-----Original Message-----
From: Dominic Richens [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2001 10:32
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [obc] Changes to westbound Baseline at Prince of whales intersectionDaphne,
I was wondering if you could pass on to the traffic engineers responsible for Baseline at Prince of Whales, that the changes they made to the right hand westbound lane suck for cyclists.
The right hand westbound lane used to be a through lane, with a dedicated right turn lane leading off it just before the intersection. Since this rightmost lane ended just after the intersection, it was mostly void of traffic (80km/h), as I puffed up the bride over the canal (30km/h). I never had problems with cars trying to turn right as our speed was about equal by the time we got to the right hand turn lane, and they were legally obligated to get around me safely.
Now this rightmost lane is a dedicated right turn lane, starting just after the bridge (100meters from the intersection). According to the law, I am suppose to change lanes at that point. This is a problem. The center lane is currently much more narrow than the right lane, and the speed difference is much to high for me to safely share the center lane with motorists. Plus motorists wanting to turn right are still doing about 80km/h as I try to cross the lane to get into the center lane. Assuming I survive to the intersection, I am suppose to change back to the right bus/bike lane, now having to negotiate with buses dropping off and picking up passengers. If I survive that, I then (as before) have to merge back with the left lane after the intersection, where the right most lane ends.
This is silly. The traffic engineers obviously never considered cyclist when making this change.
So after two weeks of being honked at and buzzed trying to do the legal thing, I've found the only safe way to tackle that intersection is to stay as long as possible in the turn lane, stopping if necessary at the turnoff, to wait for a gap in right-turning traffic.
cheers!
P.S. I tried the "recommended" route that winds through residential, bike path, finally on to Hogsback/Meadowlands, and aside from adding 10 minutes to my commute, there is a dicey merge with high-speed Airport Parkway traffic, Hogsback is narrow and Meadowlands road surface is awful. With its smooth, ultra-wide right lane, Baseline is muuuuch safer.
P.P.S. When a motorist, I regularly make the right turn from Baseline/Heron on to Prince of Whales Northbound and can't for the life of me figure out why someone thought it needed changing? Was it a co-op student summer project or something?
--
Dominic Richens | ESN 395-5840 | Passport Succession | 043/31/D05
"I have seen the future, and it is just like the present, only longer"
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