Bill,
The Bicycle Board supports Jim Hudson's recommendation that ""Bicycle Specific Wrong Way" signs (R5-1b) and "Ride With Traffic" (R9-3c) placards should be installed on the reverse side of every "Bicycle Lane" (R3-17) sign proposed". We will recommend to the Traffic Commission that these be added to the plan.
A poll of Bicycle Board members revealed that bicyclists currently descend the east shoulder of Monongahela Blvd. from Evansdale Dr. to Eighth St. The poll also revealed that most bicyclists descend the west shoulder or the rightmost west side travel lane as is lawful. If traffic study data are available that show shoulder bicycle traffic and its direction of travel for that section of the boulevard, the Bicycle Board recommends that such data provide a baseline against which the efficacy of any changes could be measured. Also, if bicycle crash data are available for that section of the boulevard, the Bicycle Board recommends that such data also provide a useful baseline against which the efficacy of any changes could be measured.
At the September 22, 2009 MPO TTAC meeting at which the City presented the bike lane concept, the WVDOT stated that they would review the concept for conformance to standards. The Bicycle Board has been confident that WVDOT would approve the concept since it was developed using the AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities. In Mr. Hudson's January 4, 2010 and January 6, 2010 messages and Mr. Lewis' January 6, 2010 message standards are not mentioned. However, the Bicycle Board appreciates Mr. Hudson's and Mr. Lewis' extensive knowledge and experience with bicycle facilities and is grateful for their opinions. While the aforementioned additional signage is not recommended by the AASHTO Guide, the Bicycle Board recognizes that the additional signage is likely to reinforce the AASHTO recommended one-way directional arrow that was included in the City's concept. The Bicycle Board does not know whether such additional signage will be sufficient to adequately prevent wrong way cycling. However, given that bicyclists already travel the wrong way on the east shoulder and given that apparently no crashes have resulted, the Bicycle Board recommends that the bike lane be installed as proposed with Mr. Hudson's recommended additional signage and that the WVDOT monitor bicycle traffic on that section of the boulevard. If wrong way cycling increases, the Bicycle Board has recommendations that it can develop and provide that would encourage bicyclists to descend the west side rightmost travel lane and physically discourage them from descending the east shoulder.
Much attention has focused on the bike lane but little attention appears to be given to other parts of the Bicycle Board's recommendation that the Traffic Commission approved. Specifically, the following signage:
. BIKE LANE (R3-17) ENDS (R3-17bP) at the end of the bike lane;
. BEGIN RIGHT TURN LANE, YIELD TO BIKES (R4-4) at the beginning of the right turn lane;
. SHARE THE ROAD (W16-1) placard in conjunction with the W11-1 (bicycle symbol in diamond shaped sign) sign every 250-feet on both sides along Don Knotts Blvd., Beechurst Av., the west side of Monongahela Boulevard between Eighth St. and Evansdale Drive, both sides of Monongahela Boulevard between Evansdale Dr. and the Edith Barrill (Star City) Bridge.
Apparently, Mr. Lewis was not aware of these recommendations when he offered his option 2 for W11-1 signs accompanied by W7-3a placards.
Bill, concerning Mr. Lewis' concerns about the bike lane's termination, you favored merging the bicycle lane into the rightmost travel lane as depicted in Figure 11-b of the AASHTO Guide. The Bicycle Board recommended simply terminating the bike lane as depicted in Figure 11-d because it is simpler. Given Mr. Lewis' comments about the bike lane's termination, the Bicycle Board would recommend the Figure 11-b treatment that extends the bike lane into the rightmost through lane if you thought it advisable.
Please advise if these comments are sufficient for next Tuesday's TTAC meeting.
Frank Gmeindl
Chairman, Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board
League Cycling Instructor #1703
Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles