Schenley Park Road "Improvements" (Pittsburgh, Oakland: neighborhood, safe, moving)

[SteelCityRising]

Okay, I'll be succinct for a change of pace:

1.) The new dedicated/protected bike lane from Schenley Plaza past Phipps Conservatory into Schenley Park is great; however, why are people allowed to park IN it in front of Phipps? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of having a protected bike lane? Is that what is going to happen Downtown when eastbound Penn Avenue is converted to a protected bike lane?

2.) Who's bright idea was it to remove the "EXCEPT RIGHT TURN" sign under the stop sign just past Phipps, if you're heading towards Squirrel Hill from Schenley Drive onto Panther Hollow Road? I didn't notice any issues here previously, but now it's a huge P.I.T.A. to have a dedicated 3-way stop sign at this intersection, especially when traffic is typically so light from the formerly "LEGIT" stop sign direction.

3.) I love the well-marked new crosswalks. Very nice job, DPW!

[fleetiebelle]

1. As far as I know, they're not. The parking lane is supposed to be between the bike lane and the car lane. It's probably not being enforced at the moment.

2. Making it a 3-way stop is a great idea. Since traffic heading right won't be able to zip by the left-turning cars, everyone is going to have to stop.

[mondu]

Another oddity with that intersection is when you're approaching it on Schenley Drive from the golf course, the lane to turn left towards the Panther Hollow bridge is now covered with yellow stripes and the travel lane veers to the right, implying that left turns aren't allowed.

[AaronPGH]

It's probably worth calling 311 and reporting the cars parking in the lane. They're usually really fast to respond.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by mondu

Another oddity with that intersection is when you're approaching it on Schenley Drive from the golf course, the lane to turn left towards the Panther Hollow bridge is now covered with yellow stripes and the travel lane veers to the right, implying that left turns aren't allowed.

I've also noticed this, and it's quite confusing.

Originally Posted by AaronPGH

It's probably worth calling 311 and reporting the cars parking in the lane. They're usually really fast to respond.

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

1. As far as I know, they're not. The parking lane is supposed to be between the bike lane and the car lane. It's probably not being enforced at the moment.

There were dozens of cars parked against the curb in front of Phipps Conservatory IN the bike lane. There's no way the aggressive Oakland parking enforcement officials could miss them. Then again if all of that parking is being eliminated, and no new parking garage or surface lot is to be provided, then where are all of those Phipps visitors supposed to park now?

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

2. Making it a 3-way stop is a great idea. Since traffic heading right won't be able to zip by the left-turning cars, everyone is going to have to stop.

In my case after turning right without stopping there roughly a dozen times per day almost every day for the past several years I cut someone off yesterday as I hadn't noticed the "EXCEPT RIGHT TURN" sign below the stop sign was removed until the last minute. I had no idea the city was going to be removing that (and I'm a city news junkie). I really wish they would have put up a sign in advance warning of that drastic traffic pattern change (or maybe one of those blinking reflector lights atop the stop sign to alert drivers that the stop sign was new/different). I wonder how many other "conditioned" Oakland commuters also started to veer right without stopping there before realizing the sign was gone? It seemed like traffic flow was smooth the way it was prior to this change.

[norcider]

I ran that stop sign this morning then, old habits die hard. I'll be more careful next time.

[AaronPGH]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

There were dozens of cars parked against the curb in front of Phipps Conservatory IN the bike lane. There's no way the aggressive Oakland parking enforcement officials could miss them.

I mean, you can either keep posting here about it (where nobody will be able to help you), or you can at least attempt 311. lol.

311 Response Center*·*311 Submission Form

It's possible Oakland parking enforcement doesn't know how to handle bike lanes. I have no idea.

[ctoocheck]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I've also noticed this, and it's quite confusing.

There were dozens of cars parked against the curb in front of Phipps Conservatory IN the bike lane. There's no way the aggressive Oakland parking enforcement officials could miss them. Then again if all of that parking is being eliminated, and no new parking garage or surface lot is to be provided, then where are all of those Phipps visitors supposed to park now?

This is an incredibly wide road--there really should be room for both a bike track and car parking.

Edit: there is, and plans are to do so.
The posts in the rendering should help people get the idea that they shouldn't park there (I presume they're not installed yet?)

[BobMcKelvin]

Glad they changed it to a 3 way stop, it was always a challenge to cross on foot in this area because of the hesitation and indecision on both drivers' and peds' parts.

I'm excited that we are finally seeing changes in Schenley. Not only the bike lane, but perhaps more significantly the "greening" efforts that are being put in place to reduce stormwater runoff into Panther Hollow. I'm too young to recall the lake in it's glory days, but ever since I stumbled upon the hollow one day 10 years ago it has become one of my favorite spots in the entire city. Although the greedy side of me appreciates the secludedness its current state provides, the Pittsburgher in me wants to see every measure taken to restore it to it's former glory so others can experience the location as well.

The bike lanes should soon be extended to integrate with the "complete street" design for Schenley Drive. Overall these changes will restore ownership of the park to the people who utilize it as something other than a shortcut from Point A to Point B. The stormwater reduction will hopefully reverse some of the serious erosion and sedimentation problems that currently plague the park (and the Four Mile Run neighborhood downstream). This initiative extends beyond the park's boundaries and into Squirrel Hill where they are encouraging residents to install rain barrels to further reduce runoff. Future plans to daylight the stream after it exits the lake would even further reduce the burden on our stormwater system and the The Run community.

I expect Phipps to announce a plan in the next few years to further modify the road and parking in front of the main entrance. For an institution supposedly focused on sustainable initiatives, that huge swath of impermeable pavement out front will have to be modified sooner rather than later, perhaps using Silva cell technology to allow percolation.

[charisb]

I am glad they changed things too but a lot of people clearly remain unaware. I have seen people run the sign all week. They should install a temporary 'traffic patterns have changed' type of sign, just to be on the safe side.