I bike 15 miles a day, 60 mi/wk, winter too. I ride on Barton, Pontiac Tr, Plymouth Rd, Packard, Stone School, State St across I-94. I also drive. When illness prevented driving I HAD to bike. Parked cars force bikers into traffic, they block visibility for pedestrians trying to cross and they create congestion. Residents rarely park, but occasionally they do. Then I am forced way into the middle of the busy road. When crossing, parked cars make it hard to see traffic. At the traffic light, bikers mean FEWER cars clamoring to get by AND more visibility AND an incentive to slow down, especially turning cars, making pedestrians SAFER. Bikers are often disadvantaged and sidelined in public policy. The increase in bike lanes has made drivers aware, roads safer, and drivers VASTLY more respectful! I feel gratitude every day for the city’s efforts. For every bike on a road, there is one LESS car, and LESS congestion and LESS danger to pedestrians, drivers simply pay more attention now.
I support Removing the on-street parking with the possibility that protected bike lanes could be added to build out the existing network of bike lanes in this area and as outlined in the Cities non-motorized transportation plan. Currently bicyclists are forced to dangerously merge with traffic where the lanes end, along a stretch of roadway where traffic speeds are dangerously high. Additionally, this area experiences high pedestrian traffic due to being in close vicinity to recreational trails, Argo Cascades, and residential neighborhoods, making for a great opportunity to increase safety among non-motorized users. I also urge Council to consider some type of bicycle lane protection or buffering with vertical enhancements to provide even greater vehicle friction and safety along this neighborhood corridor, 25mph limit does not seem to be acknowledged.
I bike 15 miles a day, 60 mi/wk, winter too. I ride on Barton, Pontiac Tr, Plymouth Rd, Packard, Stone School, State St across I-94. I also drive. When illness prevented driving I HAD to bike. Parked cars force bikers into traffic, they block visibility for pedestrians trying to cross and they create congestion. Residents rarely park, but occasionally they do. Then I am forced way into the middle of the busy road. When crossing, parked cars make it hard to see traffic. At the traffic light, bikers mean FEWER cars clamoring to get by AND more visibility AND an incentive to slow down, especially turning cars, making pedestrians SAFER. Bikers are often disadvantaged and sidelined in public policy. The increase in bike lanes has made drivers aware, roads safer, and drivers VASTLY more respectful! I feel gratitude every day for the city’s efforts. For every bike on a road, there is one LESS car, and LESS congestion and LESS danger to pedestrians, drivers simply pay more attention now.
I support Removing the on-street parking with the possibility that protected bike lanes could be added to build out the existing network of bike lanes in this area and as outlined in the Cities non-motorized transportation plan. Currently bicyclists are forced to dangerously merge with traffic where the lanes end, along a stretch of roadway where traffic speeds are dangerously high. Additionally, this area experiences high pedestrian traffic due to being in close vicinity to recreational trails, Argo Cascades, and residential neighborhoods, making for a great opportunity to increase safety among non-motorized users. I also urge Council to consider some type of bicycle lane protection or buffering with vertical enhancements to provide even greater vehicle friction and safety along this neighborhood corridor, 25mph limit does not seem to be acknowledged.