Final report recommends expanded bicycle network in Rock Creek East

The final report for the Rock Creek East II Livability Study is out and it recommends traffic calming as well as an expanded bicycle network to address safety issues and discontinuity in the existing bicycle facilities. But adding bicycle lanes is - in some cases - going to require removing parking, which is always politically difficult.

Of the dedicated bicycle facilities in the study area, 14th Street is the only corridor that has a continuous connection through the study area. Other than this, there are no dedicated facilities west of Kansas and Georgia Avenues. Many of the streets in the study area feature limited rights-of-way and do not readily fit two bicycle lanes in their cross-sections without removal of on-street parking.

Many participants expressed general concern over the impacts to parking with the implementation of bicycle and traffic calming facilities.

The primary losses of parking associated with recommendations are anticipated to be for the bicycle lanes along Kansas Avenue between Spring Road and Georgia Avenue and for the sidewalk extension along Blagden Avenue

Nonetheless, the study recommendations included five project types, of which one is bicycle network expansion

Bicycle System Expansions that extend the current bicycle network. This includes a mix of a variety of bicycle facilities, including bicycle boulevards, bicycle lanes, and contraflow bicycle lanes. In some locations, the type of bicycle facility is not yet known, and would require further study.

For extending the Bicycle Network, the report calls for extending current routes west of Georgia Avenue and creating a north-south alternative to Georgia Avenue along 8th Streeet. It also gives more clarity - though not perfect - on what is meant by a "bicycle boulevard".

The study recommends several bicycle facilities: bicycle lanes, contraflow bicycle lanes, and bicycle boulevards. Some study recommendations need further study to determine the most appropriate type of bicycle facility.

A bicycle boulevard, as implemented in the District, are streets that are already well-suited for bicycling (usually local street functional classification), that seek to attract bicyclists to the route by adding pavement markings, enhanced signage and wayfinding, and other treatments. The streets identified for potential bicycle boulevard treatment should be analyzed for speed and volume of motor vehicle traffic.

Bicycle boulevards can usually be implemented with no impacts to parking. However, they are sometimes enhanced with traffic calming devices to enhance bicycle and overall transportation safety. If this is necessary, it may result in the loss of some parking spaces. This will be determined in the design phase

The proposed bicycle network and projects hasn't changed any from that presented in August, but there are now redesigns of Grant and Sherman Circle. Draft concepts of the former includes bike lanes and the latter, a separated bike facility

Grant Circle

Sherman Circle

There's also a rendering of Sherman Circle which would be redesigned as a 'Dutch Roundabout'.

There is also a proposal for an extension of Shepherd Street as a Multi-Use Path, though elsewhere they say it is for pedestrians.

This recommendation is for a short connection from the present dead-end of Shepherd Street west of 14th Street to the forthcoming Rock Creek Trail branch under planning and design by the National Park Service. This would formalize an existing pedestrian path that is visibly evident and help to improve access to Rock Creek Park.

Other Recommended projects include

• Enhancements to crossing at 16th/Blagden intersection to allow safer pedestrian and bike access to Blagden; studying feasibility of a HAWK signal
• Bike boxes and added crosswalks at Kansas/4th/ Hamilton
• Reconfigure radii and crossings at Piney Branch/Arkansas, potentially combining with NPS efforts on trail construction. At a minimum this can be achieved with paint and flex post installation for a shorter-term treatment

Comments

[Jon]

How does the 'Dutch Roundabout' protect cyclists from right hooks? The rendering looks like it was designed to encourage them. When I commuted on 14th St NW, Thomas Circle was the only place I regularly blew a red light because it's so dangerous otherwise.

[Keroicap]

What are the odds the Sherman Circle lane gets plowed in winter, or swept free of debris in summer?

Regardless of my personal feelings about these separated bike lanes, what is the logic for having different designs for Grant and Sherman circles? They look very similar except for the placement of the bike lanes.

[Uptowner]

Yeah, the bike design leaves a lot to be desired. The bicycle boulevards are described only as "signage and sharrows and other elements" which is disheartening since the "Other elements" (diverters and traffic calming) and the most important components of a bicycle boulevard. Maybe they've never actually seen one or they don't understand why they work.

The roundabout designs lack the Dutch elements of a protected intersection, specifically the concrete island that dramatically reduces turning radius and thus turning speeds, putting drivers at a 90 degree angle before they cross the paths of cyclists, which also improves visibility. It's like amateurs are designing our streets.

This information is not really easy to find on the internet. There are even videos, if you can't be bothered to read stuff:

http://www.protectedintersection.com/

http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/2014/05/the-best-roundabout-design-for-cyclists.html

http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/8/docs/SBLG/Chapter4_Intersections.pdf

[Will]

The conflict-free part of a traffic circle for cyclists is the inner-diameter, imho. I suppose there's getting there that's conflict ridden, but once you are there, you can do laps.

[Joe]

The consultant and DDOT review team clearly don't understand Dutch design. The link to the MassDOT design guide isn't hard to find. Isn't the consulting firm that wrote that guide based here in DC?

[washcycle]

What are the odds the Sherman Circle lane gets plowed in winter, or swept free of debris in summer?

DC has gotten better about this. The bike team is trained on how to operate the equipment and they have some available to us. I'd say about the same as the 15th Street PBL.

I'm pretty sure that DDOT is familiar with Dutch design. I don't know why they came up with the designs in this study, but I don't think it is from ignorance of other options.