New kid on the block

[Willy]

Anybody still on this Forum? Seems like the last posting was from 4-5
months ago. Is it a usefull forum?
I worked at the U Hospital for 12+ years, am now at LDSH. I am bike
commuting again from East Sugarhouse, thru Research Park, Fort D, and
over to 11th Ave.
Seems like the U in general is still quite vested in folks driving to
work. I see little if any changes made in the last 15 years to make
bike commuting a more reasonable or safer approach other than the
Guardsman Way corridor.

Most folks that work on campus or at the Med Ctr arrive within 1 hour
in the am and leave about the same time at night.This means the roads
are busy with cars going fast as the occupants likely overslept.
I nearly got clipped 2 days in a row by the same silver honda accord
right turning in front of me to get into the Williams Bldg / Pediatric
Ctr. She had to accelerate to get around me then brake hard to make
the turn rather than wait 4 seconds to let me go first. I had to brake
to avoid hitting her. Maybe the folks they employ there are "time and
distance challanged", or perhaps just clueless.

Willy

[Brad Duncan]

I'm on here now (just signed up). There is a lot of progress that is still to be made, that's for sure.

-Brad

--
TwoWheelPhotos.blogspot.com

[bassli...@gmail.com]

Willy, a solution to that might be a pocket full of porcelain
chips :]..


I'm just kidding of course.

All we can do is ride defensively..

[Jonathan Wilkey]

Willy,

Looks like the board is still alive.  I know that the U is currently working on a campus master plan and I think that transportation issues are included.  The website for the master plan is:

http://campusmasterplan.utah.edu/

I don't know if there is still an opportunity to give your input, but it might be worth a shot.

Jon

On Tue, Aug 5, 2008 at 12:30 PM, Willy <bill.w...@imail.org> wrote:

[Bill Wegesser]

Jon,

Thanks for the reply. I'm concerned mainly with bicycling on and thru the campus and safety issues surrounding that.

I have Freshman and Junior daughters that will be biking to class, and I cut thru Research Park / Fort Douglas/ in front of PCMC then cut over to 11th Ave via Federal Heights.

There are roads with no bike lanes, some with inadequate bike lanes, some bike lanes that just stop, and a number of sidewalk hazards that have nearly taken me down. I was thinking of getting a can of bright paint to spray on these to warn folks of the hazards and tire grabbers.

Shifting concrete, large gaps inbetween concrete pads are significant if one is not paying attention.

I reviewed the Campus master plan as it pertains to biking. esp pgs 27, 33, 40, and 41.

It seems with the major building that will be taking place on all parts of campus that good bike / pedestrian access are really key. I believe it was #2 in the most votes.

We both know parking spaces are expensive, there's never enough where and when folks want them, and they take up valuable space. I really think if the U makes a  big commitment to plentiful and safe bike routes we'll both see a big increase in bike usage.

My wife and I just returned from a 10 day trip through Sweden and it was incredible. The number and amount of bike paths thru every part of every town and city we went through.

Stop signs are used as yield signs by bikers, everyone stops at red lights, and there are stoplight button controls on the side of the bike lanes. One doesn't need to dismount, go to the pedestrian lane and push the walk button. The have sensors in some bike lanes that also register and turn the lights over. Very well thought out. Denmark is better yet. Check out this web site.

http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/  the number of women dressed to the nines, as if they were going to the opera in 

Stockholm was amazing. 4-6 " heels, furs, fancy dresses and skirts, etc...

 

Definitely a different culture there. Very few folks drive to work.They either bus, bike, or electric "Trams".

 

So, if I see something that needs repair, or suggest an area to be evaluated on campus, are you the go-to person?

 

Thanks,

 

Bill

 

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From: uofubik...@googlegroups.com [mailto:uofubik...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Jonathan Wilkey
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 9:59 PM
To: uofubik...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: New kid on the block