i was just curious but is there a location for the guidelines for raleighs bike lane ‘visualness’ so to speak? like a bright green solid patch every quarter mile or across busier vehicular right-hand turns?
There’s no requirement to use green paint anywhere (green is used to distinguish from other traffic control colors) but generally it’s a good idea to use it in conflict areas for greater visibility - like right turns crossing a bike lane, or at the beginning of each block to discourage motorists from entering the bike lane. But it’s just an optional added feature for greater visibility, not a required one.
8 Likes
an ebike with a weighted broom attatched to the rear.
We are used to seeing green in our environment (you know: trees, grass, bushes) and I think it’s the perfect color to use for painted bike lanes. It’s definitely different enough to be noticed, but it’s not jarring in the visual field to be distractingly ugly.
8 Likes
New information on the City’s website about protected bike lane projects:
• State St.
A two-way cycle track between Peterson and Bunche. Would also include the installation of stop signs at both intersections.
There is no timeline for construction as yet, but it is a priority project, and I believe the City is planning a temporary installation the first weekend of May. In the meantime they have posted a survey for this project: Microsoft Forms
• West St.
Would extend the Downtown North-South Greenway Connector along West St. to Peace St., and perhaps all the way to Wade Ave. to connect to Five Points. No timeline is listed.
• Faircloth Rd.
This one’s news to me. A two-way cycle track between Hillsborough/Clark and Wade Ave. would replace the existing (unprotected) bike lanes. It would run along the Meredith side of the street. The City says it’s in design and should be let in winter, with construction occurring next summer.
On a related note, the long-planned Gorman St. Connector, which would connect the Rocky Branch and Reedy Creek trails via a two-way protected cycletrack on the west side of the Gorman St. bridge over the NCRR tracks. Wide sidepaths would also be constructed on the north and south sides of the bridge, and intersection improvements for bicycle access would occur as well. It sounds like we can finally expect to see construction on this project commence soon—the website lists “late April 2021” as the construction date.
11 Likes
The State Street project is getting a lot of heartburn from the adjacent neighborhoods - it’s one of those projects unfortunately where some of the neighbors see the bike lanes as a sign of gentrification and oppose it on those grounds.
3 Likes
I get it but I wish we’d (black people) realize that we can use the nice stuff too when it comes to neighborhoods.
The problem is, there’s just no trust left between the people in these neighborhoods and the system which is really unfortunate so any and every change and improvement is met with pushback.
12 Likes
Queue the neighborhood improvement ambassadors! Maybe black and brown ambassadors handing out flyers and getting to know the community would really help neighbors to use the improvements? Although if I was a long term renter, I could definitely see myself getting nervous
6 Likes
Good idea. It’s all about open and honest communication.
Linking this back to bike lanes though, hopefully we can get to a point where most of our ITB main roads have protected bike lanes and more neighborhood shops for them to actually be useful for all
12 Likes
Re: State St . . . my understanding is that outreach and engagement with the community will continue. It’s possible that the pop-up installation will proceed in May, but not certain.
I’m a big fan of protected bike infrastructure at this location because it would allow people to safely cross the ITB/OTB boundary without a car and it connects with the Walnut Creek greenway.
But I understand the resistance. Why should people in this area trust the city? What evidence is there that this will be a good thing for them? The opposition isn’t to bike lanes per se. It’s to the further changes that bike lanes could indicate are coming.
11 Likes
Looks like it is happening:
https://raleighnc.gov/events/bikeraleigh-s-state-street-pop-event-1
Sunday May 2, 1-3pm at Walnut Creek Wetland Center.
4 Likes
Random question but does anyone see any uses for some of the bicycle numbered routes that are still floating around out there that are signed?
In Georgia they always used to seem like they would be on the most random, bike un-friendly roads. Is that the case here? I haven’t really noticed them.
It’s not “terrible” here but I can’t even find a map of where the routes even are.
Just curious if it’s worth reusing or re-designating bike corridors as numbers or names in general as bike facilities become more connected.
Also a question popped up in BPAC tonight that as we have connected bike routes/bikeways and if we do decide to do some branding, what destinations should we put on any wayfinding signs?
1 Like
I think schools and parks of course but after that I think shopping centers / neighborhood stores should get a spot. If we’re really trying to get people to ditch the car for short trips that should be an area of focus.
1 Like
Hi friends! Just wanted to share and make sure everyone knows that May is Bike Month! WOOOHOOO - get excited. Seriously though, Oaks and Spokes (which I staff) has a lot of fun events scheduled! See them all here.
17 Likes
I would love for Raleigh to have car free streets in the future not just biker and pedestrian friendly streets.
8 Likes
I think a map would be super helpful. Also if there is a way to get them designated on Google Maps or some sort of GPS system that people use frequently. I can’t tell you how many times Google has lied to me and told me that a street is “bicycle friendly” when it certainly is not.
I also think that if certain corridors are designated as “biker friendly” you might have more cautious drivers as well.
4 Likes
The Art to Heart Corridor that runs from the NCMA to downtown does this a bit and I’ve always enjoyed it. I think it’s also one of the most heavily used bike corridors in the downtown area.
6 Likes