June 2016 ABAC Meeting

[wheelswings]

Perhaps at one of these meetings the County can give another update on progress (or lack thereof) at Lynn and Lee…

A lot of drivers have been ignoring the microscopic no-turn-on-red sign. Again this afternoon, a car blocked me with its right turn at the start of the pedestrian signal. After that, myself and a rider heading the opposite direction were each one-third across, when yet another car whipped through the middle third of the intersection.

The itty bitty no-right-turn signal is not doing its job, and yet those few seconds are really the only time it is half-ways “safe” for bicycle riders or pedestrians to enter the intersection; the countdown clock is just a free for all for right-turning drivers. Most of the time, bicycle riders may as well wait it out, unless they are feeling suicidal.

I understand that some of the desired fixes will take time, but in the interim can’t the County do any better than this? At the very least,
Why not install a BIG and BRIGHT no-turn sign?
How about putting up a red light camera so that drivers who ignore the red get a ticket?
Can we paint and re-texture the crosswalk, if nothing else?
There must be something we could do to make it safer, short of the real fixes like removing the pole and re-configuring the intersection.

[mstone]

Richmond won’t allow a red light camera, because small government and liberty. People died for your right to kill people at an intersection.

[dasgeh]

@wheels&wings 140849 wrote:

Perhaps at one of these meetings the County can give another update on progress (or lack thereof) at Lynn and Lee…

A lot of drivers have been ignoring the microscopic no-turn-on-red sign. Again this afternoon, a car blocked me with its right turn at the start of the pedestrian signal. After that, myself and a rider heading the opposite direction were each one-third across, when yet another car whipped through the middle third of the intersection.

The itty bitty no-right-turn signal is not doing its job, and yet those few seconds are really the only time it is half-ways “safe” for bicycle riders or pedestrians to enter the intersection; the countdown clock is just a free for all for right-turning drivers. Most of the time, bicycle riders may as well wait it out, unless they are feeling suicidal.

I understand that some of the desired fixes will take time, but in the interim can’t the County do any better than this? At the very least,
Why not install a BIG and BRIGHT no-turn sign?
How about putting up a red light camera so that drivers who ignore the red get a ticket?
Can we paint and re-texture the crosswalk, if nothing else?
There must be something we could do to make it safer, short of the real fixes like removing the pole and re-configuring the intersection.

As we’ve been briefed, there is a project underway that will help somewhat. I’ve asked for updates periodically and have asked whether it’s worth it for the project team to come back. I’m told it is not, because the designs haven’t changed, just the bureaucratic management. Because of the size of the project, it has been transferred to VDOT to do the actual construction. That will cause even more delay. The project website lists spring of 2017 as beginning of construction, with completion in 2018.

Have you reported near misses there? 703-558-2222 My understanding is that the County sees that little sign as success. There apparently haven’t been collisions there with bikes/peds. If we don’t report the near misses, then they say “our data indicates there is no problem” and move on.

In the mean time, I’ll ask if we can get more done. I just expect to hear more of what I’ve been hearing: “the data says there isn’t a problem, so let’s focus our resources elsewhere”

[dasgeh]

Update: Due to their hard work on SafeTrack, County staff will not brief the Committee on the DES CIP or on the Quincy Street Protected Bike Lanes. There will likely be a separate meeting in June to discuss those issues, possibly on Monday, June 13. I’m hoping to hold tonight’s meeting to an hour. Revised agenda below Thanks to everyone for being flexible.

7:00pm Call to Order; Introductions; Approve minutes Gillian
7:05pm SafeTrack Dave G/Henry
7:20pm CIP: DPR Gillian
7:40pm Arlington County Staff Updates
BikeArlington Henry
Parks Kevin
Projects Daves
7:55pm New Business Gillian
8:00pm Adjournment Gillian

*Note: due to County staff work on SafeTrack, discussion of the DES CIP request and the Quincy Street Protected Bike Lanes will be had at a separate meeting later in June, possibly on Monday, June 13.

[dasgeh]

Tonight we’ll be at 2100 Clarendon (I think on the first floor) discussing the DES CIP. 7pm. All welcome

[Author]

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