Nick,
Just to clarify a few points but not to address all of yours:
2) The thing you describe in Seattle is not a bike lane. It is a bike path. A bike lane is a portions of the roadway marked for exclusive or preferential use by bicycles. A bike path is physically separated from the roadway. Such arrangements, called cycle tracks in Denmark, have been shown in Copenhagen to decrease same direction accidents by 63% but to increase right hooks by 129% and left crosses by 48% at crossings. See http://www.trafitec.dk/pub/Road%20safety%20and%20percieved%20risk%20of%20cycle%20tracks%20and%20lanes%20in%20Copenhagen.pdf
3) The start and end of the Mon Blvd. bike lane were explicitly described in the preliminary design document that was reviewed by the Bicycle Board. Since you are on the bikeboard@cheat.org list, you received it. The bike lane will begin just north of the driveway that is north of Advance Auto. The bike lane will end 150 feet before the right turn lane onto Evansdale Drive. Extending the bike lane to the left of the right turn lane at Evansdale Drive was considered but rejected because that would require reconfiguring the northbound lanes and we supposed that WVDOH would not be willing to do that, thus killing the project. Instead, we recommended that signage be placed near the end of the bike lane notifying cyclists that the Bike Lane Ends and signage at the beginning of the turn lane notifying motorists to Watch for Merging Bicycles.
4) A bike lane is not recommended on the descending side of Mon Blvd. because descending at 45 mph in a 5-foot wide lane with adjacent 8" deep drainage grates, probable debris, a 4-foot high concrete wall with a chain link fence 2-3 feet to the right plus dead-ending in a curb at the bottom where speed may be maximum is probably less safe than descending at 45 mph in a clean 12-foot wide lane on a 45 mph roadway that includes a passing lane. Also, a bike lane on the descending side was not recommended because it would practically preclude bicycles from traveling in the travel lanes.
Frank
Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles
-----Original Message-----
From: director [mailto:director@positivespin.org]
Sent: Tuesday, January 05, 2010 11:22 AM
To: Frank Gmeindl
Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] FW: Morgantown Bike Lane
Frank,
Comments....
1) One comment comes to mind immediately. Jim Hudson tacitly condones motorists exceeding the speed limit, but insists that bicycling laws be strictly enforced (?!). Naturally everyone should be held equally accountable for knowing and following the laws. Speeding motorists make it harder for cyclists to ride safely by shortening decision times.
2) In Seattle there were several locations where 2-way bike lanes were installed along busy thoroughfares. In all cases a physical barrier (Jersey barriers, or a purpose-built concrete wall) was placed between the bike/ped traffic and the motor vehicle traffic. I road this route a few times when there was high speed traffic only a few feet away and instantly wished for a screen fence atop the barrier to prevent debris from getting kicked up from oncoming cars at the right-side cyclist. To make the lane without a barrier of some kind is going to get people hurt.
3) It isn't clear to me where the bike lane will start/end. Is there a plan for safe entrance and exit to the lane at the ends?
4) I agree that a 2-way bike lane on both sides of the boulevard (is this what Jim means by "symmetrical"?) would be a good idea, again assuming a physical barrier between bike/auto traffic and that space permits it. Was there a reason this wasn't proposed?
If these questions have already been answered please let me know where I can find the info. Thanks for doing such a diligent and effective job at researching and sharing this information.
Sincerely,
Nick
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Frank Gmeindl" <fgmeindl@verizon.net>
Date: Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:45:10 -0500
>Bicycle Board Members,
>
>
>
>Any comments?
>
>
>
>Frank
>
>Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles
>
>
>
>From: Bill Austin [mailto:baustin@moncpc.org]
>Sent: Tuesday, January 05, 2010 9:39 AM
>To: 'Damien Davis'; 'Terry Hough'; fgmeindl@verizon.net
>Subject: FW: Morgantown Bike Lane
>
>
>
>Damien, Terry, Frank,
>
>
>
>Please find below one preliminary response from DOH on the Monongalia
>Boulevard Bike Lane. We should be prepared to discuss the concerns expressed
>at the upcoming TTAC meeting. I do have a question about the statement that
>the shoulder is the same width on both sides of the Boulevard in the
>comment. I do not recall this being the case from when I have been out
>there. For your information Fouad Shoukry from the Division will not be at
>the TTAC Meeting since he will be at TRB on the 12th.
>
>
>
>Thanks,
>
>
>
>
>
>Bill Austin, AICP
>
>Executive Director
>
>Morgantown Monongalia MPO
>
>180 Hart Field Road
>
>Morgantown, WVA 26508
>
>304-291-9571
>
>304-692-7225 Mobile
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>From: Warner, Richard L [mailto:Richard.L.Warner@wv.gov]
>Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 1:37 PM
>To: Bill Austin; Lewis, Ray C
>Cc: Robinson, Bill C; Hudson, Jim E
>Subject: FW: Morgantown Bike Lane
>
>
>
>Bill and Ray,
>
> FYI, Jim Hudson has reviewed the City's Monongahela Boulevard bike
>lane proposal and has generated the comments below. Jim is the primary
>author of the WVDOT/DOH statewide bicycle/pedestrian plan that is undergoing
>internal review prior to its official release for public review. In addition
>to his other responsibilities, Jim also assists Bill Robinson in his duties
>as WVDOT/DOH Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator and has a background in law
>enforcement in Morgantown. These comments are intended for use as input to
>further discussions regarding the proposed bike lane. Additional comments
>from other reviewers may be supplied prior to the 1/12/10 TAC meeting (1:30
>pm at the MPO offices, Morgantown Municipal Airport).
>
>Ray,
>
> Please forward these comments to Cindy Cramer and Fouad Shoukry as
>appropriate, and invite Mr. Shoukry to attend the TAC meeting. Per our
>earlier discussion, I'm assuming that implementation details will ultimately
>fall to him.
>
>--Richard
>
>_____________________________________________
>From: Hudson, Jim E
>Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 9:52 AM
>To: Robinson, Bill C
>Cc: Warner, Richard L; Keller, Perry J
>Subject: Morgantown Bike Lane
>
>Bill,
>
>As I understand it, the proposed bicycle Lane in Morgantown includes one
>bicycle "climbing" lane delineated on the existing shoulder on the hill side
>of Monongahela Boulevard and some signs identifying it. Delineating the
>lane and installation of the signage is to be entirely funded by some entity
>other than WVDOH. I am not aware of who will be conducting or funding the
>maintenance on the delineated bicycle lane or the signage related to it.
>
>There will be no effort to widen the shoulder or to delineate a bicycle lane
>on the opposite side of the road (the PRT side) even though the shoulder on
>that side are the same width as the shoulder on the hill side. It should be
>noted that there are no entrances or exits to Monongahela Boulevard in this
>segment except for one maintenance access for the PRT system on the side
>opposite the proposal. Also, while the posted speed limit is 45 mph,
>traffic frequently exceeds this by a significant amount. Finally, the only
>"No Parking" signs I recall along this stretch of road are attached flat
>against the fence between the PRT and the Boulevard. I do not recall any
>"No Parking" signs on the hill side of the road where the proposed bicycle
>lane is to be established. I definitely recall seeing several vehicles
>parked along the hill side shoulder during basketball games, concerts and
>other events at the WVU Coliseum.
>
>First, let me say that I am opposed to establishing a one way bicycle lane
>on only one side of a street or road unless that street or road is also one
>way. This can only "invite" bicyclists to ride against traffic in violation
>of current traffic laws. In short I prefer a symmetrical bicycle lane on
>both sides of the road.
>
>In the proposed situation on Monongahela Boulevard, the proposed directional
>arrows on the pavement are insufficient as indicators of it being one way.
>The origin or destination of the vast majority of the bicycle traffic along
>this route will be on the same side of the boulevard as the proposed bicycle
>lane. Few bicyclists will cross the four lane boulevard to ride with the
>traffic when there is a designated bicycle lane on one side of the road.
>
>However, if WVDOH agrees to this proposed one way bicycle lane and the
>subsequent narrowing of the shoulder on that side of the road, I think
>additional signage to that proposed is necessary. "No Parking At Any Time"
>signs (R7-201) should be installed along both sides of the road which are
>clearly visible to motorists while driving. "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.
>
>In addition to the signage, I think the City of Morgantown and/or the MPO
>and/or the WVDOH should mail a letter to the WVU Security Police, the
>Morgantown City Police, The Monongalia County Sherriff's Office and the
>Morgantown Detachment of the WV State Police requesting strict enforcement
>of the traffic regulations relating to bicycles with an emphasis on
>enforcing the bicycle related laws along this stretch of Monongahela
>Boulevard.
>
>Thank you,
>
>Jim Hudson
>
>Community Development Specialist
>
>Building 5, Room 863
>
>1900 Kanawha Blvd. E.
>
>Charleston, WV 25305-0430
>
>(304) 558-9613
>
>No virus found in this incoming message.
>Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>Version: 9.0.725 / Virus Database: 270.14.123/2595 - Release Date: 01/04/10
>03:24:00
>
>
>
>
>
>
--
Nick Hein LCI# 1705
Director, Positive Spin
2567 Univ Ave Ste 6000L
Morgantown, WV
ph 304-276-0213
--