Re: [Ebbc-Talk] [Discuss] Fwd: Transportation Commission Mtg - Wed, Nov 28, 2012 at 7 p.m.

John, Brit, and all,

The cycle track is strongly favored by parents with young children and by new or novice cyclists. 

The kids are not old enough yet to handle riding on the street--with or without a bike lane--but the 8-foot-wide off-street path is too narrow to accommodate all the various walkers, runners, joggers, strollers, dog walkers, and kids on bikes, too. (The environmental complexities and costs associated with widening that path to 12-15 feet put that option out of reach.)

I personally ride on the street in traffic and will continue to do so after the cycle track is built, but the cycle track will be fully protected by 
at least a three-foot buffer in addition to the parked cars or spaces. This is about 2.5 feet more of a horizontal buffer than the paint stripe on a bike lane--not including the temporary and permanent barriers that are also planned.

The cycle track is not my favorite or preferred solution but it will certainly be more young-kid and newbie-friendly facility for cyclists than the too-narrow 8-foot path now in place off-street or a painted bike lane.

I think the cycle track does have a place, as you can see on any school day on Fernside near Lincoln Middle School....

Jon

On Nov 23, 2012, at 7:46 PM, John Nidecker wrote:

> The way I read that report - see p. 40 & 43 - is that cyclists opposing traffic have a 7.8X "relative risk" compared to travel with traffic!
> This is not inconsistent with intuition and common sense! And even if there is supposed to be a parking lane to separate the roadway, this is not the same as a fixed barrier, and it is very likely that there will often be long stretches of unoccupied spaces, negating the value of that approach.
> So how can this report be interpreted to mean that "These types of bikeways have been shown to be safer than bike lanes and shared lanes."???
>  
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: John Knox White
> To: [email protected]
> Cc: John Nidecker ; BikeAlameda List ; EBBC Discussion List
> Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 7:17 PM
> Subject: Re: [Discuss] Fwd: Transportation Commission Mtg - Wed, Nov 28, 2012 at 7 p.m.
> 
> Most recent one I have seen.
> 
> http://cyclingincities-spph.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2012/06/TeschkeVeloCity2012.pdf
> 
> 
> 
> On Friday, November 23, 2012, wrote:
> "These types of bikeways have been
> shown to be safer than bike lanes and shared lanes."
> 
> Can you provide links to studies that support this statement?
> 
> Brit Harvey
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected]
> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John Knox White
> Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2012 7:59 AM
> To: John Nidecker
> Cc: BikeAlameda List; EBBC Discussion List
> Subject: [Ebbc-Talk] [Discuss] Fwd: Transportation Commission Mtg - Wed,Nov
> 28, 2012 at 7 p.m.
> 
> The idea is a protected bikeway along the beac with striped buffers, parked
> cars, etc between traffic and cyclists. These types of bikeways have been
> shown to be safer than bike lanes and shared lanes. BikeAlameda has worked
> diligently on this project to ensure that cyclists will have a usable, safe
> cycling environment.
> 
> On Thursday, November 22, 2012, John Nidecker wrote:
> 
> > **
> > "Install a two-way bikeway on the beach side of the street": unless I
> > misunderstand something, this sounds like a BAD idea. It would appear to
> > have west-bound cyclists a lane between east-bound cyclists on one side
> and
> > east-bound cars on the other - i.e.: opposing traffic, with a closing
> > velocity of 40-50 mph! (or more, considering typical speeds on Shoreline).
> > Surely there must be a better alternative!!
> > John Nidecker
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > *From:* Jon Spangler
> > *To:* BikeAlameda List
> > *Cc:* EBBC Discussion List
> > *Sent:* Wednesday, November 21, 2012 5:36 PM
> > *Subject:* [Discuss] Fwd: Transportation Commission Mtg - Wed, Nov
> > 28,2012 at 7 p.m.
> >
> >
> >
> > Begin forwarded message:
> >
> >  *From: *"Gail Payne" <[email protected]>
> > *Date: *November 21, 2012 1:20:00 PM PST
> > *To: *"Gail Payne" <[email protected]>
> >  *Subject: **Transportation Commission Mtg - Wed, Nov 28, 2012 at 7 p.m.*
> >
> >  *Transportation Commission to Take Action on Proposed Bikeway Project:
> > Shore Line Drive/Westline Drive
> > *
> >
> > The Public Works staff invites you to a Transportation Commission meeting
> > to decide on whether to proceed with a proposed bikeway project on Shore
> > Line Drive and Westline Drive.
> > *When*: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
> >
> > *Where*: Transportation Commission Meeting, City Hall Council Chambers
> > (2263 Santa Clara Avenue)
> >
> > *What*: Modify striping on Shore Line Drive/Westline Drive to:
> > . Install a two-way bikeway on the beach side of the street
> > . Reduce the number of travel lanes
> > . Revise the parking lane on the beach side of the street
> > . Provide eight disabled parking spaces along the corridor
> > . Provide loading zones at the entrances of multi-unit complexes
> > . Provide left-turn lanes at key locations
> > . Install up to 10 bicycle racks and two bicycle corrals
> > . Install two bus shelters and two bus landing islands
> > . Provide a shuttle bus landing area on Westline Dr south of Shorepoint Ct
> > . Install up to seven new crosswalks
> >
> > For more information on the recommended project and on the three previous
> > community meetings, please refer to the following web page under "Current
> > Project Documents:"
> > http://www.cityofalamedaca.gov/City-Hall/Traffic-and-Transportation. If
> > you are unable to attend, please submit written comments to Gail Payne,
> > Transportation Coordinator, at City Hall West, 950 West Mall Square, Room
> > 110, Alameda, CA 94501 or by email at gpayne-TRFGz8y94AjhJ1H5RvZ0SeG/[email protected] All
> > written comments will be part of the official public record.
> >
> > Furthermore, please let me know if you would like to be added to the
> > Transportation Commission (TC) email list serve to obtain the agendas for
> > future TC meetings.  The agenda for this month's TC meeting is available
> > at:
> >
> http://www.cityofalamedaca.gov/City-Hall/Calendar-of-Events?id=1460&a=201211
> 28
> > Item 5a is the Shore Line Drive / Westline Drive Proposed Bikeway Project.
> >
> > Thank you!
> >
> > Regards,
> > Gail Payne
> >
> >
> >
> > Gail Pay
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
> 
> --
> John Knox White
> _______________________________________________
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> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> John Knox White
> 
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"She who succeeds in gaining the mastery of the bicycle will gain the mastery of life."
  —Frances E. Willard, in A Wheel Within a Wheel: How I Learned to Ride the Bicycle (1895)

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