July 18, 20222 yr 21 minutes ago, YABO713 said: If there was a rooftop patio I would've jumped. Better than throwing her off, I suppose.
July 18, 20222 yr 21 minutes ago, YABO713 said: I went to the kind of cocktail party EVERYONE universally loathes this weekend... In a moment of brief hope, I had a discussion with a lady in her 50s about how excited we both were about the potential for reorganizing Detroit and some other roads and providing bike only lanes. We were interrupted by a young lady slightly younger than me (probably 28) who told us that bike lanes are a form of "transportation privilege" and would hurt marginalized communities. If there was a rooftop patio I would've jumped. As I've said elsewhere, among some it's a race to reach the furthest for offense.
July 18, 20222 yr 2 hours ago, YABO713 said: I went to the kind of cocktail party EVERYONE universally loathes this weekend... In a moment of brief hope, I had a discussion with a lady in her 50s about how excited we both were about the potential for reorganizing Detroit and some other roads and providing bike only lanes. We were interrupted by a young lady slightly younger than me (probably 28) who told us that bike lanes are a form of "transportation privilege" and would hurt marginalized communities. If there was a rooftop patio I would've jumped. I've been to those parties. "How soon can I get away?" comes to mind seconds after arriving (or hours before). And I also was tangentially involved in a potential redevelopment project in a poor neighborhood, and the consultant recommended a "complete street" makeover for the major through street that included bike lanes. The residents (or at least the loudest ones) were practically apoplectic over the idea that "bougie" bike lanes would somehow improve the neighborhood. That was not what they wanted. They thought the whole idea was very condescending and ridiculous. I suppose they're thinking "people in wealthy neighborhoods get to drive their cars but we're expected to ride a bike and take the bus?!? How dare you!" It's not just the lower-income, constantly discriminated-against, minorities in this country who don't get it. The wealthy jet off to Venice or Amsterdam and come home saying how wonderful those places are while resisting bike lanes or transit in their home towns. (And then say "why can't we have developments like Van Aken in our town?") We need more education on why Amsterdam (as just one example) seems like such a pleasant PLACE and how much better it would be for everyone, including lower-income folks, to be able to get groceries or other needs by walking or biking (avoiding the expense of owning a car and needing it for every trip!) After talking to someone complaining about bike lanes I like to send them one of the Not Just Bikes or Strongtowns videos to show them why bikes actually have a place in our transportation system, and while fewer-cars is better, that doesn't mean no-cars-ever. Over time, maybe my circle of acquaintances at least will be more open to those bike lanes...
July 18, 20222 yr 3 hours ago, YABO713 said: I went to the kind of cocktail party EVERYONE universally loathes this weekend... In a moment of brief hope, I had a discussion with a lady in her 50s about how excited we both were about the potential for reorganizing Detroit and some other roads and providing bike only lanes. We were interrupted by a young lady slightly younger than me (probably 28) who told us that bike lanes are a form of "transportation privilege" and would hurt marginalized communities. If there was a rooftop patio I would've jumped. Sadly, Gordon Square/Detroit-Shoreway could be a pretty hostile stretch for me back in the day when I commuted downtown. I'm actually still in awe that those bike lanes were put in.
July 19, 20222 yr People definitely view bike lanes as gentrification weapons. They have a useful point to make but they are still making a reactionary take that is missing the forest for the trees. If infrastructure is gentrification, it's usually because it's rare. Useful bike infrastructure is especially rare so people are used to seeing them in areas that are already wealthy or are already gentrifying. This is generally because of which types of groups are able to ask for it and to get it. So we're used to seeing images of well off white people biking on a shared use path or bike lane, even though plenty of data clearly shows that low-income, minority residents also rely on non-auto options. Anyways, if we had the same quality of infrastructure everywhere, it would no longer be a tool for gentrification because it would no longer be a unique characteristic that would draw in wealthier, new residents. Some times I think these kinds of takes are fueled by the normalization of auto reliance. They want to have the same rights as everyone else and they interrupt that as meaning they should have the same access to auto infrastructure as wealthier, more politically connected people. This is of course impossible as there is no way all US residents will be able to afford to own, and maintain, a high quality car, let alone be able to use it for the vast majority of their trips.
August 11, 20222 yr City of Cleveland Complete and Green Streets Transportation Infrastructure Advisory Committee (TIAC) Resident Nominations Quote Mayor Justin M. Bibb seeks one resident representative with experience relevant to Complete and Green Streets to serve on the newly-forming Transportation Infrastructure Advisory Committee (TIAC). Nominations for resident representatives will be accepted here through 5:00pm on Wednesday, August 17, 2022. Appointments to the TIAC will be named by Monday, September 5, 2022. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJSokp9Y1JiZSC09QbnX6JRTwOKBc2gC8HTpu01w_pYlAYtA/viewform
August 18, 20222 yr Great news on speed reduction measures in cleveland: When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
August 18, 20222 yr 57 minutes ago, Boomerang_Brian said: Great news on speed reduction measures in cleveland: Great news. I know some neighborhoods have been trying for over a decade with Frank Jackson with no results. Glad to see Bibb is at least attempting this.
February 7, 20232 yr The city is seeking feedback on its speed-table pilot program. More information can be found here. The survey will be open until Monday, February 20. Link to the survey here.
May 12, 20232 yr Great results from the speed table pilot in Cleveland: When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
May 12, 20232 yr On 7/19/2022 at 11:33 AM, Dev said: People definitely view bike lanes as gentrification weapons. They have a useful point to make but they are still making a reactionary take that is missing the forest for the trees. Nearly a year later responding, but Union and Harvard have nice bike lanes - not seeing any gentrification over there. People who say that crap usually have zero experience cycling around the non-hot areas of the city. Here's the strava heat map - kind of crazy that people use alternative transportation when its safe to do so...
May 12, 20232 yr 14 hours ago, Boomerang_Brian said: Great results from the speed table pilot in Cleveland: I was riding around an area with them yesterday - it definitely made a difference on some of the straightaway streets. I don't understand why speedbumps aren't permanent at this point - Detroit has them alllllll over (and Pittsburgh, and Buffalo!) - using snow as an excuse is a copout.
May 14, 20232 yr ^ Oh no Lake West! Having bad flashbacks of four years of so many tickets on that street.
May 14, 20232 yr Re: speed tables... I suppose you have to start somewhere, so it's a good thing. It follows Strong Towns' advice to do "the next smallest thing" to make a difference. I just hope it doesn't take too many years for the city to figure out that re-engineering streets when it's time for resurfacing is the way to go.
August 19, 20231 yr This is awesome! “New colorful bump outs are coming to the intersection of 44th & Bridge in Ohio City -- right by @masonscreamery. ” https://x.com/3mphplanning/status/1692533451746889749?s=46&t=7i2eCUyWNZMfcPIb8zesTg When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
January 18, 20241 yr Author Today marks 7 years since our last traffic fatality in Hoboken, 1 of the only US cities to reach this milestone. Although we’ve had success creating safer streets, we’ll continue to aggressively implement Vision Zero in all major infrastructure projects. https://jalopnik.com/traffic-fatalities-are-up-almost-everywhere-but-hoboke-1851048753 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 14, 20241 yr Was walking around Ohio City yesterday. Almost got hit in crosswalks twice--when I had the walk signal by drivers making left turns and driving too fast. The Cleveland's half-assed approach to Vision Zero has to end.
March 14, 20241 yr It's not the number of lanes, it's the signal timing that controls a road's throughput, according to American-Dutch designer. https://sf.streetsblog.org/2024/03/05/its-not-just-politics-american-dutch-engineer-calls-out-root-problem-with-american-dots
May 7, 20241 yr CLEVELAND NEWS After Two-Year Study, Cleveland Seeks to Cut Lake Avenue Speed Limit By 5 MPH The city's following Lakewood's move to make pedestrians and bicyclists safer From 2021 to 2023, the City of Lakewood engaged in close observation of one of its most traveled throughways, Lake Avenue, believing that car traffic was moving too fast for the sake of safety. Earlier this year, that study—which compiled days of traffic and pedestrian counts—concluded what traffic engineers suspected: Lake Ave.'s 35 MPH speed limit was a tad too high. Most cars, they found, averaged at 30. Last week, the city prepared a month-long awareness campaign to usher in that new limit, five miles slower. https://www.clevescene.com/news/after-two-year-study-cleveland-seeks-to-cut-lake-avenue-speed-limit-by-5-mph-44260442
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