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Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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Here is an article from Atlanta that Peachtree Street through Buckhead may get a "road diet" restriping the lanes and decreasing thru traffic lanes for bicycle lanes, widened sidewalks, and an enhanced pedestrian environment. What are you thoughts on this? Any other cities out there that have done this that would set a good example? Any other cities that have these types of proposals or discussions of a 'Road Diet'.
Carlisle PA (not quite Atlanta for sure, but a community with rowhouses perhaps similar to many urban neighborhoods) has implemented a "road diet" - link to presentation of results if this works http://www.harrisburg.ashe.pro/image...leRoadDiet.pdf otherwise search for "Carlisle PA Road Diet" to bring up this and other links.
It's taken quite a while to get through discussions and nothing's really been committed for it, but there is a lot of support for the idea among area residents.
Generally, the effect is increased apparent road traffic (same traffic but with less road), but if the area is right for it, increased pedestrian traffic as well.
It's been fairly common in SE Michigan. Though most roads that have been put on diets are generally low-traffic collector roads that go through residential areas. A few major roads through some suburban downtowns have been put on diets; going from 4 lanes to 2 with outside parking lanes. But generally there hasn't been any complaints because of the increased pedestrian traffic that has benefited adjacent retail. It's also a fairly easy adjustment commute-wise since there are many roads to bypass ones that have been dieted around here.
For Atlanta, that project looks like it might have mixed results. Having a dedicated lane for left-turning definitely helps to reduce accidents and traffic build up. It's also aesthetically pleasing to have a green median.
However, the bike lanes seem like they'd be better suited as parking lanes. Or better yet, remove that pavement altogether and make the sidewalks extra large. In order to be really effective as bike lanes, Peachtree Road would need to be even thinner (which would mean sacrificing the center lane or two passing lanes) or have less traffic (which I'm guessing seems unlikely).
Last edited by animatedmartian; 12-11-2013 at 11:10 AM..
At least where I live, most main roads in town have congestion through most of the day that force you to drive under the speed limit, and/or speed limits that are way too low for their design speed. In this case, it makes perfect sense to narrow the traffic lanes and do some traffic calming and add bike lanes. No reason to have 45 mph design speed when a.) traffic can't flow at 45 mph at peak hours, and b.) you seem to want traffic to flow at 30 or 35 mph. The bike lanes allow for a safe alternative for cyclists when it is congested and cars otherwise can't get over enough to safely pass. Any perceived increase in congestion can be easily countered with traffic signal synchronization.
Based on a quick look at Google Maps, Atlanta's Peachtree north of downtown is 6 narrow lanes with no turn lanes and no median??? Seems like a very dangerous situation and very poor planning!!! In this situation, I wouldn't want to be in traffic there in a car, let alone in a bike lane.
I think Peachtree will be dangerous even after the road diet. Road diets work better (for attracting pedestrians and cyclists) when you have some density to begin with. A token bike lane won't make anyone excited to ride their bike down this street. It will still be a pretty miserable place to walk or bike. Not to be a downer, but you can't fix sprawl.
I think Peachtree will be dangerous even after the road diet. Road diets work better (for attracting pedestrians and cyclists) when you have some density to begin with. A token bike lane won't make anyone excited to ride their bike down this street. It will still be a pretty miserable place to walk or bike. Not to be a downer, but you can't fix sprawl.
I've seen worse. You can absolutely fix that. It will be more expensive than a few buckets of paint but it's certainly something that one can work with.
To me the mid-block driveways and curb cuts are the larger danger to cyclists and peds (and to other motorists). I'd start with eliminating those where possible.
I'm getting about 86 feet (including current sidewalks) when I measure it in google maps.
I'd go with a planted center median tapered down at intersections for a left turn lane = 8 ft.
Two 10ft. travel lanes per direction (4 total) = 40 ft.
8 ft. for parallel parking on either side = 16 ft.
Two buffered bike lanes (5 ft. per direction) between the cars and the sidewalk = 10 ft.
Sidewalks 6ft. each side = 12ft
The current sidewalks are kind of a mess. On one side the sidewalk is 6 or 7 ft. wide but goes right up to the curb and on the other side the sidewalk is 4ft. wide with a ~3ft. grass strip. I'd do away with the grass (less maintenance) and instead plant shade trees along the street edge of the sidewalk. There would be 13 ft. of space + parked cars between peds and traffic so there's much less of a need for any sort of planted buffer but shade is important - especially in a city like Atlanta.
That is actually still looks pretty flawed. Half the bike lane is covered by cheese graters. A cyclists natural instinct is to ride away from the curb and obstacles, and in that picture, one would probably ride along where the solid white line is in instead of going over the cheese graters.
Imo, if the bike lane is going to be adjacent to the curb, you might as well just extend the sidewalk over to the parking lane or remove the curb altogether and make it a soft slope with a brick color that separates it from the pedestrian side. Ideally, bikes and cars should share the same lane expect for where there are higher speeds.
That is actually still looks pretty flawed. Half the bike lane is covered by cheese graters. A cyclists natural instinct is to ride away from the curb and obstacles, and in that picture, one would probably ride along where the solid white line is in instead of going over the cheese graters.
Imo, if the bike lane is going to be adjacent to the curb, you might as well just extend the sidewalk over to the parking lane or remove the curb altogether and make it a soft slope with a brick color that separates it from the pedestrian side. Ideally, bikes and cars should share the same lane expect for where there are higher speeds.
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. - Aristotle
Thanks for pointing out the flaws of the hastily painted on bike lane in NYC. This is of course, temporary, as fixing the grade issues is expensive and a notorious problem in a city riddled with tunnels - but it will come at a later date. A cyclists instinct would generally be to ride in the middle - half way between the curb and the cars. Any urban cyclist who has been on a bike for longer than a day knows enough to keep well away from car doors.
Speed is an issue on most thoroughfares in Manhattan and even worse in Brooklyn and Queens as it certainly is on Peachtree in Atlanta. Any road where average speeds are over 25mph should have separated facilities - but in a place like NYC it's not just about speed. Busy ped areas or streets/intersections with a lot of turning movements also need carefully designed with at least some separation.
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