anywhere other than a trail in the entire triangle region… We need more protected lanes and routes that don’t end less than a mile away.
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Can I get some feedback on the Blount Street bike lane bus issues that were talked about earlier this year? This is where the buses are parked outside Watts and Ward and they overlap the bike lane.
After those bollards were installed, transit staff is hearing nothing further about this issue so I’m getting the impression they’ve moved on.
I can speak to it.
It’s gotten better in the sense that the buses are there less often than they used to be. Previously they were there at all hours of the day at all times I passed by (and I’d take pictures of it). I’ll mention that it’s worse in the sense that the bollards have cause the bike lanes to be completely blocked instead of partially blocked when they’re parked there. Buses have to overcompensate on the parallel park and end up sticking out much more than they used to.
I’ve noticed the effort, and I’d say that emphasizing safety for the crosswalk is likely more important than the safety in the bike lane at this point due to the quantity attempting to use both. To my understanding, the bollards are in place to ensure the buses don’t pull up directly in front of the crosswalk so that there isn’t a blindspot for drivers on that road. I think this crosswalk is also a pretty good example of one where we should install those buttons that shine lights to let drivers know pedestrians are attempting to use it. I’ve seen pedestrians ignored at this crosswalk almost more than any other crosswalk downtown.
I would also say that it is still not a useful bike lane. If you do come by here while a bus is parked here, you’ll notice that the bus will completely cover the bike lane when parked. I still think that the situation means that bicyclists will be unable to avoid having to move into traffic, and I’d still call this bike lane incredibly unsafe.
The answer I saw from the group previously mentioned that they never intended this to be a permanent bike lane and they don’t want to result to a long-term plan for safety here. I don’t agree with that, but my understanding was that the results of this effort were final and wouldn’t be explored further (until or unless the inevitable happens).
TL;DR: Bike lane is less safe than it used to be when buses are parked there. Occasionally it’s more safe because buses are parked there less often.
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As someone who bikes this a lot and spoke about it at an RTA meeting, I’d agree. Buses are parked there less frequently, but when they are there, it’s much worse.
Also, yeah, that whole section of the Blount st bike lane just sucks (from like Morgan to Davie). Street parking spots for cars seem too narrow, so they’re either touching the bike lane (esp around Pour House) or semi in it. Would love for this to just be better.
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I bike on that bike lane every single day back from work. I stopped contacting staff after they stopped responding. Buses are parked there essentially every day around 5 still, but on average it’s less often over a whole day. Trucks or other vehicles block the bike lane constantly as well. The long term plan seems to be to do absolutely nothing about it, even in 10 years when they finally start the two way conversion of blount and person, so I don’t have high hopes.
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Feel good article. I’ve been seeing quite a few more bike riders on my way to work.
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Any updates on this project?? 
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article280387264.html
This is all I was able to find on it.
Thanks, that’s somewhat disappointing news but I’m glad that construction will start again next year.
Just to reiterate my earlier message: Here’s an example I saw today. A bit more egregious than I normally see because the bus likely had to navigate around someone using the commercial parking available. So, less likely to see a bus parked there. But when they are you’ll see examples that look like this much much more frequently.
I could actually make the argument that this is safer because there’s more space to navigate a bike inside the bus. More likely to run into someone getting off the bus, but less likely to get run over by a car. That said, I think the natural inclination of the bike rider would be to go on the outside.
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City staff has told me in a committee meeting that, something like, “we installed those bollards and moved the buses to be at that space a bit less” (not a direct quote) and the complaints seemingly went away. 
I mean, as long as buses have to park there, it’ll never be fixed as the buses are just too large to NOT overlap with the bike lane. It’s a geometry issue and the station is at capacity right now. The long term fix is either Blount Street is reconfigured (not aware of any plans for that) and/or buses start/end their routes at Union Station instead of GoRaleigh Station, which is in the works.
Stay safe.
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Based on their last mention, they said that this bike lane was supposed to be temporary. Not that anyone riding in the bike lane would know that.
We’re just going to have to wait until someone gets maimed or killed as a result of this for something to get done. Sucks that this is what it’s come to, I’ll just make sure to avoid this area going forward.
I’m not sure what kind of progress the city has had with expanding bike and pedestrian infrastructure but I believe they should prioritize all of the college campuses and public schools. Having bike share stations, along with protected bike lanes or tracks near schools would decrease traffic in these areas during the busy school year.
I’m sure NC state has a bike share program but I’m sure that the others don’t. Also, NC State and the other universities along with public schools need safer bike paths.
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When considering Raleigh’s progress on bike/ped infrastructure we all need to be aware of NC’s Strategic Transportation Investment law which prohibits the spending of state dollars to fund projects that are solely to improve conditions for bicycling and walking. This combined with NC DOT’s control over most of Raleigh’s roadways makes it extremely difficult to make rapid progress on bike/ped projects.
Figuring out where to make bike/ped infrastructure improvements to enhance safety and connectivity is the easy part. Figuring out how to fund them is the much more difficult part.
Raleigh will begin a Bike Plan overhaul in 2024 and I expect that safe routes to schools will be a fundamental part of the plan. Also, Oaks & Spokes has received funding to further safe routes to schools in Wake County. You can read more about their activities here: Our Work – Oaks & Spokes
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Seriously? What an effed up law. SMDH. Discounts walking and cycling as a from of transportation. Let’s just keep everting car centric.
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Hi all,
Jumping in with my O&S hat on to say that yes, next year’s bike plan update will be a real opportunity to focus our efforts on prioritizing connectivity for all ages and abilities but especially to large employment centers and schools (NCSU fits both definitions!). We will work to make sure that this community stays updated on the Bike Plan as it develops next year. Feel free to reach out to our ED Jared Harber or me if you have questions/comments!
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I agree that we need to connect campuses, but we also need to connect all nodes where there is either a density of housing, jobs, retail, etc. starting from the center and working out from there. We also need to find the most comfortable and reasonable paths possible to make riding easier for more people. This would include avoiding routes with steeper inclines and busy/dangerous roads.
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Not trying to be a jerk about cycling infrastructure, but I drive through here every day going to work and it befuddles me… We have what is basically an exit ramp from Wade Ave (behind in street view) coming down to Edwards Mill Road with a bike lane (which I have NEVER seen anyone actually use) between the off ramp lane and EM Road and there is only a very limited dashed area (circled) to merge from one lane to the other. As I work in Wade Park, I have to merge over to the right. My beef is… there is a separated paved greenway path on the other side of EM Road. Why on earth are there ALSO bike lanes on the road in this very heavily trafficked (especially at 730ish in the morning) area?? The icing on the cake is you also have students/parents/faculty going to Cardinal Gibbons heading this direction every morning as well. It is a cluser$CIk and the bike lane (which no one uses) just adds to the confusion.
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Major Question: why would anyone use it? Who wants to get rundown by a 16 wheeler going 50 mph? Raise your hand if your interested
The engineers just put it there to help the state or whoever claim they care about biker fatalities.
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My feeling is it’d still be a clusterf**k without the bike lanes on the road. But there are a few other roads with this redundancy (conventional painted bike lanes + a MUP on the side). I figure the painted lanes are for anyone who is brave enough/wants to go super fast on their e-bike/scooter/whatever. But if this is an NCDOT street, it probably exists to satisfy the complete streets policy (which in many cases is good, just… not here).