Lincoln Ave. plan in April 7 Goshen News

[yoder...@gmail.com]

The April 7 article in the Goshen News says that “The City has met with members of the cycling community to get their input on this . . .”, and I’m wondering if any of you were in these discussions. The plan sounds like it would put a bike one on one side of Lincoln with “delineator posts between the travel lanes and cycle track.” It reminds me of the approach used in Elkhart on Richmond Ave. (See attached.) Is this the best approach?

 

Also, it says that they welcome suggestions from people, although from the article it appears that they pretty much have the project designed.  I’d be interested in looking at the plans as a group because that is usually more effective than having individuals make suggestions one at a time. What are your thoughts?

 

John Yoder

Yoder...@gmail.com

574-596-4299

 

[Amy Thut]

John,

Thanks so much for sharing this.  I had not been aware of this project.  I'm excited to have a safer connection between the trails.  I never felt great with kids riding on the Lincoln Avenue bridge sidewalk with cars whizzing by.

I don't have experience with a two-way trail like the one being proposed.  Perhaps it will feel safer than two narrower, separate lanes because it will feel like a wider path.  I suppose it could feel awkward for bikes going the "wrong way" to turn right-- they would have to completely stop and wait to cross at intersections.

Amy

Amy Thut
Bethany Christian High School
Environmental Science, Biology Teacher

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[John Nafziger]

I put it on the Goshen Gears Facebook group. There are only 27 members in the group and very little activity but I figured it wouldn't hurt to check there for anybody who talked to Corwin.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goshenbikes/CANtgzwEpg-MPWe_T3XBTQb-QJk4YiCt_JA6-LZToSF39hboWQg%40mail.gmail.com.

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John Nafziger

Goshen, IN

[Andrea Milne]

Hi all,

I haven't read the whole article, but at least one of the "members of the cycling community" was me. A cycle track on Lincoln Ave had been discussed in the MCBAC meetings several times and I recall even getting some *very preliminary* drawings from the City Engineering Dept to review. I had worked with a couple MCBAC members on drafting some different proposals from what was being considered at that point (just sharrows or bike lanes, if I remember correctly).

I'm actually really glad to hear that delineator posts are included in the current proposal! When I talked to Josh (maybe a year ago now?) the prevailing assumption from the city's perspective seemed to be that painted lines on the road would have to do instead of any kind of physical barrier. I pushed really hard against that—any cycle track worth being called a cycle track has some kind of physical barrier; otherwise, it's just a bike lane. I'm guessing the posts are the cheapest option they can consider at this point.

The one-side, two-way versus two-sides of the road discussion is tough. Several strong arguments for both designs. I'm not even sure which side of that I fell on in the end. (I think I would support two-way over two sides of the road for the reason Amy mentioned—when you're not passing someone going the other way, it at least makes it feel safer/wider).

I hope the fact that I had a side conversation with Josh about bikeway designs isn't considered inappropriate. The MCBAC hasn't been meeting for years, so I assumed I should just go ahead and give my individual opinion based on what I've experienced and seen work in other cities. I'd love to get the group going again, but personally have no time to organize it. I encourage anyone who is interested in these conversations to talk with Josh about reforming the committee.

All the best,

Andrea

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goshenbikes/CAFPsE0GNxkMKSbnbeYBRisRtQv-3r0VKT%3DRpqTOn-P9YxN_paw%40mail.gmail.com.

[John Nafziger]

I agree that the "delineator posts" are important. My personal choice would probably be bike lanes on both sides even if there were no delineator posts but I suspect many bikers would come down on the side of two-way with delineator posts. One of the safety issues is that motorists might not see bikes coming along behind them the "wrong" way when the motorist is wanting to make a left turn. The motorist will be looking ahead for oncoming vehicles that they need to yield to and not realizing they also need to be checking for bikers coming along behind them. As usual, it will be left to bikers to be very alert for vehicles coming from multiple angles.

I would like to see MCBAC revived. I know an issue coming up is what barriers are constructed where bike paths cross the north-south railroad. We don't want a repeat of the maze that was done at Kercher road.

John Nafziger