Apologies for the lack of clarity. Daryl covered most of the ground that I was trying to cover, only better. Yeah, mostly I meant Wilson where I said Main St. It doesn't help that following John Nolen puts you on Blair, following Wilson puts you on Willy, etc. etc. The key, though, is the flying right turn onto Willy Street. If you're coming from the Lake Monona side the light and traffic are pretty visible. However, coming from Main and Wilson towards Lake Monona the angle is such that cars approaching from the right can be partially hidden by vehicles backed up from the Wilson Street stoplight. And as I said, those cars heading for the Willy St. off ramp typically are moving very quickly. The whole intersection needs to be simplified.
------------ Patrick Lenon Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:56:41 -0500 Subject: Re: [Bikies] Machinery Row Intersection Feedback From: [email protected] To: [email protected] CC: [email protected]; [email protected] Patrick - I want to understand # 1 a-b below, but am confused where you mean. E Main St is one block north, with no lights, only stop signs for traffic on Main St. Did you mean Wilson St? That is the street that goes up the hill towards the Capitol, and also the little stub of a street that is east of Blair leading to the Isthmus Path eastbound. It sounds like you are having trouble crossing Willy St from the Isthmus Path to the Lake Monona Path because of the flying rights from John Nolen to Willy St? (Southbound to continue west on the Lake Monona Path) I know it makes for a two-staged crossing (not very bike-friendly), but if you follow the pedestrian WALK lights, you won't have a conflict with turning vehicles. And this brings up another suggestion when responding. Because there are two paths - the East Isthmus Path and the Lake Monona Path (both technically part of the Capital City Trail), and various streets: John Nolen, Blair, Williamson, and Wilson, it would be helpful for people commenting and responding to be as detailed as possible in what maneuver and in which direction you are having trouble. Be specific about where you are coming from and where you are going, if you can. Many people make these crossings in two or three steps, while others make the maneuver in one step, like driving a car, so we may not always understand why/where you are having trouble. Speaking as Chair of the PBMVC,Robbie Webber On Tue, Oct 18, 2011 at 1:49 PM, Patrick Lenon <[email protected]> wrote: 1. Biggest problem is when the green arrow is lit to Willy Street while the cyclists are crossing East Main on their way to the bike path, because: a) Cyclists can't see the arrow so they may not realize that traffic is coming through b) View of cars coming through is often obscured by west-bound vehicles stopped at the light (waiting to cross East Main the other way). Often I've started to cross and a vehicle appears around the curve, or changes lanes into the curve to get out of traffic. c) Seeing vehicles stopped at the west-bound light as in b) tends to make cyclists think that the Willy St traffic has a red light when it does not d) Cars frequently speed through the curve to Willy St. to make the light Also: e) Westbound cyclists have to cross the bike path to get to a small holding area, frequently blocking the path f) The intersection overall is very confusing. It is very difficult to get to Machinery Row businesses from any direction other than from the Convention Center. 2. How to fix it? GET RID OF THE WILLY ST. "OFF-RAMP." I say that as both a cyclist and a motorist who frequently drives that way. It's just not worth the risk. Close off the special lane and set up a right turn on red. It'll be plenty fast enough. ------------ Patrick Lenon Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:49:58 -0500 From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: [Bikies] Machinery Row Intersection Feedback Hello, The Bike Fed is assisting the City in getting feedback on biking through the Machinery Row intersection (Blair/John Nolen/Willy/E.Main). Who hasn't been frustrated with this intersection?! While the intersection is scheduled to be reconstructed in 2017, the City is interested in making smaller improvements to make bicycling safer and more convenient in this intersection in 2012 - 2013. Please reply with the following information: 1. What problems have you experienced at this intersection? 2. Do you have ideas for specific improvements? I am currently compiling the information and will submit final feedback to the city early next week. Please respond with your comments no later than this FRIDAY. Thank you, Amanda ________________________ Amanda White Associate Director Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin (608) 251-4456 [email protected] www.bfw.org Saris Gala - Nov. 12 Don't miss your chance to meet members of the 1986 7-Eleven Cycling Team! Register NOW for the Saris Gala on Saturday, Nov. 12 http://www.sarisgala.org. _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org
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