Mark should already be aware of this, but others probably should know this
as well.

The current plan for Old Middleton Rd is to have bike lanes only "on the
uphill sections."

What does that mean?

As you are riding east or west  between Capital Ave and Middleton city
limits, there are areas where you are riding uphill, and presumably 9much)
slower than motorized traffic, and areas where you are riding downhill, and
at the speed of car traffic or with less of a speed differential. The plan
is to only have bike lanes on the areas where you are riding up hill. That
means the bike lanes will disappear, and you will have to share the lane
with motorized traffic.

I will note that the design of Old Middleton Rd has been quite controversial
for many years, and no city committee ever came to an agreement about the
design when it was reconstructed. There was general agreement at all
committees that bike lanes were needed on both sides, especially because
there are also no sidewalks, so the bike lanes are expected to function as
pedestrian areas as well. The problem has always been the
landscaping/trees/shrubs that are in the public right of way and the fact
that the folks living along Old Middleton do not want to lose their buffer
with the street.

So, yes, Old Middleton will be reconstructed in 2009, but I suspect that the
bicyclists will not be especially happy with the result. There will still be
inadequate pedestrian and bicycle accommodations along this important
connector, but the road surface will be considerably smoother.
Unfortunately, that will probably also mean drivers will feel more
comfortable going faster.

Comments from Mark?

Robbie


On Sat, Nov 22, 2008 at 7:11 AM, Mark Clear <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> Old Middleton Road between Capital Avenue and the Middleton limit will be
> reconstructed in 2009.
>
> Ald. Mark Clear, 19th District
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