02-13-2022, 02:49 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-13-2022, 02:57 PM by cherrypark.)
I don't know if I call the proposed work on Duke a "win" but I think I share your perspective, Dan, that the regional engineers and planners are really unskilled at incorporating cycling infrastructure and the fact they are even considering changing this route instead of just throwing up their hands and saying "sorry, road and ION only" is where I see it as a small measure of progress. Minor, but something?
If I'm being honest, putting actual execution aside (for which I don't have high hopes), a properly traffic calmed, bus and cycle route with good connections to stubs of the city grid that could really use *at least* one of the other regional roads that dominate downtown and one that side of King St. to change... I think I would rather that over another half assed effort like the Victoria St. MUTs or some of their other recent attempts to be inclusionary, only to waste a pile of money on bad infra that is not connected to anything.
The regional road ownership leading to a lack of wholistic planning and good quality of design isn't good enough so this shouldn't placate anyone, but I guess I would rather just push for them to make this as good as possible. That said, I definitely fall more on the side of compromise for what seems politically possible (even politically courageous given the basis we're working from) vs. the ideal as a means of change. It's ok if that differs from others' views.
I do actually think improved road design and speed reduction/calming downtown would go a long way to making it a more safe place to ride in addition to protected lanes on main routes (though really, Duke is pretty main!). Weber would have been the right spot if the ION ROW takes up too much space but can't go having our new urban highway disrupted.
If I'm being honest, putting actual execution aside (for which I don't have high hopes), a properly traffic calmed, bus and cycle route with good connections to stubs of the city grid that could really use *at least* one of the other regional roads that dominate downtown and one that side of King St. to change... I think I would rather that over another half assed effort like the Victoria St. MUTs or some of their other recent attempts to be inclusionary, only to waste a pile of money on bad infra that is not connected to anything.
The regional road ownership leading to a lack of wholistic planning and good quality of design isn't good enough so this shouldn't placate anyone, but I guess I would rather just push for them to make this as good as possible. That said, I definitely fall more on the side of compromise for what seems politically possible (even politically courageous given the basis we're working from) vs. the ideal as a means of change. It's ok if that differs from others' views.
I do actually think improved road design and speed reduction/calming downtown would go a long way to making it a more safe place to ride in addition to protected lanes on main routes (though really, Duke is pretty main!). Weber would have been the right spot if the ION ROW takes up too much space but can't go having our new urban highway disrupted.