Fw: Urgent Bike Route Request

[Bruce&Linda Dwyer]

FYI

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Bruce&Linda Dwyer 
To: kirk kincannon ; rich baier 
Cc: Aimee Vosper ; Maria Mercedes White 
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2004 12:15 PM
Subject: Urgent Bike Route Request


Dear Rich and Kirk,

At the last meeting of the Bike Committee, we discussed proposed updated bike routes.  These proposal are in the hands of staff for consideration. One of the proposed routes is in the area of the new Duke Street concourse and we recommend that it is appropriate to address in your consideration of the pedestrian and vehicular traffic movements in the area, so that bicycles are not left out of consideration.  As we understand (and accept) the new Duke St. Concourse is planned for pedestrians only because it is too narrow to accommodate mounted bicyclists. This is similar to the tunnel connecting the Pentagon with the parking lot south of I-395. To facilitate bicycle movement in the area, the Bike Committee asks for two accommodations:
  a.. Allow bicyclists to walk their bikes through the concourse and place signs that read "Walk Your Bike".  We feel this is a more persuasive message than the typical "Bicyclists Must Dismount" signs that are placed at locations where dismounting is not really necessary and therefore are most frequently ignored.  We feel a "Bicycles Prohibited" sign would be totally inappropriate unless bicycles turn out to be a major problem in the concourse.  
  b.. Alter the bike routes in this area to allow cyclists to cross Duke at the intersection with Dulany (on the south) and Diagonal (on the north). It is recommend that the bike route from Jamieson to Commonwealth go on Dulany, Diagonal, and Daingerfield to make a more direct route and provide easier and safer access to Metro. Vehicle traffic other than busses is currently prohibited from entering Diagonal northbound from the south. We recommend that the "Do not Enter except buses" sign at Duke be modified to add "except bicycles". On Diagonal southbound, all vehicles are directed to turn right. We recommend signage to permit bicycles to cross Duke onto Dulany. Signage to allow bicycle traffic movements differing from vehicular traffic is a common practice in jurisdictions that support bicycles in their transportation network. If this recommendation is accepted, the bike routing in this area could be simplified to be more direct and much safer by eliminating current routing on Reinekers Lane.
While I am  no longer by Chair of the Bike Committee,  I have been asked to forward this request on to you because of its timeliness.
Thank you

Bruce Dwyer