Bicycle Warfare!

Below is an email from Scott Hall.  Scott has devoted himself to shepherding some of the RTC projects with good bicycle juju.    Fortunate for us that he has the time and devotion to track these projects, because it appears some have taken turns away from their true bicycle nature.  Below is the list and call to arms from Scott (Bold highlights for the details are mine).

Everyone,

Received word from RTC that they are presenting their proposals for road re-configurations for Plumas Street and Sutro Street at the Reno City Council meeting this Wednesday at 12 noon in the Agenda items J-2 and J-3. Unfortunately the staff proposals from Steve Bunnell, Reno Public Works, recommend a severe compromise for bicyclist and pedestrian safety. Both plans have incomplete road diets, putting bicyclists into intersections without bicycle lanes, or next to two-lane truck traffic.

Plumas would have two lanes traveling south in the proposed Alternative #2, with parking and bicycle lanes on both sides. Despite our committed efforts at the public meetings, written letters and comments, we were denied a "complete street". There is no way to see the final proposal until the meeting, and thus we can't analyze the exact specifics, but from the report it seems we will have another Frankenstein, opportunistic road conversion. In contrast the RTC, NDOT, UNR and the new guidance from the feds, AASHTO, recommended a complete road diet. I also recommended to include buffered bike lanes which separate bicyclists from traffic by another 2-3 feet, but was denied as well. These research-based improvements would allow even more riders such as children, families and inexperienced bicyclists to use Plumas Street to connect West Reno to South Reno. The AASHTO Bicycle Guide states that "latent demand" and "bicycle level of service" be measured and incorporated into the proposal. These of course were not done. The main dissent is from impatient motorists who don't want to be bothered by slow bicyclists and pedestrians in their way.

Sutro Street has a better opportunity to become the main North/South bicycle connector for North Valleys and Downtown Reno. Most of the corridor will be converted to two lanes, with bike lanes both ways. Despite explicit funding for the project from safety grants, the proposal does not include bicycle lanes from Wedekind to Oddie, the most congested section of Sutro. The plan basically tells bicyclists that they can take their chances through this intersection, which is where historically the most crashes occur. Instead of being a priority, bicyclist safety is deferred to motor traffic and engineering convenience. The upper section of Sutro by Hug High will also keep 4-lane traffic to potentially accommodate more traffic from a connection to Sun Valley. The implementation of bike lanes at the school would encourage more students to commute by bike and access Downtown Reno without needing a car. The road diet can be accomplished and is merely a choice by the City of Reno traffic engineer.

I hope our presence at the City Council meeting shows that we are still committed to making Reno a safer place to live and ride our bicycles and walk. We are already behind all the other cities in Nevada, including Las Vegas, Carson City and Sparks, in implementing improved bicycle facilities. We are challenged to continue our efforts for economic, health, and social gains through a consistently safe and inviting public infrastructure for bicyclists and pedestrians.

If you would like to support accommodations for all citizens on our public roadways, please come to the meeting, give public comments, and write a final letter to the City Council. I have created a invite if you know of someone else who is able to come.

https://www.facebook.com/events/379618015444942/?context=create

Thanks again for the support, and see you on Wednesday.

Scott Hall, Chairman

Committee for Bicyclists on 4th Street