This Week in the Mercury
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Bikes North Williams Redesign Ideas Emerge
Posted by Sarah Mirk on Tue, Feb 21, 2012 at 4:33 PM
As discussed at length in this week's paper, North Williams is going through some big changes. Today at a meeting, the city and planners laid out the top three options for revamping the street to make it safer for cyclists and pedestrians.
The city backed off from even publicly mentioning specific design ideas after it put the public process for North Williams on hold last summer and spent the past eight months gathering more public input. I wasn't at today's meeting because I had to finish putting out the newspaper or something, but BikePortland went and has the nitty-gritty details.
All of the three options involve installing a traffic signal at the intersection of North Cook, curb extensions along the stretch, and placing flashing pedestrian beacons* at Going, Failing, Stanton, and Tillamook.
At the top of the list, there's the plan to create a cycletrack on the left side of North Williams—that would mean removing a car travel lane and using the left-side parking lane as a buffer between the bike lane and the rest of the street (like on SW Broadway and NE Cully).
The second option would reduce car travel to one lane and add an extra "buffer" to the current right-side bike lane (like the bike lanes on SW Stark and Oak). A variation of this option would keep both car travel lanes on the busiest stretch of North Williams, around North Graham to Skidmore.
The third option basically keeps things as-is, but adds the beacons, curb extensions, signal, and two bike lane "transition" spots. Here, I compiled these renderings to show you:
Read through a PDF with all the details online here. The project's skateholder committee is supposed to have a final recommendation by March for how to revamp the street to be safer and reduce traffic conflicts. Submit your two cents!
*Wouldn't it be great if this plan involved bacons instead of beacons? People are way more likely to stop for bacon than for other people. They could install signs flashing outside Tasty N Sons: SLOW FOR HAM!
1
It's always seemed like a foregone conclusion that the first option would happen. The process is little more than a dog and pony show. Between PBOT and Alta, it's a stacked deck.
Hopefully Williams at one lane doesn't end up like Interstate after they put in the MAX: basically impassable by car any time between 3-7 PM.
Hopefully Williams at one lane doesn't end up like Interstate after they put in the MAX: basically impassable by car any time between 3-7 PM.
2
option 3 is the only one that makes sense...the other options leave no parking which will destroy any independent businesses there...
seriously designing to be 'green' and removing parking like this hurts the whole economic system of that area...sacrifice sidewalk space to give more room to cyclists if it is absolutely necessary
seriously designing to be 'green' and removing parking like this hurts the whole economic system of that area...sacrifice sidewalk space to give more room to cyclists if it is absolutely necessary
3
sorry...should have said, the other options remove a lane of traffic...sacrifice a few feet from each sidewalk and you can have two car lanes, a two-way bike lane, AND two parking lanes...seriously one foot from each sidewalk can make that single bike lane a double bike lane and EVERYONE WINS
4
"removing parking like this hurts the whole economic system of that area...sacrifice sidewalk space to give more room to cyclists if it is absolutely necessary"
Yeah, downtown is just barren with those big, wide sidewalks and one-lane, one-way roads.
Yeah, downtown is just barren with those big, wide sidewalks and one-lane, one-way roads.
5
@Don. WTF part of downtown are you talking about? The park blocks?
The bulk of the streets downtown have two or three traffic lanes and one or two parking lanes.
The bulk of the streets downtown have two or three traffic lanes and one or two parking lanes.
6
Williams will be fine with one lane. How do I know this? Because Vancouver is fine with just one lane. Yes, this will increase congestion a bit, but it will also cut down on the Clark Co. commuters that use Williams as a bypass for I-5 during the evening rush hour.
The bottom line: cars still own 75% of this street, which matches the traffic patterns. Bikes are 1/3 of the traffic, they deserve at least 1/4 of the road space.
The bottom line: cars still own 75% of this street, which matches the traffic patterns. Bikes are 1/3 of the traffic, they deserve at least 1/4 of the road space.
7
Planners always know what they're going to do before they ask anyone's opinion. Their solution after 8 months of pretending to care will be exactly what it was before all the process.
8
They should give the bikers the lane on N. Williams but take back the lanes on Stark and Oak, which are total failures. Who the hell wants to go out of their way downtown to ride down Stark and Oak?
9
Most of the troubles I experience on that stretch (as a motorist) are from cars trying to park where they can't fit or waiting for a spot to open like they are in a parking lot, instead of a public road. Knock it down to a single travel lane and it will surely be gridlock from 3pm on.
I think a better plan would be for them to limit street parking between Cook & Skidmore to only the left side, and give cyclists a larger lane on the right with two travel lanes in the center.
Most of the missing parking spaces could be taken up by building public parking structures adjacent to the (planned) New Seasons Market and the (planned) housing at Skidmore & Williams. They could meter the structures to help offset the cost.
I think a better plan would be for them to limit street parking between Cook & Skidmore to only the left side, and give cyclists a larger lane on the right with two travel lanes in the center.
Most of the missing parking spaces could be taken up by building public parking structures adjacent to the (planned) New Seasons Market and the (planned) housing at Skidmore & Williams. They could meter the structures to help offset the cost.
10
Parking structures cost roughly $20,000 per spot in up-front construction costs. I don't think it would make sense in these times of budget austerity to spend that kind of money to subsidize private vehicle parking. If off-street parking is in demand, let the free market fill the need. A private developer can build a parking garage if it makes financial sense.
11
Option 4: Ban bicycles and make each lane 12.5'. They never stay in the bike lane and when they use the auto lanes they never follow the law.
12
This is crazy. Pick a freaking design, and stick with it for the rest of the city. This can't be *that* hard. Why is the city going with so many different designs all across the city?
Perhaps use the SW Moody bike/ped/car as a guide. This properly separates all three types of traffic, gives bikers/peds the option to use each other's lanes as required. Keeps cars to one lane each. Sorry cars, you are 15'+ long and 6'+ wide and you usually carry one person, You are going to be paying $7/gallon soon, eating up 30% of the Average American's income. Your time is limited.
Perhaps use the SW Moody bike/ped/car as a guide. This properly separates all three types of traffic, gives bikers/peds the option to use each other's lanes as required. Keeps cars to one lane each. Sorry cars, you are 15'+ long and 6'+ wide and you usually carry one person, You are going to be paying $7/gallon soon, eating up 30% of the Average American's income. Your time is limited.
13
I am a homeowner in the neighborhood, and I vote for option 1 and 2. Get rid of the 2 car lanes, one car lane is enough. If we want to promote a green livable city infrastructure, the more public transit, pedestrian walkways, and safe bicycle lanes the better. Oil isn't going to be around forever. Let's start the change now. Meanwhile, N. Williams bicycle lane usage has increased almost equal to vehicle traffic. Let's not slow down the momentum.
14
Don't put the bike lane on the left. That will be instant death when they put in the New Seasons.
15
@Chris - Judging by Google Maps view, the side of the street only holds about 15 parking spaces per block. New Season is going to need to build a parking skid anyways. If they use the same amount of space they used for their Killingsworth location they will support about 100 parking spaces. If the city was to add in one more level of metered parking (above or below) they could take up the loss of available street parking.
Now I don't claim to know the numbers of what it cost to build an extra layer of concrete that will support 100+ cars and pedestrians, but I'm guessing the number you quoted was for a full parking structure like seen downtown with attendants an maintenance costs budgeted in. My suggestion is more along the lines of the structure located next to the Safeway near Lloyd Center. Instead of manning it with an attendant, use the parking meter set up used for street parking and have parking enforcement make it part of their normal rounds.
Now I don't claim to know the numbers of what it cost to build an extra layer of concrete that will support 100+ cars and pedestrians, but I'm guessing the number you quoted was for a full parking structure like seen downtown with attendants an maintenance costs budgeted in. My suggestion is more along the lines of the structure located next to the Safeway near Lloyd Center. Instead of manning it with an attendant, use the parking meter set up used for street parking and have parking enforcement make it part of their normal rounds.
16
@Chris - Bikes already have access to 42% of the space on N. Williams. The sidewalks are public right-of-way (since you've chosen to use that argument), privately funded by adjacent land owners.
17
"Parking structures cost roughly $20,000 per spot in up-front construction costs. I don't think it would make sense in these times of budget austerity to spend that kind of money to subsidize private vehicle parking. If off-street parking is in demand, let the free market fill the need. A private developer can build a parking garage if it makes financial sense."
The free market HAS decided, which is why there are two car lanes. It's why you see all those cars in the road.
The free market HAS decided, which is why there are two car lanes. It's why you see all those cars in the road.
18
And oil isn't going to be around forever, but that doesn't mean we're all going to be commuting by bike in 20 years. Whatever the next broadly utilized means of conveyance is, it's going to be car-like. It just won't run in fossil fuel.
19
Please don't repeat the SW Broadway / Parked lane buffer - i.e. Option 1. No one knows what to do with themselves and between nearly getting doored, pedestrians moseying out into the bike lane at every crosswalk, and no easy way to make Left Turns, that is a terrible option. Option 2 would be ok, though I don't really see the problem with what is there now. If people weren't in taking Vancouver/Williams to dodge I-5 in route to their mcmansions in the Dirty Couve, it would be fine. (But they still bitch about the Light Rail option on the CRC...)
@Chuck - the "conveyance of the future" will require nowhere near the space that single occupant vehicles do now. As GoogleCars are already prooving out, computers can do a much more efficient and safe job of getting us there. But anyway, let's chop down the lanes now to get ready for computer driven, bubble cars that take your destination and seamlessly merge into traffic to get you there.
Pro-tip to Beavertron Andy: N Williams isn't in Beavertron, so you don't have to worry. You can stay in your bastion of 'look how nice our pedicured neighborhood is free from pesky yet healthy liberals on bikes' and everything will be ok.
@Chuck - the "conveyance of the future" will require nowhere near the space that single occupant vehicles do now. As GoogleCars are already prooving out, computers can do a much more efficient and safe job of getting us there. But anyway, let's chop down the lanes now to get ready for computer driven, bubble cars that take your destination and seamlessly merge into traffic to get you there.
Pro-tip to Beavertron Andy: N Williams isn't in Beavertron, so you don't have to worry. You can stay in your bastion of 'look how nice our pedicured neighborhood is free from pesky yet healthy liberals on bikes' and everything will be ok.
20
"Williams isn't in Beavertron, so you don't have to worry. You can stay in your bastion of 'look how nice our pedicured neighborhood is free from pesky yet healthy liberals on bikes' and everything will be ok."
While I don't entirely disagree with this sentiment, it's rather ironic considering the reason this process was started. African Americans in that neighborhood would say the same thing to the Bike Portland crowd who are dead set on removing car lanes for bike lanes.
While I don't entirely disagree with this sentiment, it's rather ironic considering the reason this process was started. African Americans in that neighborhood would say the same thing to the Bike Portland crowd who are dead set on removing car lanes for bike lanes.
21
Chuck,
Free street parking on publicly owned roads is not the free market. Providing something of value for nothing to all of the population equally is socialism. Textbook definition.
@16: Sidewalks are not for bikes. The Oregon driver's manual encourages bikes to ride on the streets with cars, and the practice is not safe for bikes or pedestrians. Bikes are even banned from using the sidewalks in central downtown, where foot traffic is high, as it will be on Williams when these developments are built.
Bikes will be getting more of the space on Williams. The conversation is whether cars need two parking lanes, or two driving lanes. Either way, the future of Williams is one that will be much safer and more enjoyable for the people that live in this neighborhood, at the expense of a few motorists who only seem to be interested in how fast they can speed through these neighborhoods to avoid congestion on I-5.
Free street parking on publicly owned roads is not the free market. Providing something of value for nothing to all of the population equally is socialism. Textbook definition.
@16: Sidewalks are not for bikes. The Oregon driver's manual encourages bikes to ride on the streets with cars, and the practice is not safe for bikes or pedestrians. Bikes are even banned from using the sidewalks in central downtown, where foot traffic is high, as it will be on Williams when these developments are built.
Bikes will be getting more of the space on Williams. The conversation is whether cars need two parking lanes, or two driving lanes. Either way, the future of Williams is one that will be much safer and more enjoyable for the people that live in this neighborhood, at the expense of a few motorists who only seem to be interested in how fast they can speed through these neighborhoods to avoid congestion on I-5.
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