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Bike Lanes in the Hilltop but none on High St?

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Started 2 years ago by Coley
Latest reply from Twixlen

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johnwirtz
Evanston, IL
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lifeontwowheels wrote >>

johnwirtz wrote >>
I'm not sure the Dispatch gave us the full story. The Transportation and Pedestrian Commission Agenda has more details. It sounds to me like they will make some effort to allow cyclists to stay on westbound Broad Street. I'm still not sure why they are bothering with the detour.

It was a compromise to allow some parking. To allow parking, they had to end the bike lane for the 3 blocks and offer an alternative.

My point is that the compromise isn't useful. To allow parking, they had to end the bike lane, but they didn't have to offer the detour. Westbound cyclists can just stay on Broad for three blocks in the wide outside lane, which I expect almost all will do due to the extra length imposed by the detour.

Posted 1 year ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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johnwirtz wrote >>

lifeontwowheels wrote >>

johnwirtz wrote >>
I'm not sure the Dispatch gave us the full story. The Transportation and Pedestrian Commission Agenda has more details. It sounds to me like they will make some effort to allow cyclists to stay on westbound Broad Street. I'm still not sure why they are bothering with the detour.

It was a compromise to allow some parking. To allow parking, they had to end the bike lane for the 3 blocks and offer an alternative.

My point is that the compromise isn't useful. To allow parking, they had to end the bike lane, but they didn't have to offer the detour. Westbound cyclists can just stay on Broad for three blocks in the wide outside lane, which I expect almost all will do due to the extra length imposed by the detour.

O it's not useful at all. Just highlights how screwed up this whole process has been.

Posted 1 year ago #
Matthew
Hilltop
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johnwirtz wrote >>

lifeontwowheels wrote >>

johnwirtz wrote >>
I'm not sure the Dispatch gave us the full story. The Transportation and Pedestrian Commission Agenda has more details. It sounds to me like they will make some effort to allow cyclists to stay on westbound Broad Street. I'm still not sure why they are bothering with the detour.

It was a compromise to allow some parking. To allow parking, they had to end the bike lane for the 3 blocks and offer an alternative.

My point is that the compromise isn't useful. To allow parking, they had to end the bike lane, but they didn't have to offer the detour. Westbound cyclists can just stay on Broad for three blocks in the wide outside lane, which I expect almost all will do due to the extra length imposed by the detour.

John that was the point which was made in the meeting. I'm not sure if it is in writing anywhere, I have bike lane fatigue at this point. Experienced cyclists will use the 14' wide parking lane, meters will be installed to curb the unnecessary use of those lanes by folks who park all day, and it should generally be enough to satisfy everyone. The new hilltop connector will be coming down Eureka, and another line will be installed on Hague into Valleyview, so this offshoot will actually serve all 3 and may help direct people back to Broad from the connector, or not.

The residents up here would like to see the parking maintained all the way down with the 14' lane. I realize there isn't a lot of need now, but none of us can see the future.

On a side note, I am personally in touch with one owner who is renovating a building at Harris and Broad. Guess what their number one obstacle has been with the city when it comes to zoning? Parking. They have spoken about buying up and tearing down houses, but several houses nearby happen to be Sears & Roebuck kit houses which I'd personally like to see saved.

Posted 1 year ago #
johnwirtz
Evanston, IL
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Matthew wrote >>

johnwirtz wrote >>

lifeontwowheels wrote >>

johnwirtz wrote >>
I'm not sure the Dispatch gave us the full story. The Transportation and Pedestrian Commission Agenda has more details. It sounds to me like they will make some effort to allow cyclists to stay on westbound Broad Street. I'm still not sure why they are bothering with the detour.

It was a compromise to allow some parking. To allow parking, they had to end the bike lane for the 3 blocks and offer an alternative.

My point is that the compromise isn't useful. To allow parking, they had to end the bike lane, but they didn't have to offer the detour. Westbound cyclists can just stay on Broad for three blocks in the wide outside lane, which I expect almost all will do due to the extra length imposed by the detour.

John that was the point which was made in the meeting. I'm not sure if it is in writing anywhere, I have bike lane fatigue at this point. Experienced cyclists will use the 14' wide parking lane, meters will be installed to curb the unnecessary use of those lanes by folks who park all day, and it should generally be enough to satisfy everyone. The new hilltop connector will be coming down Eureka, and another line will be installed on Hague into Valleyview, so this offshoot will actually serve all 3 and may help direct people back to Broad from the connector, or not.

I could see the use if it were signed as part of the Hilltop Connector bike route instead of as a Broad Street detour.

I actually am about 75% happy with the design for Broad Street, plus or minus a foot.

Posted 1 year ago #
fensterbme
Columbus - Westgate
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I would think cyclists on West Broad Street would be far more concerned about getting shot than they would by the existance or non-existance of bike lanes.

... love how they have an X marks the spot in the graphic of where a shooting just occurred.

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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fensterbme wrote >>
I would think cyclists on West Broad Street would be far more concerned about getting shot than they would by the existance or non-existance of bike lanes.
... love how they have an X marks the spot in the graphic of where a shooting just occurred.

Whoa... I didn't even notice that on the map.

You'd think the Dispatch would put car crashes on their map whenever they give traffic reports too, eh?

Posted 1 year ago #
Matthew
Hilltop
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Edit: nevermind!

Posted 1 year ago #
TaraMC

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Final decision made by Director Kelsey:

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/05/27/hilltop-plan-routes-bikes-north-of-broad-street.html?sid=101

Posted 1 year ago #
cc

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I have always thought Steele Ave needed bike lanes....

Posted 1 year ago #
futureman
Grandview Heights
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Hilltop plan routes bikes north of Broad Street
Official opts to save 11 blocks of key parking for businesses
THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2010 2:54 AM
BY MARK FERENCHIK
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

In a move that pleasantly surprised some Hilltop leaders, the city decided to route a bike lane through a neighborhood to preserve 11 blocks of W. Broad Street parking that business owners say is vital to their livelihoods.

Columbus Public Service Director Mark Kelsey said keeping the parking was key to his decision.

Last week, the city's Transportation and Pedestrian Commission voted in favor of a route that would have preserved only three blocks of parking. But Kelsey said he followed his staff's recommendation, which he called a good compromise to please both cyclists and business owners.

Westbound cyclists on Broad Street will be routed north on Wheatland Avenue, west on Steele Avenue past Hague Avenue and south on Westgate Avenue back to Broad.

READ MORE

Posted 1 year ago #
johnwirtz
Evanston, IL
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It's important to remember that the recommended cross-section on Broad is still very bike-friendly, even without the marked lane. When parking is prohibited from 4 PM to 6 PM, the lane is 14' wide, which is the recommended width for shared car-bike lane. When parking is allowed, there will be about 6 feet between the parked cars (8' wide) and the adjacent 12' wide travel lane. That's better than the typical 5' wide bike lane. My only gripe would be that I would make the 12' left lane on WB Broad 11' in order to make a 15' curb lane, but this is still pretty good.

Posted 1 year ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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This is a good compromise to meet the needs of all parties. Glad to see the city chose to listen to the residents and make a decision in the interest of all.

Posted 1 year ago #
misskitty
Columbus
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I am glad they found other options and listened to the shop owners and residents of the West side. Steel is a good street for bike riding and avoiding broad st traffic. The only thing I would caution are the stop signs along Steel. Just make sure the car with the stop is going to actually stop I see them run all the time. Even as a driver I approach with caution because of that.

Posted 1 year ago #
subverita
Columbus
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I for one will continue to ride Broad street regardless of what routes the city recommends for cyclists. I continue to do my best on all streets to show motorists how we can use the same road. They may not like the inconvenience my safety poses, but Oh well, they can just get over themselves.

Posted 1 year ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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subverita wrote >>
I for one will continue to ride Broad street regardless of what routes the city recommends for cyclists. I continue to do my best on all streets to show motorists how we can use the same road. They may not like the inconvenience my safety poses, but Oh well, they can just get over themselves.

If I read the various reports, it sounds like sharrows will replace bike lane through that section and the alternate route on Steele is a suggestion for those who would like a "safer" route than Broad w/o a specific lane.

The next step for the Hilltop for cycling would be to work with the railroad to extend the Camp Chase trail along the existing tracks and connect into the Scioto/Olentangy trail system.

Posted 1 year ago #
johnwirtz
Evanston, IL
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lifeontwowheels wrote >>

subverita wrote >>
I for one will continue to ride Broad street regardless of what routes the city recommends for cyclists. I continue to do my best on all streets to show motorists how we can use the same road. They may not like the inconvenience my safety poses, but Oh well, they can just get over themselves.

If I read the various reports, it sounds like sharrows will replace bike lane through that section and the alternate route on Steele is a suggestion for those who would like a "safer" route than Broad w/o a specific lane.
The next step for the Hilltop for cycling would be to work with the railroad to extend the Camp Chase trail along the existing tracks and connect into the Scioto/Olentangy trail system.

If they do put sharrows on WB Broad, it will be interesting to see where they decide to put them, since there is parking at some times and not others.

Posted 1 year ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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The city will mark the route with pavement markings and signs through the Highland West neighborhood. The bike route, supporters say, will help Highland West's effort to reclaim a neighborhood that has suffered with crime and blight.

Could have sworn I read sharrows in one of the reports earlier. That quote is from the article linked above. The one I read earlier on the Dispatch didn't include a quote from Jeff. I know the D loves to write multiple stories with varying degree of details.

Posted 1 year ago #
Columbusite
Minneapolis
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johnwirtz wrote >>

lifeontwowheels wrote >>

subverita wrote >>
I for one will continue to ride Broad street regardless of what routes the city recommends for cyclists. I continue to do my best on all streets to show motorists how we can use the same road. They may not like the inconvenience my safety poses, but Oh well, they can just get over themselves.

If I read the various reports, it sounds like sharrows will replace bike lane through that section and the alternate route on Steele is a suggestion for those who would like a "safer" route than Broad w/o a specific lane.
The next step for the Hilltop for cycling would be to work with the railroad to extend the Camp Chase trail along the existing tracks and connect into the Scioto/Olentangy trail system.

If they do put sharrows on WB Broad, it will be interesting to see where they decide to put them, since there is parking at some times and not others.

What they should do is what I told them to when I filled out a form on the Hilltop neighborhood plan. Curb bumpouts delineating each stretch of on-street parking would take up the far right hand lanes up to the travel lanes. This means pedestrians would only need to cross four travel lanes, or one less than what they do now in the Short North. This would keep traffic out of these parking lanes and signs could be installed advising cyclists to use the full lane and not weave in and out of parking areas. I'm guessing the "pavement markings" are sharrows. It's funny that the city wants to encourage cyclists to ride safely on the lightly traveled side streets, but wants to put them in danger on a busy eastbound bike lane alongside parked cars in what will likely be a door-zone bike lane, which is one of Alta Planning's signature treatments. Nevermind the fact that cyclists who were properly using such bike lanes (whose usage is mandatory in cities like Portland) have been killed or seriously injured elsewhere, all so motorists wouldn't have to slow down and maybe change lanes. Why is safe, legal cycling good for this side street and High, but not others?

Posted 1 year ago #
johnwirtz
Evanston, IL
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Columbusite wrote >>
What they should do is what I told them to when I filled out a form on the Hilltop neighborhood plan.

Think how awesome the world would be if everyone did what you told them to do.

Posted 1 year ago #
misskitty
Columbus
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The bike lanes on West Broad have arrived ride at your own risk.

Posted 1 year ago #