Everyone had stories about the new Contra-flow bike lanes on New Hampshire. And they all had this ubiquitous and cool video from Left for LeDroit (which catches some cyclists running the all-traffic stoplight at the end, followed by a taxi illegally moving into the bike box). And they were all followed by a cyclists-suck/no-they-don't argument in the comments.
Left for LeDroit had some criticism for the design. Namely that the bike signals were not in a good location and one has to know to look for them; and that the signals are started by induction loops, but again one must know where to stop to trigger them. While Froggie thinks the bike lane is on the wrong side of parked cars.
I disagree with the bike lane placement. I'd rather be on the passenger side (where doors open less) with some room to my left than on the driver's side with the curb to my right. I'd be more trapped. True, if a car were coming just as a door opened in front of me, I'd be trapped as well (and a far worse trap, I suppose), but that would take some worse luck. Stay out of the door zone, I suppose.
WUSA9 has a normal article with a very confrontational title. "Bicycles Must Stop at Signals; Just Like Motorists". [OMG, someone (probably the Japanese with their crazy love of robots) invented self-propelling bicycles. I, for one, welcome our new robot bicycle overlords.] Wait, motorists stop at signals?
If this experimental configuration proves to be successful, DDOT may incorporate it into the planned reconstruction of U Street, NW.
Nice article Wash.
BTW - I caught the Simpson's reference with your robots comment.
I like and breathe seasons 3-8 man! Best comedy writing in the history of television....or comedy itself really.
Posted by: TurbineBlade | August 12, 2010 at 08:00 AM
A full-width curbside lane...not unlike on 15th...would give one the room to avoid the driver-side doors. I pointed that out in my blog post.
Posted by: Froggie | August 12, 2010 at 08:32 AM
So exactly how *does* a car navigate into that parking space - the one where the silver Audi is sitting in the last photo in the post?
Cause the way I see it, - http://goo.gl/maps/SgaA - the only option is to drive through the stretch of bike lane where the cyclist is just about to ride or to do some crazy back in maneuver after passing the pilons.
Just looks like it could be pretty dicey with someone trying to park right there
Posted by: Bilsko | August 12, 2010 at 10:07 AM
err I guess that could be a VW. Either way, the silver car.
Posted by: Bilsko | August 12, 2010 at 10:07 AM
Froggie, I guess I'm confused about what a "Full-width" curbside lane is. How wide is that? Because when I think full-width bike lane, I think 5 feet. If you're talking about a full width lane (10-12 feet) where do you get the other 5-7 feet from?
Bilsko, I think that VW is illegally parked. Someone mentioned that the street lost 3 parking spaces. This may be one of them.
Posted by: washcycle | August 12, 2010 at 12:01 PM
Bilsko, the lane markings indicate that isnt a legal parking spot.
Posted by: J | August 12, 2010 at 04:41 PM
I was a little disappointed to see that poor signage/road marking (and a bit of obliviousness, perhaps) led some cyclists to stop directly across the cross walk at 16th and U:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4886690810_0245820bf4.jpg
Posted by: Mazzie | August 12, 2010 at 06:57 PM
When I say "full width", I'm thinking something similar to the contraflow lane on 15th, where it's wide enough for the city to conduct plowing operations in the winter even with the presence of bollards.
And after taking a quick ride up NH Ave yesterday, there's adequate room to implement a wider curbside bike lane.
Posted by: Froggie | August 13, 2010 at 01:05 PM
Ah, I understand now. Perhaps that would be better if there's room for it.
Posted by: washcycle | August 13, 2010 at 09:00 PM