HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/16/2024 Item 5, Peterson
Subject:Concrete enclosed bike lanes south higuera st
On May 13, 2024, at 8:32 AM, wayne peterson < wrote:
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Hello Mayor. I’m writing to you regarding the proposal to enclose the bike lanes on south higuera street
with concrete curbs. My wife and I are in our 80s and have been residents of the community since 1969.
We ride our bikes 2 or more days a week. My wife rides a recumbent trike. She has back problems and
finds this design of transportation works well and gives her the exercise we all need.
I understand the perceived need for safety that an enclosed bike path seems to provide. Our problem is
that it really leads to other safety issues. When riding in an enclosed bike lane there is no place to
escape when hazards appear in the road. My wife’s trike is 3 feet wide. A 5-6 foot bike road way leaves
no way for an overtaking bike to pass. An even bigger problem are all the wrong way bikers, scooters
and others in the bike path. In addition any obstacle in the bike path essentially blocks it and she cannot
go around. She has already experienced these problems on north chorro street. There she has
experienced traffic cones, construction signs, trash etc in the enclosed bike lane. The scariest scenario is
the wrong way scooters that run fast and she cannot avoid. Please reconsider the use of a wide white
paint stripe. It provides clear identity of the bike lane and leaves room for the riders to adjust for the
unexpected. A good separated two way, 10 foot wide class 1 bike lane would also work but does have
issues at driveways and street intersections.
Btw I am a trained traffic person, taught traffic engineering at Cal Poly, and was employed by the city in
Engineering between 1973 and 2001. Also, while attending the University of Illinois we had an enclosed
bike lane on a campus street. It was removed sometime after I graduated. I had many un- expected
problems with it both as a pedestrian and a cyclist.
Wayne Peterson
Sent from my iPhone
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