Comments on Arlington takes the lead on green-painted bike lanes - Greater Greater Washington

Comment by Ben

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 13:13:03 EDT

Hopefully this lanes are more durable than the green bike lanes on Spring Street in downtown LA. Much of the paint washed away with the first big winter rain.

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2011/12/la-bike-lane-blues/719/

Comment by DE

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 11:12:51 EDT

Arlington has done a great job over the years making Military Road much safer than it was. Years ago this was a 4-lane road where cars routinely raced through at 45 mph. Now it's safer for everyone, and this small detail could save someone's life by making turning cars more aware of cyclists.

Comment by Turnip

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 20:25:33 EDT

Doesn't the paint get more slippery than the plain asphalt?

Comment by David C

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:56:38 EDT

the L St. bike lane that is supposed to be completed now? That hasn't even been started yet? That L St. bike lane?

This isn't entirely true. The project that includes the L Street bike lane has started. But they're moving east to west and starting east of the bike lane. So what is going on now, doesn't include the bike lane, but, soon it will. I keep meaning to blog about this, but y'know work and stuff.

Also, the reason it's late is because they expanded the project east. In the end it will save money. It sucks to be delayed, but I like efficiency in my govt where possible, so I won't complain.

Comment by turtleshell

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:36:45 EDT

Painted lanes are a great idea. Let's see how they work in Arlington. I think they look great and I'm guessing will help cyclists feel comfortable and make riding a bit safer. Plus lighter colors will help diminish some of sun's heat.

I'd like to see DC try the paint in the cycle tracks.

Comment by drumz

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:31:33 EDT

^
Two streetcar lines, a busway (precursor to the streetcars) and two bike boulevards with physical barriers paralelling Columbia pike vs. a green painted lane?

Not to mention the next expansion of CABI will be along columbia pike.

Comment by FedUp

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:07:48 EDT

More resources lavished on North Arlington, while South Arlington's $$$s go to the shopping mall and not in the neighborhoods (where people, esp. the poor, live). Instead, S. Arlington gets unnecessary streetcars that will eliminate several critical on-street routes for bike riders.

Comment by Kristi

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:24:17 EDT

The bike lane at Military and Nellie Curtis used to be blue. Over the past 6 years the blue has been worn off by vehicles traveling over it. Same thing will happen with the green.
Bigger issue with bikes and cars is where there are no bike lanes. When stopped at a red light the bike should be in line with the cars not at the curb lane or weaving in and out to get to the front of the cue. I have seen several collisions caused by the biker in those instances.
Finally those riding bikes are required to follow all traffics control devices. That means stopping at stop signs, stoppInf and waiting at red lights, and turning from appropriate lanes. Everyone should do their part to keep bikes, motorized vehicles, and pedestrians safe.

Comment by Jasper

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:50:36 EDT

@ Alex J A:Will cyclists stay in their lanes?

They don't have to.

Will cars be ticketed for encroaching on the cyclists?

Don't know. However, it is my experience that the colored lanes provide a psychological barrier keeping cars out way more effectively than just a painted stripe does.

Comment by Alex J. Avriette

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:32:30 EDT

Will cyclists stay in their lanes? Will cars be ticketed for encroaching on the cyclists? It means little to segregate the traffic so clearly if there aren't "teeth" associated with it.

Comment by Geof Gee

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:29:20 EDT

@MM

I'm familiar with the physical layout of the intersection; but have not been there in a long time. So you're writing that there is a right turn lane in the spot pictured below such that cars cross/merge prior to the intersection? If so, that is an improvement.

http://goo.gl/maps/o6kQT

Although in the picture below, I don't see a right turn lane and it looks as if auto parking will restrict the amount of distance that right-turning car will have to initiate the cross/merge.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/beyonddc/7889965118/in/set-72157631310922454/

The bike lane on Clarendon Blvd will have the same problem at the 15th ST intersection shown below.

http://goo.gl/maps/BE7mI

Mind you, if you're going to stripe the rest of Military Road or Clarendon Blvd. with a bike lane I'm not sure ending and starting the bike lane prior and after the intersection is better ... I'd think that a SHARROW would be a better alternative for these forks.

Also, in response to another poster calling for all bike lanes to be green, I think that is clearly counter productive since the point is to focus attention on conflict areas.

Comment by Jasper

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:12:30 EDT

Actually it's better to use colored asphalt. Then the paint can never fade away.

Comment by thump

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:08:50 EDT

...the L St. bike lane that is supposed to be completed now? That hasn't even been started yet? That L St. bike lane?
Also, I agree with Charlie, if the metric for success is avoiding accidents, periodically putting down paint should be a priority.

Comment by drumz

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:47:08 EDT

Personally, I think they're kind of ugly.
Not that asphalt or concrete is attractive by any means, but at least keeping things to the color of the pavement, white and yellow keeps the clashing colors to a minimum

That's a feature not a bug, they're supposed to clash and remind drivers that cyclists are on a the road and to watch out.

Comment by Adam L

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:46:37 EDT

I agree with Tim about the color.

The key to better bicycle facilities is cycle tracks, separated from traffic with a median or parked cars. I care little for lines drawn on pavement.

Comment by MM

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:42:00 EDT

@Geof

Cars turning right to stay on Military have a turn lane that intersects then moves to the right of the bike lane, so in essence it's not any different than any other right turn lane/bike lane combo (see southbound 11th and I SE in DC for a similar example).

Comment by Jasper

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:39:29 EDT

This is HUGE. I've lived through the change in Holland when the government started painting bike lanes red.The color change is somehow a much larger psychological barrier for cars to cross into than just a line.

I hope all bike lanes will turn green soon.

Comment by charlie

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:29:45 EDT

is the metric for success accident avoidance or how long the paint lasts?

And what the hell is this fiber-cable being laid in Rosslyn?

Comment by drumz

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:07:23 EDT

Define "muck up".

Comment by Tim

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:07:05 EDT

Personally, I think they're kind of ugly.

Not that asphalt or concrete is attractive by any means, but at least keeping things to the color of the pavement, white and yellow keeps the clashing colors to a minimum

Comment by Geof Gee

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:01:27 EDT

But that is a terrible spot for a bike lane. You have a fork in the road and the bike lane keeps cyclists to the right of **right-turning** traffic.

Comment by Pete

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:52:52 EDT

What is the accident count there? Does it justify this?

I doubt Arlington could do any more to muck up Military Rd, but I guess they still have more in their playbook.