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

[CW Dillon]

Sorry for the re-post; initially sent only to Yon.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: CW Dillon <cwdillon at gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Aug 13, 2008 at 6:28 PM
Subject: Re: Alexandria police enforcing traffic laws on Commonwealth Ave.
to protect bicyclists
To: Yon.Lambert at alexandriava.gov


Yon,
Having nearly lost life or limb many, many times at that intersection I
sincerely appreciate the enforcement and education efforts by Alexandria
Police Department.  Please forward my gratitude to APD.

Allen,
I often (almost daily) "compete" with motorists driving typical speeds of
35mph in the bike lane with little or no regard for cyclists using the lane
or coming up in the lane.  I've even been passed by motorists using the bike
lane along Commonwealth Ave while in my car!

All,
A good Next step is to communicate to Joggers and Dog Walkers that the bike
lane is not a good alternative to the sidewalk.


Clarence

  On Wed, Aug 13, 2008 at 6:03 PM, <Yon.Lambert at alexandriava.gov> wrote:

>
> 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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> BSC at Bicycle.Alexandria.VA.US
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>
>
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