"Evanston debates whether to backpedal on bike lanes"

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by mike w. on September 13, 2016 at 7:55am

(sigh...) Time to go back to sharrows. The idea of putting a bike lane between the curb and parked cars is a recipe for disaster.

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on September 14, 2016 at 8:55am

Intersections need a lot of parking removed for visibility with the curbside bike lane model, but it makes a lot more sense to me to use a row of parked cars to protect cyclists than to use the cyclists to protect a row of curbside parked cars.

Permalink Reply by Jared on September 13, 2016 at 8:17am

They had a bike lane before, it was just on the left side of the parked cars.  I wonder what their plan for snow removal was.

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on September 13, 2016 at 8:36am

How does it "slow traffic down" or make it "more congested" when it's a two lane road with or without the bike lanes?

Motorists saying it's "trying their patience". Hmmm. I rode through a week and a half ago and the protected bike lanes were blocked by construction horses in several spots - one was because someone was repaving their walk (sidewalk) leading to the curb. There was a horse and scrap wood in the protected bike lane long after the walk dried. It's not easy getting around a horse that blocks the entire protected bike lane. Now reading this, Evanston sounds like they need to address the concerns and respect the bike lanes they decided to build (keeping them clear of debris). 

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on September 15, 2016 at 3:25pm

They went from traffic lane+bike lane+parking spaces (moving from the center of the street to the curb on either side) to traffic lane+parking spaces+door zone+bike lane. The door zone stole a bit from the bike lane and (I think) a bit from the traffic lane, so, in theory, traffic should be calmed down a bit.

The residents along Dodge aren't calm at all, however. In fact, it seems like they really have their knickers in a twist. Their main complaints seem to be

• Loss of parking (near intersections, to improve visibility)
• Having to park closer to traffic (which means they tend to move towrd the curb and park their wheels in the door zone)

I've ridden Dodge a few times. I'm not happy with the changes, but I'll live with it. I don't travel Dodge on a bike much.

Permalink Reply by curt(is) locke on September 13, 2016 at 9:06am

Here I thought Evanston thought of itself as "progressive."

Permalink Reply by David Barish on September 13, 2016 at 9:44am

I could not  be at the meeting  because of a work conflict and  perhaps that is  just as well. I agree with Mike W. as regards the lane on Dodge. I strongly prefer the sharrows that were already there. As far as I am concerned a model lane is the one on Main St in Skokie.  I think  most lanes should be modeled on  that lane. On  the other hand, the complaints raised by the residents make even less sense to me than the protected lane.  Had I been  present I  would have made enemies of everybody. :-)

This  being said, I rode that lane this morning later than normal, about 730 am. I saw a number  of young riders in the lane presumably going to  school. There was more bike traffic than I  have seen in the past. I guess it is doing something. 

Permalink Reply by Jim Reho on September 13, 2016 at 10:07am

I'm not familiar with Skokie.  How is the Main St. lane there configured? 

Permalink Reply by David Barish on September 14, 2016 at 8:14am

Parking at curb. Bike lane is painted green at intersections and we'll marked. The bike lane is between parking and a single lane of traffic. This is on both sides of the street.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on September 14, 2016 at 11:06am

Photos?

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on September 15, 2016 at 3:28pm

I think there's a perception by some that it's an improvement. Certainly parents seem to believe the new configuration is better for their kids. Perception is not necessarily reality. My guess is the aldermen have gotten an earful. I've voice my concerns regarding the changes with Katie Knapp (?).

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on September 13, 2016 at 10:03pm

Here's a petition to keep and improve the lanes on Dodge:

https://www.change.org/p/evanston-city-clerk-rodney-improve-not-rem...

I'm not a big fan of the sharrow because motorists don't necessarily respect them. I've been cut off on Dodge by motorists ignoring the sharrow so I'd like to see them improve the lanes on Dodge and keep having bike lanes.

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