Bicycle Safety

Thu Mar 6 10:24:59 CST 2008

I am sorry, but I am not advocating removing the bump outs.  However, I believe they do create a problem for bicyclist and motorists, but my focus is on the thoughtlessly placed curb sections meant to direct car traffic into one lane.  Look at one of the photos of a car having to brake suddenly for a car turning left.  Now just imagine a bicyclist behind the car going right to avoid the car turning left onto Taylor Run.  

The problem bicyclist have are the barriers that precede the bump out.  A bicyclist is forced into the lane of traffic, at times with a car that have overtaken the bicyclist, stopped to make a left turn and bicyclist has no place go.  This is an inherently bad design and I believe is fixable.  You need to have an escape lane similar to trucks have in hilling areas and their brakes go out.  You could also remove the concrete section and rely on signage and plastic barriers to direct traffic.  We should be pushed off the road by cars nor should we be thrown off of our bikes by a portable curb section.  

There is no need for a defensive posture.  The goal and focus is on safety, not just for pedestrians, but also for bicyclist using public streets.  This is a low-cost, fixable problem and should not require delay or lengthy back-n-forth correspondence.  When a safety issue arises there is no need for further healthy discussions.    

Dave Cavanaugh
(703) 869-8362  

----- Original Message ----
From: "Yon.Lambert at alexandriava.gov" <Yon.Lambert at alexandriava.gov>
To: Dave Cavanaugh <dacava1 at yahoo.com>
Cc: Bob.Garbacz at alexandriava.gov; Rich Baier <rich.baier at alexandriava.gov>; Roy.Worrell at alexandriava.gov; Ruth Reeder <ruth.reeder at alexandriava.gov>; bsc at bicycle.alexandria.va.us; Sandra.Marks at alexandriava.gov
Sent: Thursday, March 6, 2008 9:28:42 AM
Subject: Re: Bicycle Safety

Hi Dave, 

Also, just to follow up on Sandra's message- we had quite a long discussion about traffic calming and bicycling at the City's "Pedestrian and Bicycle Citizens Group" meeting on Monday night. Sometime next week, I will post the minutes to the webpage, here: http://www.alexride.org/bikeped_citizensgroup.php 

Members of BikeWalk Alexandria and others often ask questions about bicycling and traffic calming. We had a healthy and, I believe, helpful discussion on Monday about Janney's Lane and other locations in the City where we have installed curb extensions and bump outs. The short answer is that while some older curb extensions and neck-downs may, indeed, exist in Alexandria -- even those rarely extend beyond the width of a parked car (7 feet). In the design of all new traffic calming projects, we consider the locations of bulb outs and curb extensions carefully and make them even less intrusive on designated bikeways. Regardless, curb extensions are never installed wider than the width of an adjacent parallel parking lane. 

There is something of a misconception that the City has a disconnect when it comes to bicycling and traffic calming. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sandra and I work together daily to consider issues that will improve conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists and we share information during the design of traffic calming projects. Sandra correctly pointed out that we are balancing many competing needs and issues. 

We will continue to share information about traffic calming projects, development and other issues that directly impact the City's pedestrian and bicycle community with the Pedestrian and Bicycle Citizens Group and BikeWalk Alexandria. I would be happy to discuss these issues with you off-line or at a future meeting. 

All the best, 

Yon Lambert
Pedestrian and Bicycle Coordinator
Transportation & Environmental Services, City of Alexandria
703.519.3400 x 183 phone
yon.lambert at alexandriava.gov 
www.alexandriava.gov/localmotion

Sandra Marks/Alex 
03/06/2008 09:01 AM ToDave Cavanaugh <dacava1 at yahoo.com> 
ccRich Baier <rich.baier at alexandriava.gov>, Ruth Reeder <ruth.reeder at alexandriava.gov>, Yon Lambert/Alex at ALEX, Roy Worrell/Alex at Alex, Bob Garbacz/Alex at Alex 
SubjectRe: Bicycle SafetyLink

Dave, 

Thanks for your email, and sharing your concerns about bicyclists on Janney's Lane.   

As you know, the City works closely with residents and Civic Associations throughout the City to address issues relating to vehicular speed and pedestrian and bicycle safety and connectivity.  In achieving these goals, there are often competing interests that need to be balanced.   

Traffic calming was installed on Janney's Lane to address speeding conditions, in particular adjacent to a school.  In general, when vehicular speeds are reduced, it is safer and more comfortable for bicyclists to share the road with motorists.  The medians and bumpouts that were installed have already enhanced pedestrian safety creating safer places for pedestrian crossings and have slowed vehicular speeds as much as 12%.  The pictures you shared show bumpouts that measure 7-feet from the curb, the same dimension as the parking lane that extends the entire length of Janney's Lane (although it is not marked in all sections).  You also referenced the road narrowing from two lanes to one, in fact Janney's Lane is one lane its entire length, other than at the intersections with Quaker and King, and one of the goals of the bumpouts is to reinforce this and make it so that vehicles can not pass in the wider sections of the road and must maintain a safe speed.
  All of the bumpouts are marked with reflective posts so that motorists and bicyclists can see them at all times. 

We work closely with the bicycle and pedestrian community when developing traffic calming projects and while no project is perfect, the goal is to overall improve the benefit of roadways for all users.  As you know there is also an educational component for both motorists and bicyclists to share the road safely and follow all traffic laws. 

Sandra Marks 

***********************************************************
Sandra Marks, AICP
Traffic Calming Coordinator
City of Alexandria
Transportation & Environmental Services Department
sandra.marks at alexandriava.gov
www.alexandriava.gov
703-838-4411 x119
703-906-5184 

Dave Cavanaugh <dacava1 at yahoo.com> 
03/05/2008 02:05 PM ToRich Baier <rich.baier at alexandriava.gov> 
ccRuth Reeder <ruth.reeder at alexandriava.gov>, Sandra Marks <sandra.marks at alexandriava.gov> 
SubjectBicycle Safety

Attached are photos showing a dangerous obstacle to bicyclist traveling on Janney's Lane.  They are very dangerous to unsuspecting bicyclist going down hill and the lane suddenly narrows to one lane.  I ask that this particular obstacle or barrier be removed for safety reasons and that similar barriers on Janney's Lane also be removed. 

In the Fall of last year, I was traveling down Janney's Lane on my bicycle, going west, and was overtaken by a large SUV that stopped to make a left turn on to Taylor Run.  I immediately had to hit the brakes and almost collided with the curb placed out into the traffic area. 

I took the attached photos on Wednesday, March 6, 2008.  The time was between 12:00 and 1:00 PM. 
These obstacles are near a school zone creating a potential problem for anyone bicycling to school.  Potentially this is even dangerous at dusk.   

Thank You 

Dave Cavanaugh 
(703) 869-8362   
 [attachment "Bicycle Safety 023.JPG" deleted by Yon Lambert/Alex] [attachment "Bicycle Safety 025.JPG" deleted by Yon Lambert/Alex] [attachment "Bicycle Safety 037.JPG" deleted by Yon Lambert/Alex] 
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