Those grade separated bike lanes are horrid indeed, but if you want to really experience their "charm" try riding one of them on a tandem. Add a trailer and it gets really exciting. Add a trail-a-bike and a trailer and it starts getting into the realm of a youtube video.

Things like that elevated bike lane and the equally awful two-way cycletrack on Alder, as well as the back-in parking on E 13th and the bike signal on Alder, go in so that our city staff can check a box and apply for League of American Bicyclists awards. 

LAB never checks on whether or not anything actually works, just that cities check enough boxes (like paying a useless person to be the bike and ped coordinator). I'm beginning to wonder how large a percentage of the cycling community can disappear before LAB will lower a rating. We may find out if local trends continue.