New Hampshire Contra-Flow Lanes Installation

DDOT's been busy lately. It looks, from these photos, like they've finished the installation of the contraflow bike lanes at the intersection of New Hampshire Ave, 16th St. and U St NW. 

New contraflow bike lane with yellow line and plastic bollards for separation

This has been in the works since November, 2008 when the intersection design was rapidly changed to include bike facilities. The design back then included colorizing the facilities, but since that was not included in designs last year and it doesn't show up in any of the DDOT photos, I'm guessing that is either not happening or is in a later phase.

Regardless, it does appear that cyclists are already using the facilities. It includes, what I think are, DC's first bicycle-only traffic signals. And though not the first bike boxes in DC, they are among the first, so DDOT put up signs to help educate cyclists and drivers.

Have you been on it yet? Does it work for you? Is it too confusing? Other thoughts?

Coincidentally Jonathan Maus was just writing about changes to federal law that will make it easier for cities to fund these kinds of innovative facilities.

Currently, due to outdated federal standards, many bikeway designs that are common in Europe and Canada -- like bike boxes, colored pavement markings, bike-only signals, and buffered bike lanes -- are still considered "experimental" in the U.S.. This lack of official endorsement by the FHWA means city planners cannot use federal funds to install them and they encounter a host of significant barriers when trying to implement them....[but] the US DOT may soon give "interim approval" to the designs which would expedite their use across the country.

Comments

[mattxmal]

I am surprised that something built in a day required two years to plan. I used the southbound (SB) lane this morning and found it intuitive to use, with only the following minor reservations:

1. To enter the SB lane from the north at W Street requires cutting across traffic. This is something both bikers and drivers are probably used to by now on this stretch of road, but I still wish there were a better way.

2. The lights are mistimed in the SB direction such that after the green at W, one hits a red (bicycle-specific) light at U, and after waiting for that to turn green, a red light at 17th. This makes it much faster to cross U as a pedestrian, which may discourage use of the new light.

3. There was already a car double-parked halfway in the NB lane!

[TFAK]

I'm THIS close to quitting my day job to become a full-time advocate for bike lanes that are up against the curb, like the 15th Street contraflow. Lanes designed any other way (with some exceptions) drive me nuts.

[Froggie]

Regarding TFAK's comment, in this case, I agree...

[Syd]

As to "Requires two years to plan" - a lot of the elements in this design are not yet approved by FHWA so they would have had to apply for and receive allowance to do an experimental installation.

[Récupération de données]

I really approve what Syd's said.