City of San José staff is studying converting lanes on 3rd, 4th, 10th, and 11th Streets through downtown from motor vehicle lanes to bike lanes! I had mentioned several months ago to Department of Transportation leadership that San José is already falling behind on implementing the goals in their recently adopted bike plan--and that they had the power to make significant things happen even without significant funding... all they need to do is convert under-utilized motor vehicle lanes to buffered bike lanes. Of course--you'll need to join SVBC at the future public comment meetings to make sure that the city is able to move forward with this projects--watch our website for details.
At the Downtown Parking Board meeting yesterday, DOT Deputy Director Manuel Pineda gave us an update on the Bicycling, Walking, Transit and Streetscape Programs and Plans. There was some additional exciting news:
- * San Fernando green bike lanes are funded and going in soon between Diridon Station and 11th street. Furthermore, due to our comments, DOT is striping them right up to the crosswalks at intersections--no more dashed lines where a cyclist is most vulnerable. The lanes will be 5-6' wide with a minimum 2' buffer between the lanes and the adjacent traffic lane. This project will also include the utilization of new signalization controls designed to sense bicyclists in some high tech way. Thanks to Councilmember Liccardo's vision for amping things up for downtown cyclists!
- * Significant improvements to the bikeway along Park Avenue into downtown are funded and moving forward. This is a critical gap closure that SVBC has been working to fill for years.
- * Also funded is a street scape project on the south side of San Carlos between Market and 4th. They will be taking auto lanes from 2 to 1 at Market, widening the sidewalk along the entire stretch, planting street trees, and dedicating several entire parking spots to artsy bike parking.
Comments
bobs
October 7, 2011 - 9:44pm
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converting ... from motor
What's a motor vehicle lane?
If it's buffered, it's a sidepath, not a bike lane. Please don't put BL signs and stencils there, because other drivers and law enforcement might think we're required to use them.
Does this still require a Request To Experiment, whether from FHWA or CTCDC? Have they received the approval yet?
This is an egregious violation of the engineering standards, and it's designed to lure cyclists into right hooks. Cyclists will die there. Has the city actually agreed to accept the liability for this?
If there's a 2' buffer, it's not a bike lane.
Will the sensors also detect bicycles in the travel lane, or only on the green sidepath?
What's an auto lane?
corinne
October 20, 2011 - 8:11am
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Whoops, you are very correct,
Whoops, you are very correct, I should have called them "travel lanes," not "motor vehicle lanes."
bobs
October 20, 2011 - 9:26pm
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You're avoiding the point -
You're avoiding the point - the plan's design elements that are designed to endanger cyclists.
scottmace
July 15, 2012 - 7:25pm
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Codified into city legislation
I see that the passage of time has not altered the spread of the use of the term "buffered bike lanes."
In an April 2012 San Jose CIty Council memorandum, the term "buffered bike lanes" appears repeatedly. No mention of Corinne's "travel lanes". See http://www.sanjoseca.gov/clerk/Agenda/20120410/20120410_0601.pdf.
The language in this memorandum gives the city every pretext to post BL signs and stencils.
This is of grave concern to me as a cyclist and as a lifetime member of SVBC.
Scott Mace
Berkeley
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