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;
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