advice for 933-Angela intersection?
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Allison
Aug 19, 2010, 8:53:22 AM8/19/10
to Bike Michiana
Dear Bike Michiana,
Can anyone give me some tips on navigating the intersection with 933
as I head to and from Notre Dame on Angela? It seems that the new
markings have taken this "bike-unfriendly" intersection to "nearly-
bike-impossible" intersection. Or perhaps I just need to get used to
it.
Previously, I would keep right when heading east and rarely had any
problems. Heading west, I would carefully sort myself into the right-
most lane that still went straight, then merge into traffic when the
lane ended after St Joseph High School. Again, a move requiring
caution, but not impossible. Now, that lane is striped off.
Yesterday and today I used the pedestrian crossings, but the sidewalks
are so unfriendly, especially east of 933, that it doesn't seem
optimal.
I'm coming from the Near Northwest Neighborhood (near Portage and
Angela) if that helps. Anyone else travel that way and have
suggestions for an alternate route?
thanks!
Allison
Can anyone give me some tips on navigating the intersection with 933
as I head to and from Notre Dame on Angela? It seems that the new
markings have taken this "bike-unfriendly" intersection to "nearly-
bike-impossible" intersection. Or perhaps I just need to get used to
it.
Previously, I would keep right when heading east and rarely had any
problems. Heading west, I would carefully sort myself into the right-
most lane that still went straight, then merge into traffic when the
lane ended after St Joseph High School. Again, a move requiring
caution, but not impossible. Now, that lane is striped off.
Yesterday and today I used the pedestrian crossings, but the sidewalks
are so unfriendly, especially east of 933, that it doesn't seem
optimal.
I'm coming from the Near Northwest Neighborhood (near Portage and
Angela) if that helps. Anyone else travel that way and have
suggestions for an alternate route?
thanks!
Allison
Kevin Heber
Aug 19, 2010, 1:19:06 PM8/19/10
to Allison, Bike Michiana
Not sure where on campus you're headed, but heading east on Angela to
campus, I cut north through St. Joseph HS parking lot, then up to Holy
Cross via a very short stretch of dirt path (skinny-tire-friendly).
There's a nice signalized ped/car crossing there at 933. That lane
heads eastward right down the middle of campus.
campus, I cut north through St. Joseph HS parking lot, then up to Holy
Cross via a very short stretch of dirt path (skinny-tire-friendly).
There's a nice signalized ped/car crossing there at 933. That lane
heads eastward right down the middle of campus.
I avoid Angela except going west down the big hill, when I'm feeling
adventurous :)
Quoting Allison <allison...@gmail.com>:
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Paul Taylor
Aug 20, 2010, 12:05:12 PM8/20/10
to Bike Michiana
I take the same route as Kevin; a pretty bike friendly route..
On Aug 19, 1:19 pm, Kevin Heber <ke...@hebers.net> wrote:
> Not sure where on campus you're headed, but heading east on Angela to
> campus, I cut north through St. Joseph HS parking lot, then up to Holy
> Cross via a very short stretch of dirt path (skinny-tire-friendly).
> There's a nice signalized ped/car crossing there at 933. That lane
> heads eastward right down the middle of campus.
>
> I avoid Angela except going west down the big hill, when I'm feeling
> adventurous :)
>
> >http://groups.google.com/group/bike-michiana?hl=en.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
On Aug 19, 1:19 pm, Kevin Heber <ke...@hebers.net> wrote:
> Not sure where on campus you're headed, but heading east on Angela to
> campus, I cut north through St. Joseph HS parking lot, then up to Holy
> Cross via a very short stretch of dirt path (skinny-tire-friendly).
> There's a nice signalized ped/car crossing there at 933. That lane
> heads eastward right down the middle of campus.
>
> I avoid Angela except going west down the big hill, when I'm feeling
> adventurous :)
>
>
> - Show quoted text -
Kevin Heber
Aug 23, 2010, 11:33:30 AM8/23/10
to Bike Michiana
Hi all,
As a relative newcomer to the area I have to ask: What's the deal with
all the roads around here that lack clear lane definition? E.g.,
Lincoln Way through downtown Mishawaka? I've never seen such poor
road regulation anywhere in my life, possible exception being Mexico
City. Out-of-town friends and relatives have also commented on it.
It's especially dangerous for cyclists, because these wild west NASCAR
roads look deceivingly wide and comfortable.
I'm certainly not a litigious person, but if I'm hit on one of these
godawful streets I believe I'd have a pretty favorable case against
the city.
Is it just me?
Adam Bee
Aug 23, 2010, 5:31:05 PM8/23/10
to Bike Michiana
Here are my two thoughts, on these two subjects.
Regarding Angela-933: I actually prefer the new setup. Before the
rightmost lane would be filled with bozos who knew they had to merge
somehow, so they would be really stressed out and ready to gun it from
the light in order to bash their way in before the merge.
Now I just get in the one lane going straight with all the other
traffic, and when the light turns green I go ahead. Usually there are
only a few cars behind me, I swing wide to the right and slow in order
to let everyone pass, so it's all good. If I'm feeling fast, though,
and there are too many cars back to wait effectively, then I just take
the lane and bomb down the hill. The key there is to make it to the
merge before cars are tempted to pass dangerously, so I'd think for
most situations, the better option is to just swing right and let
everyone pass.
An alternative to that intersection is to turn left on Leeper (last
street before the light), then take the bike lanes on Northside.
Leeper is such a useful street for bikes.
Regarding lack of lane definition: I'd like to think those roads are
actually one lane each way, consisting of a "wide curb lane" (WCL) or
"wide outside lane". With low enough traffic volume such that cars
don't attempt to double up, WCLs can actually be very pleasant to ride
on. Many cyclists actually prefer them to other, segregated "separate
but equal" infrastructure like bike lanes or multiuse paths (MUPs).
In fact, I consider Edison between 933 and Notre Dame Ave to be an
excellent example of how a WCL can make for a great ride. (Especially
in contrast to the MUPs west of Notre Dame Ave, which aren't really
suitable for bike traffic IMHO.)
But many of these quasi-WCL roads seem to turn into 4-lane arterials
at intersections. Jefferson east of Eddy is awful about that.
Ironwood between Edison and the river is another example: delightful
WCL at Corby/Rockne, nasty 4-lane squeezed in at the newly repaved
McKinley intersection.
Between stoplights cars generally travel single-file, making a
delightful WCL. At many intersections, though, it seems they're
encouraged to line up double-file. So, yeah, I don't really
understand what the planners/engineers are thinking there. Maybe one
team is responsible for designing the stoplights and another team is
responsible for the striping and design of the streets?
Regarding Angela-933: I actually prefer the new setup. Before the
rightmost lane would be filled with bozos who knew they had to merge
somehow, so they would be really stressed out and ready to gun it from
the light in order to bash their way in before the merge.
Now I just get in the one lane going straight with all the other
traffic, and when the light turns green I go ahead. Usually there are
only a few cars behind me, I swing wide to the right and slow in order
to let everyone pass, so it's all good. If I'm feeling fast, though,
and there are too many cars back to wait effectively, then I just take
the lane and bomb down the hill. The key there is to make it to the
merge before cars are tempted to pass dangerously, so I'd think for
most situations, the better option is to just swing right and let
everyone pass.
An alternative to that intersection is to turn left on Leeper (last
street before the light), then take the bike lanes on Northside.
Leeper is such a useful street for bikes.
Regarding lack of lane definition: I'd like to think those roads are
actually one lane each way, consisting of a "wide curb lane" (WCL) or
"wide outside lane". With low enough traffic volume such that cars
don't attempt to double up, WCLs can actually be very pleasant to ride
on. Many cyclists actually prefer them to other, segregated "separate
but equal" infrastructure like bike lanes or multiuse paths (MUPs).
In fact, I consider Edison between 933 and Notre Dame Ave to be an
excellent example of how a WCL can make for a great ride. (Especially
in contrast to the MUPs west of Notre Dame Ave, which aren't really
suitable for bike traffic IMHO.)
But many of these quasi-WCL roads seem to turn into 4-lane arterials
at intersections. Jefferson east of Eddy is awful about that.
Ironwood between Edison and the river is another example: delightful
WCL at Corby/Rockne, nasty 4-lane squeezed in at the newly repaved
McKinley intersection.
Between stoplights cars generally travel single-file, making a
delightful WCL. At many intersections, though, it seems they're
encouraged to line up double-file. So, yeah, I don't really
understand what the planners/engineers are thinking there. Maybe one
team is responsible for designing the stoplights and another team is
responsible for the striping and design of the streets?
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