On 30 Aug 2010, at 9:12 AM, [email protected] wrote:
From: "Rummel, Marsha" <[email protected]>
My constituent responded after getting the above: "Seems to me that
it's clearly not working, and that contractors have no incentive
(positive or negative) to keep public spaces open and safe. And a
good example of enforcement, review, and control being disconnected.
Can you imagine if a construction site just randomly closed a car
lane during rush hour--I'm guessing then there'd be some
consequences."
TE read the contractor the 'riot act' but it does seem like there is
a disconnect...I'd like your advice on this.
There is a very clear disconnect, and it's absolutely imperative it's
fixed. I regularly run into contractors who believe bike lanes are
there for them to park in and that it's trivial for cyclists to simply
merge into traffic and back out as needed. Just last week I had to
swing around a contractor vehicle after crossing University just west
of the "purple building" where DoIT is located, pushing myself into
the (busy) traffic lanes for a moment before I could reacquire the
bike lane.
During the seemingly endless reconstruction of Observatory Drive
between WARF and Highland Avenue, the contractor seemed to believe
that it was perfectly reasonable to have cyclists and pedestrians
sharing a moderately narrow path enclosed by fencing on both sides,
and that sending that path across two curbs was also reasonable. Best
of all, the end near WARF was often even narrower because a bike rack
was somehow moved to block much of it. I had to complain several
times before they quickly put some temporary asphalt (at too steep a
grade, but whatever) at the curbs. Still, even cycling slowly was
dangerous given the number of pedestrians with headphones or phones
not paying attention. Detours were not marked and were inconvenient.
Compare this to the extensive signage on University Avenue warning
drivers of closed lanes, detours to guide people to businesses, and
the like.
I'm perfectly willing to put up with less-than-optimal bicycle lanes
around construction, but as a relatively vulnerable user of the road,
I'm asking for reasonable protection from harm as I try to go from
place to place. Long-term projects should have clear plans for
bicycle and pedestrian accommodations that are then followed, with
consequences if they don't.
Peace and Prosperity,
Dipesh
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