noob_tube03 t1_jbftj07 wrote on March 8, 2023 at 7:10 PM

Reply to comment by noob_tube03 in Cambridge bike lane lawsuit dismissed by ik1nky

Great example of half assed planning on garden: where garden and Shepard meet there's a cross walk. When it was a 2 way street it didn't matter what side the cross walk was on, but now that it's a one way cars trying to turn onto garden are turning directly into the cross walk, meaning bikes/pedestrians crossing will stop traffic on 2 streets instead of just one. Why didn't the city move the crosswalk? It would be a huge improvement for everyone using the roads, and it would even line up the Shepard bike lane with the crossing. Doesn't take a massive study to see this, and even though we paid for one it was missed. Crazy

itamarst t1_jbhksqr wrote on March 9, 2023 at 2:20 AM

If moving the crosswalk would involve additional construction (e.g. for ramps for people with disabilities) that's out of scope for these projects, since they typically aren't doing construction.

There is one of those streets that will be reconstructed soon, I forget which, though.

In general, if it doesn't involve construction the city will adjust things even after project installation if people make a good enough argument, so email tpt@cambridgema.gov with any suggestions (that's the Traffic, Parking, & Transportation department email). They do read all their email.

noob_tube03 t1_jbhnloq wrote on March 9, 2023 at 2:41 AM

So removing all the parking, changing a street from 2 way to 1 way, and installing bollards is considered in scope, but not killing cyclists from cross traffic or looking at cyclist/pedestrian impact isn't in scope? You know that sounds weird right?

itamarst t1_jbj2f84 wrote on March 9, 2023 at 12:15 PM

The city is not doing construction: no curb changes, no pouring concrete. Only paint or flexposts. If moving a sidewalk requires construction they won't do it as part of the project.

Within those constraints, they are trying to make the street safer for cyclists and pedestrians. I think the project is very nice. Many others do. You may disagree, or think there are ways to improve; if so the solution is to share suggestions with the city, not complain on reddit.

noob_tube03 t1_jbj4ge6 wrote on March 9, 2023 at 12:36 PM

iirc the design that had garnered the most public support wasnt the one the was deployed, so I'm not going to hold my breath reaching out to the city. Nor should I need to for the items I mentioned. Like I said, it feels half assed. I didn't realize they were constrained from making physical changes with the project however, so that certainly explains it

holycow958 t1_jbi2vsz wrote on March 9, 2023 at 4:49 AM

This project being a quick-build, the city didn't do any curb modifications. The curb-cuts are where the crosswalk markings are and not on the other side, so they can't just change the markings. But I'd still recommend emailing the city/Stephen Meuse/DPW about that so that they could try to do that small construction project separately.