An observation as I was doing bike counts on the corner of W. Ponce de Leon Ave & W. Trinity.

[Peter Bradfield]

To anyone who can address this, Fred Boykin, perhaps?  

As I was conducting the ABC Bike Counts on Tuesday morning and Thursday afternoon I noticed something going on that needs to be addressed and dealt with in regards to those Bike Lanes on the corner of W. Ponce de Leon Ave & W. Trinity and it's nothing about what bicyclist are doing wrong -- a matter of fact the majority of bicyclist that I saw both days understand correctly how to use the bike lanes (I have some problems about the lack of usage of bike helmets, that I witnessed {although that's improved, a great deal, since I did the last bike counts back at the end of August} at that  but that's something that needs to be addressed in other ways.)   

What problem I witnessed and needs to be addressed by having some police there to issue some tickets is this:  I saw so many motorist not only driving in the bike lanes but also into and through those turtles in the white striped marked-off right-of-way area!   And this, both times, in daylight.  I could maybe understand it and say, oh, well, if it was pitch dark outside, but it wasn't either day.  

On Tuesday morning, April 24th, as the motorist were going west on Ponce and having to be, "inconveniently" (me being a little facetious about the need for the motorist to do this), I got to see so many motorist as they were stopped because others in front of them were stopping to make a left turn onto Adair Street decide to go around those motorist that had to do that was to go ahead into the bike lanes!  And that's illegal, folks.  And at least 3 of them, that I counted in my head, actually went onto the white turtles.  That was in the first fifteen minutes of the 8:00 am hour.  And then if that's wasn't enough I get to witness one of those smaller Decatur Recycling vehicles being driven right through the bike lanes and through that area marked off by the white turtles -- and that vehicle was going the wrong direction of traffic -- towards the east even!   Something needs to be also said at Decatur Recycling about that action.  Not just getting some police out there in the mornings to issue some tickets or at least warnings about those motorist going into the bike lanes as a way to go around the "inconvenience" of their fellow motorist who are stopping to make left turns onto Adair Street.   No, wonder (and it probably wasn't just the lousy weather on Tuesday morning) the bike count was down compared to August.  If I was bicyclist that needed to ride in that part of Ponce in the mornings -- I wouldn't even with the bike lanes!   I'd be too afraid those "inconvenient" motorist would just haul off and hit me!   

And then on Thursday afternoon, April 26th (just yesterday), I got to witness at least a good 20 cars, this was mental note and I have reported on the bike count sheets to Lauren Cardoni at the ABC, between the time of 5:20 pm and 6 pm (don't forget when I'm doing the bike counts I have to be aware of my time), go ahead and drive in the bike lanes and even into that area marked off by those white turtles.  It was especially disturbing when the motorist were turning from heading east on Ponce to south on West Trinity Place.  Because they were totally ignoring how the street is clearly marked for them to make turns (I witnessed at least a good 8 of the those 20 I mentioned doing that very badly -- by pure luck, I would say, I was so glad that none of the many bicyclist I counted that afternoon were in or traveling in the bike lanes at that very moment when those motorist were doing that.  Yes, I think police officers issuing tickets or at least warnings on that intersection are badly needed.

Thank you,

Peter Bradfield

[rabbit47]

Peter,

I appreciate your observations (I rode past you Tuesday morning about
9:05 and walked past you Thursday evening). I live on Drexel, which
connects to West Ponce along that stretch and have seen the same thing
you are reporting on.

It would be good to see the police do some enforcement of those lanes.

Rod

[Peter Bradfield]

Rod,

Yes, I remember you from both days.  Your 9:05 bicycling by though, was unfortunately not able to be counted.  

Thanks for supporting me on this as someone who lives nearby that corner.  

And after hearing today about, from more than one source btw, about the young man (yes, at 30 years old, and me being 48 years old I can call him a young man) who got hit on his bicycle this morning at 8:15 am on North Decatur Road and Willivee -- I am awfully glad no bicyclist was in the bicycle lanes those two times last week I was doing the count when I got to witness those automobile drivers in the bike lanes.  

Peter

 

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[Tonio Andrade]

I've seen many motorists drive in bike lanes on Ponce as well. Enforcement is very important. We should write a letter to the Decatur Police Department and express our hope that they will put some officers on the case. I would be happy to put together a draft if you wish, and then send it on to you or others for official sending, or delivery by bike courier :)

We also need enforcement of the three-foot passing rule, which is often violated, as is the stop-for-pedestrians-in-crosswalk rule.

Best,

Tonio Andrade

[Cornelio Delasalas]

Hey Bike Decatur,

I was talking to a Marta bus driver yesterday and she said there was enforcement of drivers driving through the bike lane to pass or make a turn. I take my bike onto Marta everyday and that's what brought up the story. She also will not drive up to the curb to pick me up on Ponce because if she did, she would be blocking the bike lane.

Back to the bus drivers story, she was in traffic court (not her ticket) and a driver was there for a ticket, blocking a bike lane and illegal passing. I may be getting the exact ticket wrong but it was 2 violations.

I bring this up because there is enforcement. We could always use more. I would definitely support a letter. I hate to see what can happen if drivers keep doing this. Maybe some signs alongside the bike lanes. Maybe those plastic stands that are on top of turtles, not along the whole street bit at all intersections to discourage passing.

Just adding my thoughts and observations.

High Five!

Corny

[Fred Boykin, Jr.]

Hi Folks,

 

Anyone had a chance to look at the new covered bike parking they’re building at the Decatur Rec Center? The Decatur Metro site has a post (w/picture) about it and a few comments (most seem to deal with the fact that the parking construction might be killing a nearby tree).

 

http://www.decaturmetro.com/2012/11/12/new-bike-rack-station-at-rec-center/#comments

 

Your thoughts? Do you think it will work – keep the rain off, etc.?

 

Other observations?

 

Fred Boykin

[thes...@mindspring.com]

Fred -

 

I like the fact that it's covered; just becasue we may ride in a light rain, doesn't mean we want the bike to get rained on while we're at an event.  Some Deklab libraries have put in bike parking about ten feet from a covered location, and it drives me crazy.

 

My biggest concern is that it's a long way from the rack to any door.  Why is that?  Bicyclists are as lazy as anyone else, wanting to avoid a long walk, and yet they put this some eighty feet or so from the door.  The old racks were fifteen feet away.  Why put it so far?  

 

Henry Slack

 

 

 

 

--

[Tonio Andrade]

Yes, Henry's right. Although it's great that they have covered parking, why not put it next to the door?

Tonio Andrade

[MCCLENNEN, AARON E]

If there is any sort of wind the roof won’t do much to keep the rain off.

It will keep the noon day sun off the seat though.

 

----------------------------------------------------
Aaron McClennen
(w) 404 499 7280
(w) 404 370 0297
aaron.m...@att.com

 

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From: biked...@googlegroups.com [mailto:biked...@googlegroups.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 4:39 PM
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§  New covered parking at Rec Center - thoughts? [3 Updates]

 New covered parking at Rec Center - thoughts?

"Fred Boykin, Jr." <fbo...@bicyclesouth.com> Nov 13 09:42AM -0500  

Hi Folks,
Anyone had a chance to look at the new covered bike parking they’re building at the Decatur Rec Center? The Decatur Metro site has a post (w/picture) about it and a few comments (most seem to deal with the fact that the parking construction might be killing a nearby tree).
http://www.decaturmetro.com/2012/11/12/new-bike-rack-station-at-rec-center/#comments
Your thoughts? Do you think it will work – keep the rain off, etc.?
Other observations?
Fred Boykin

 

.

[Fred Boykin, Jr.]

I've heard a few comments that the roof might be too high to do much but haven't had a good look at it yet.



Fred Boykin
404-668-4274 c

Sent from my HTC EVO Design 4G.
Apologies for any typos!

----- Reply message -----
From: "MCCLENNEN, AARON E" <am4...@att.com>
To: "biked...@googlegroups.com" <biked...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [bikedecatur] New covered parking at Rec Center - thoughts?
Date: Tue, Nov 13, 2012 4:43 pm

If there is any sort of wind the roof won’t do much to keep the rain off.

It will keep the noon day sun off the seat though.

 

----------------------------------------------------
Aaron McClennen
(w) 404 499 7280
(w) 404 370 0297
aaron.m...@att.com

 

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are AT&T property, are confidential, and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom this email is addressed. If you are not one of the named recipient(s) or otherwise have reason to believe that you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete this message immediately from your computer. Any other use, retention, dissemination, forwarding, printing, or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited.

 

From: biked...@googlegroups.com [mailto:biked...@googlegroups.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 4:39 PM
To: Digest Recipients
Subject: [bikedecatur] Digest for biked...@googlegroups.com - 3 Messages in 1 Topic

 

  Today's Topic Summary

Group: http://groups.google.com/group/bikedecatur/topics

§  New covered parking at Rec Center - thoughts? [3 Updates]

 New covered parking at Rec Center - thoughts?

"Fred Boykin, Jr." <fboykin@bicyclesouth..com> Nov 13 09:42AM -0500  

Hi Folks,
Anyone had a chance to look at the new covered bike parking they’re building at the Decatur Rec Center? The Decatur Metro site has a post (w/picture) about it and a few comments (most seem to deal with the fact that the parking construction might be killing a nearby tree).
http://www.decaturmetro.com/2012/11/12/new-bike-rack-station-at-rec-center/#comments
Your thoughts? Do you think it will work – keep the rain off, etc.?
Other observations?
Fred Boykin

 

.

--

[Fred Boykin, Jr.]

[Cheryl Burnette]

My guess is that they didn't put it in front of the door to keep the pedestrain and bicycle traffic separated. It is going to be a great asset- plus we will have clean public showers that you cyclists can take advantage of. Looking forward to January!

Cheryl

--
Cheryl Burnette

Please note that my email address is now chill...@gmail.com