Fw: Do you want safer Roxboro and Mangum Streets?
Ross Grady
Hey neighbors,
I'm forwarding this email from Bike Durham -- cyclists obviously aren't the only people who would benefit from having Mangum turned back into a 2-way street, but it's nice to have a group committed to leading this campaign.
In addition to just making it easier to get around the neighborhood, a 2-way conversion of Mangum would be highly likely to decrease the "dragstrip" nature of Mangum in front of our building. People apparently won't drive more slowly & carefully just because it's the right thing to do, but the prospect of another vehicle driving towards them in the opposite direction does lead to slower & more careful driving. :)
Please consider signing up via the link at the bottom -- but even if you don't, I'll try to remember to share details and updates!
Ross
Bike Durham has begun working with neighbors who live along the Roxboro and Mangum Street pair and the Duke and Gregson Street pair who want to see them changed to slow down drivers and to make them safe and comfortable for walking and biking.
These streets were made one-way streets in 1959 to alleviate congestion in downtown Durham. The designs encourage higher speed driving through the neighborhoods. With the completion of the East End Connector (I-885), traffic counts have dropped on these streets. In 2020, the Move Durham Study recommended converting these streets, along with Duke and Gregson/Vickers, the downtown loop, and Liberty Street back to two-way travel to slow speeds and improve transit access and reliability.
Next year, the North Carolina Department of Transportation plans to re-pave Magnum and Roxboro between Main Street and Markham Avenue. The City has hired a consultant to analyze changes that could be made to return these streets to two-way travel. However, the City only has the budget to complete a conversion between Old Five Point (Corporation/Dowd) and Markham Avenue.
Bike Durham is convening residents along these streets from Bragtown to Southside to organize for changes that will slow speeds and make them safe for all users. If you would like to stay informed of our work on this and be involved, please join the campaign email list using the button below.