My suggestion is the same as Jeff's; my usual route home goes West on Dayton Street and then left onto Randall.
But I think there *should* be a safe and rational way to turn left from University Avenue onto Randall (or Mills, for that matter; it has the same problem). The intersections aren't safe for turning bikes because the traffic signals never clear the intersection; whenever University Avenue traffic stops, left-turning cars from Randall (or Mills) take over. If you're trying to turn from the side of the street (which is bikes are supposed to be), there's never a time when your path is clear. But this problem exists because of the way the lights are programmed. If Traffic Engineering added a short left-turn-only phase for University Avenue traffic, bikers would be able to get from the bike lane to Randall or Mills without risking a side-trip to the Emergency Room. Would this suggestion (or something like it) be feasible? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Schimpff, Jeff A" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Jay Otto" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, May 21, 2004 3:22 PM Subject: RE: [Bikies] Negotiating intersection > Jay, I'd avoid University altogether, head south on Frances or a similar street, and take Dayton to Randall. I wouldn't send a badly behaved dog down University Avenue. > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Behalf Of Jay Otto > Sent: Friday, May 21, 2004 2:22 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [Bikies] Negotiating intersection > > > Hello Bikies, > > After years of bike commuting in Madison, I feel capable of dealing > with most situations, but I'm still left with a few mysteries. One of > which is: Is there any safe/rational/physically possible way to make a > left turn from University Ave. heading westbound onto Randall Street? > > My usual technique is to avoid the intersection whenever possible. This > may be the best way to deal with an unpleasant situation. > > Moving from the westbound bike lane into the far left lane prior to > reaching the intersection is the rational/legal method, however the > volume and speed of motor vehicle traffic quite often remove it from > the realm of possibility. > > Stopping at the light and crossing the intersection as a pedestrian is > generally possible, but given the common crowds of students, traffic, > and the fact that there is only a crosswalk is on the wrong side of > Randall Street (the east side), doesn't make this straight forward > either. > > Thoughts? Suggestions? Or just continue to avoid the area like the > plague and wait for the Missing Link to be completed? > > Jay Otto > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies > _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
