Comments on: Mixed Message from Council on Library Lot

By: Rod Johnson

Rod Johnson — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:11:11 +0000

Another view on sharrows: [Link]

By: Rod Johnson

Rod Johnson — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:08:36 +0000

Hey, don’t minimize the ‘almost been run over’ issue. People can almost get badly hurt. Our emergency rooms are almost not equipped to handle the rash of near-accidents. It’s almost scary.

By: KJMClark

KJMClark — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:24:38 +0000

What happened to the “sharrows” in the downtown? In our non-motorized plan, we were supposed to put in sharrows – pavement markings that make it clear to motorists that cyclists are supposed to be in the road – in places in the downtown where we want cyclists off of sidewalks. The sharrows were a city responsibility. They were put in the door zone half the time, and never maintained. It’s hard to find many now.

The first thing we should do is follow our own non-motorized plan and put back the sharrows, to do *something* to encourage cyclists to use the unfriendly roads. This time let’s put the sharrows where they belong, in the middle of the traveled part of the lane on Liberty and most of the other narrow streets with on-street parking in the downtown. Then bicyclists will be encouraged to bike where they should be riding, by state law they don’t have to keep to the right when the usable portion of the lane is less than 12′, motorists will have the reminder to expect bikes in the road, and the sharrows will last a good deal longer.

Better yet, we should put the sharrows back, and put in MUTCD (Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices) signs R4-11 “Bicycles May Use Full Lane”. The MUTCD says [link]:

“The Bicycles May Use Full Lane (R4-11) sign (see Figure 9B-2) may be used on roadways where no bicycle lanes or adjacent shoulders usable by bicyclists are present and where travel lanes are too narrow for bicyclists and motor vehicles to operate side by side.

The Bicycles May Use Full Lane sign may be used in locations where it is important to inform road users that bicyclists might occupy the travel lane.

Section 9C.07 describes a Shared Lane Marking that may be used in addition to or instead of the Bicycles May Use Full Lane sign to inform road users that bicyclists might occupy the travel lane.” (The “Shared Lane Marking” is also known as a sharrow.)

Notice as well, that the ordinance change could quickly change the biking on the sidewalks discussion. “(2) An individual shall not operate a bicycle upon a sidewalk or a pedestrian crosswalk if that operation is prohibited by an official traffic control device.” There are MUTCD signs to prohibit bicycles. The signs the DDA put up in the downtown are not “official traffic control device[s]“, but it wouldn’t be hard for the city to replace those signs with the official versions. It isn’t completely clear how to interpret a “No Bicycles” sign, however, particularly when the bike parking is on the sidewalk.

By: Pete

Pete — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:08:12 +0000

Has Teall never ‘almost been run over’ by a runner on a sidewalk? Never turned a corner and almost been hit by a stroller? Are we going to put small metal license plates on all pairs of running shoes in the city? Heck, I get bumped into by teens on cell phones and guys trying to prove their manhood all the time. Maybe everyone needs a license tattoo on their forehead.

By: Alan Goldsmith

Alan Goldsmith — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:26:06 +0000

“Sandi Smith (Ward 1) said she’d like to see an educational outline. She hoped that Ann Arbor could eventually get to the same point as other cities she’d visited where cars stop as soon as pedestrians even think about crossing the street.”

You’re joking. She really SAID this? Is the ESP option covered in the new law?

By: FRIDGEMAN

FRIDGEMAN — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:05:08 +0000

Wow, with the temperament of our town, can you imagine the absolute tempest-in-a-teapot spectacle we could enjoy for months on end if Ann Arbor were to try to begin a deer culling program!

I work near Leslie Park golf course, and I regularly encounter deer crossing the street in the neighborhood. No close calls yet, but eventually there will be an accident. Hopefully no person will be hurt.

Having said that, I don’t think we have a problem that has risen to the level of requiring anything more than awareness, and perhaps a few more yellow deer signs.

By: Rod Johnson

Rod Johnson — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:17:44 +0000

There should be a verb “to greden,” as in “Let’s greden Rapundalo next election.” (Just an example, of course.)

By: Steve Bean

Steve Bean — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:06:32 +0000

Apparently I was mistaken in a comment on another Chronicle article that the ‘library lane’ concept was proposed by the DDA. The “newly constructed street” at that site seems to have been a council requirement for their design of the underground parking structure.

By: Barbara O'Donnell

Barbara O'Donnell — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:38:50 +0000

Bike riders should have a bell on their bike to warn people walking on sidewalks of their approach — speed of bikes on so named sidewalk shoild be addressed — let’s share side walk (used as bike unsafe lanes) with manners — a lost work and art — Thank You, Barbara E. O’Donnell – fifth ward side walk and street gutter cleaner –

By: mr dairy

mr dairy — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:33:05 +0000

Thank you, Jayne Miller for your years of service to the city and leaving Planning and Development Services in an incredibly dysfunctional state.