I haven't had any conversations about this stretch with TE, but am pretty sure they're aware of it as problematic for bikes. I also think Kevin is correct that any move to formally accommodate bikes would put an end to the 4 lane usage by MVs and that is likely the reason it hasn't already been addressed. I also agree with everyone else that this should be addressed and that having designated bike lanes on W. Wash west of Bedford and then again east of Broom (google street view is out of date for this section) makes this gap particularly awkward for users. I do ride it somewhat regularly and am fairly aggressive with my lane positioning, but it doesn't feel safe. There's no doubt that it is a no-go stretch for many cyclists.
If there is attention to be paid here, I'd also throw in the eastbound stretch between Regent and Bedford. While there's a marked bike lane there, the pavement is so poor that I typically end up taking the lane and forgoing the bike lane in this stretch. And of course this isn't the only missing link section like this. E. Johnson from Baldwin to 1st and Fish Hatchery from Wingra to Midland are two that come to mind. I'm pretty sure that E. Johnson is programmed to get bike lanes when that section of E. Johnson is redone, but am not sure if there are plans to connect Fish Hatchery. On Wed, May 13, 2015 at 10:08 AM, Kevin Luecke <[email protected]> wrote: > Here is my take on the West Washington issue based on a number of years of > observation: > > - The street is only wide enough to mark one motor vehicle travel lane in > each direction (2 lanes total). > > - Despite this, the street functions as a 4-lane during the morning and > evening rush periods when cars squeeze side-by-side into the single wide > lane. > > - Marking a bike lane would be great for bicyclists, and I have requested > it in the past, but would eliminate the unofficial 4-lane use of the street > which provides significant capacity increases for motorists. > > - This would have large impacts on traffic congestion on West Wash, the > Outer Square, and the Inner Square, particularly during the evening 4:30 - > 5:30pm rush. > > - Another option would be removing or restricting parking on the street, > but parking in that areas is very heavily used, and I suspect that would be > difficult to do. > > As I noted in my email over the weekend, TE and CE do not / can not make > changes to roadways that would have significant impacts on vehicle capacity > without strong support from the impacted alders and the mayor. Given that > this street is a known issue to TE and CE, I suspect that they do not have > the political support they need to make the change. So again, direct your > comments/suggestions/complaints to your alder, the alder for the area of > concern (Alder Verveer in this case), and the mayor. Without their support, > projects like this will not come to be. > > I would also suggest that although city staff do appear to monitor this > listserv and often respond or provide info here, it is not an official > communication channel for city staff or elected officials. If you want a > response from the city about something, use an official channel like a > direct email or the Report-A-Problem page, with which I have had great > responses on a variety of issues. > > Kevin > -- > Kevin Luecke > > > On Wed, May 13, 2015 at 9:13 AM, <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Send Bikies mailing list submissions to >> [email protected] >> >> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit >> http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org >> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to >> [email protected] >> >> You can reach the person managing the list at >> [email protected] >> >> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific >> than "Re: Contents of Bikies digest..." >> >> Today's Topics: >> >> 1. >> >> Re: West Washington ([email protected]) >> >> >> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >> From: >> >> <[email protected]> >> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> >> Cc: >> Date: Wed, 13 May 2015 14:06:22 +0000 >> Subject: Re: [Bikies] West Washington >> I’m right with Robert Nagel on this. This street has been dangerous for >> bikes and even for turning cars for years. With the absence of additional >> stripes it appears this street is marked as one lane in each direction. And >> yet, cars swerve around the primary lane and into the curb/parking lane >> repeatedly. When riding westbound as a commuter in past years, I felt like >> I had to take the full lane in order to avoid being squeezed into parked >> cars. >> Eastbound, the problem has always been cars making the left turn into >> Broom Street. Other eastbound cars passing the cars lined up for the left >> turn, and us westbound cyclists on the downhill remaining cautious of those >> cars turning left in front of us. >> >> Tom >> >> Sent from Windows Mail >> > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > >
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