Re: [Ebbc-Talk] One-Way Streets: Do Humans Really Think?!

In my common route covering one-way streets, I am frequently in the left 
lane, preparing for a left turn.  Of course, the bike lane is on the 
right side. I'm surprised that I don't get more people yelling at me to 
get into the bike lane.

On 10/16/2012 10:21 PM, Mike Jones wrote:
> I wish they would just change lanes, it appears to be a religion to some
> motorists to stay in the right lane! One solution would be, on multi-lane
> streets, to make the right hand lane discontinuous. Something like on
> Shattuck in Downtown Berkeley (on a lesser scale). The right lane would be
> for parking movements, and possibly bikes/transit, but not just so one car
> can drive faster than another.
>
> Some think that one-way streets are better for pedestrians, as you only have
> to look one way, but even ignoring "double jeopardy" and higher speeds. I
> don't think they are. (Accident figures are not very useful in these debates
> as people change their actions to meet the circumstances). A two-way street
> may look complex but that's its advantage- everyone has to be aware. Streets
> with protected turns, wide shoulders, multiple traffic signals high in the
> sky etc. all take responsibility and awareness away from drivers. In London
> they have traditionally placed barriers at busy intersections (think 2
> two-lane roads meeting) to stop pedestrians crossing right at the corner,
> moving them further away from the actual intersection. This is now being
> rethought, as it just encourages faster turning maneuvers and makes walking
> less convenient.
>
> Mike
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected]
> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Kevin Dalley
> Sent: 16 October 2012 15:10
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [Ebbc-Talk] One-Way Streets: Do Humans Really Think?!
>
> On the other hand, when I am on a 2-lane one-way street, I know that a car
> can pass me without going into a lane going the other direction.
> The driver may still honk or yell, but I know that the driver *could* just
> switch lanes and pass me.
>
> On 10/15/2012 09:13 AM, Mike Jones wrote:
>> One-way streets are designed to move more cars faster, even if they're
>> hobbled to 15mph, that is faster than many bikers ride. Just as with
>> multiple lane streets- the fastest car sets the speed. One-way streets
>> are a way of getting multiple lanes where the streets are too narrow,
>> and frequently involve pedestrian unfriendly intersections when they
>> connect with a two-way street. They're also not good for transit
>> providers or users for various reasons.
>>
>> On Mon, Oct 15, 2012 at 8:54 AM, Emily Thurston
>> <[email protected]>wrote:
>>
>>> My experience with all the one way streets in downtown Portland,
>>> Oregon, is that they were GREAT for bicycles. They simplify traffic a
>>> great deal and make it easier for bicycles, which move slower and
>>> steer differently than the cars, to navigate intersections safely. In
>>> particular, turning left off a busy street works much better.
>>>
>>> I lived in Portland, OR for 9 years as the bicycle traffic tripled
>>> from 1% of transportation trips to 3% of transportation trips.
>>> Bicycling has tripled again since I moved to the bay area. The one
>>> way streets in and around Downtown remain.
>>>
>>> One added benefit of one-way streets is that it's easier to get the
>>> lights timed. In downtown Portland they were timed at 15 mph, which
>>> is a great speed for cycling.
>>>
>>> On Oct 10, 2012, at 6:40 PM, [email protected] wrote:
>>>
>>>> Message: 1
>>>> Date: Sun, 07 Oct 2012 10:15:54 -0700
>>>> From: Mike Vandeman <mjvande-yBeKhBN/[email protected]>
>>>> To: Recipient list suppressed:;
>>>> Subject: [Ebbc-Talk] One-Way Streets: Do Humans Really Think?!
>>>> Message-ID: <810347.49699.bm-lZTCTkxaLTf8AbloPCyspULUdxTIq2jXG6kzb5Gsg2M@public.gmane.org>
>>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
>>>>
>>>> It's really not rocket science. If there are no one-way streets, one
>>>> can always get where one wants to go via the shortest route, saving
>>>> gas and reducing accidents and global warming (assuming that you are
>>>> one of those dinosaurs still using motor vehicles). Once you
>>>> introduce one-way streets, you will often have to drive farther than
>>>> the shortest route. For a simple example, say you are at one end of
>>>> a one-way street and want to get to somewhere else on that street.
>>>>
>>>> While we are on the subject of traffic, have you noticed how many
>>>> residents have eliminated their off-street parking space, and forced
>>>> the city to provide them on-street parking at a ridiculously low
>>>> below-market price? On-street parking -- at least on arterials --
>>>> should be eliminated. Instead, those lanes should be for the
>>>> exclusive use of bicyclists and emergency vehicles. That would
>>>> provide bicyclists a safe place to ride, and provide ambulances a
>>>> way to get through when the traffic lanes are full of cars.
>>>>
>>>> Then we could solve the homelessness problem by using the parking
>>>> lane on non-arterials for old cars that no longer run, to be used as
>>>> housing for the homeless. They could have a safe, dry place to sleep
>>>> and lock up their belongings.
>>>>
>>>> There! The world's major problems solved in only three paragraphs!
>>>> Now get to work!
>>>
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