Alexandria police enforcing traffic laws on Commonwealth Ave. to protect bicyclists

[Yon.Lambert at alexandriava.gov]

Hi Allen,

Police are responding to a citizen (bicycle commuter) request for 
enforcement about cars stacking side-by-side several car lengths deep to 
make the heavy right turn onto E Glebe. As you know this is a one lane 
road... so cars need to follow the code you outlined below and not split 
into two "lanes" well before the intersection. It is not an effort to 
address right-hook problems.
We sent the notice because we wanted people to be aware that the reason 
they may see police conducting enforcement on a heavily used bike route 
was to address an issue cyclists had raised about safety. It is not an 
enforcement campaign targeted at bicyclists.

Thanks,

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




Allen Muchnick <allenmuchnick at yahoo.com> 
08/13/2008 11:44 AM

To
bsc at bicycle.alexandria.va.us, Yon.Lambert at alexandriava.gov
cc
volcrano at gmail.com, dcwashcycle at gmail.com
Subject
Re: Alexandria police enforcing traffic laws on Commonwealth Ave. to 
protect bicyclists






Hi Yon,

Please explain how "motorists that drive in the bike lane to make right 
turns...[are] creating a hazard for bicyclists".

1) Do such motorists endanger bicyclists when no bicyclists are present?

2) Are any motorists driving faster than 10 MPH in the bike lanes and/or 
entering the bike lanes more than 200 feet in advance of the intersection?

3) Is even there sufficient roadway space along Commonwealth Ave 
approaching E Glebe Road for motorists to drive in the bike lanes for any 
significant distance or faster than walking speeds?

Unless #2 above is true (or motorists are otherwise not yielding to 
bicyclists riding ahead in the bike lane), I believe the Police should 
encourage, not discourage, right-turning motorists to merge into the bike 
lane at least 50 feet before executing a right turn.

To best protect bicyclists on Commonwealth Ave, especially from right-hook 
crashes, the Alexandria Police should be enforcing § 46.2-846 of the Code 
of Virginia [http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-846] 
which reads in part:

=====

Required position and method of turning at intersections; local 
regulations.

A. Except where turning is prohibited, a driver intending to turn at an 
intersection or other location on any highway shall execute the turn as 
provided in this section.

1. Right turns: Both the approach for a right turn and a right turn shall 
be made as close as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway.

=====

Because bike lanes are part of the roadway, right-turning motorists should 
properly merge into the "bike lane space" well in advance of executing 
their turn. 

Also, the MUTCD recommends striping bike lanes so the left bike lane 
stripe either ends or is dashed approaching intersections, starting at 50 
to 200 feet in advance of the stop line for the intersection.
 
Allen Muchnick
League of American Bicyclists Cycling Instructor #538
Arlington VA


--- On Wed, 8/13/08, Yon.Lambert at alexandriava.gov 
<Yon.Lambert at alexandriava.gov> wrote:

> Alexandria police enforcing traffic laws on Commonwealth
> Ave. to protect 
> bicyclists
> FYI >> http://www.alexandriava.gov/localmotion/



 

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