality of solid tyres is dismal. The problem is that the shock of a bump isn't distributed around the tyre as it would be with air, but instead stays in one place. That then requires a stiffer material to be used so that you don't put too many dings in your rim which makes the ride quality (and speed) worse. Riding on solid tyres really sucks the fun out of cycling.

[blacksmith_tb]

I will let you enjoy the hand-sewn joy and keep commuting on my kevlar-belted Contis, I think. Having to replace a tube (I don't even both to patch any more) in near-freezing rain is very low on my list of favorite activities.

[loeg]

No one wants flats in freezing rain. That’s why we’re advocating for sweeping lanes of broken glass and other debris.

[blacksmith_tb]

Which I am also all in favor of, but I think I will stay on kevlar even if that day comes, sort of the cycling equivalent of 'trust, but verify'.

[Angostura]

> There is a definitive solution to debris on bike lanes though: puncture-resistant tires.

Fantastic - no need to sweep anywhere at all now. We just wear thick boots and make sure cars have thick tyres