L Street Bike Lanes

[Bilsko]

@Valerie 35465 wrote:

Hahahaha Yes, it was the wrong Ctrl-V! That was a link I was supposed to send my mom about when to buy a fridge! Thanks for standing up for me Yes, that’s me you met on Penn

Figured as much – good to see you here on the forums!

[jnva]

Bollards are being installed!

[Dirt]

First ride on the new cycletrack. Nicely done! It is gonna take a little getting used to for everyone.

[eminva]

And The Washington Post weighs in:

New D.C. Bike Lane on L Street NW Causes Confusion

[Vicegrip]

And weight in a photograph of a lady rider on the front page of the VA print edition the no less. Can’t help but think she looks like she is suffering from a rib stitch.

[jrenaut]

Even before the final signs, markings and white bollards were in place — and days before the official ribbon-cutting — the new lane was causing confusion and consternation.

So, people are confused by the lane when it’s still not done? SHOCKING. This is what passes for journalism these days?

[Greenbelt]

I rode a part of the lane this morning, and I thought it worked pretty well. The posts at the entrance of each intersection seemed to help a lot.

[ShawnoftheDread]

Yes, no one parked or drove in the lane this morning with the new bollards installed. Not sure a recumbent trike could fit between the double bollards, so that would be my only complaint. Not that I’ve ever seen a recumbent trike downtown.

[jrenaut]

@ShawnoftheDread 35642 wrote:

Yes, no one parked or drove in the lane this morning with the new bollards installed. Not sure a recumbent trike could fit between the double bollards, so that would be my only complaint. Not that I’ve ever seen a recumbent trike downtown.

I was actually hoping to use this lane next time I take a kid to the doctor – I assume the trailer is going to be too wide if you’re not sure about a trike.

[eminva]

@jrenaut 35643 wrote:

I was actually hoping to use this lane next time I take a kid to the doctor – I assume the trailer is going to be too wide if you’re not sure about a trike.

I think you’ll be okay — you may need to put your best bike handling skills to work or come at it obliquely (there is a little extra space between the bollards at the entrance to the lane and where the row of bollards begins along the side of the lane).

I think the improvements are quite good. I had no problems today. Cars seemed to figure out where to merge and there were no left hooks as I made my way through.

There was a huge backup of traffic turning from Pennsylvania onto L, though. Hope that was an isolated incident and not a result of the new traffic patterns or get ready for the backlash.

Liz

[Greenbelt]

@jrenaut 35643 wrote:

I was actually hoping to use this lane next time I take a kid to the doctor – I assume the trailer is going to be too wide if you’re not sure about a trike.

They’re called “flex-posts” — maybe your trailer will put them to the test of their flexiness!

[bobco85]

I just posted a newer video of footage I shot yesterday of the L, 15th, and Pennsylvania Ave NW cycletracks. The video can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTyPRIdj-AQ (Note: I meant for the video to be real-time, so you may find it painstakingly slow to watch)

Comparing this trip to my experience 2 weeks ago:

On the positive side, it’s a huge improvement over what it was like before. Once they were able to get some more paint down (the green lanes are very nice) and bollards set up, the lane is much more defined. I (almost) did not find any cars accidentally making their way into the lane. I think once people get used to the merge, it will be a very nice addition to the 15th St and Pennsylvania cycletracks. I’m very optimistic for the impact the M Street cycletrack will have next year, given how this one is progressing.

On the negative side, it looks like there’s still some paint left to be laid, and cars are still getting used to having to merge in order to turn left. The merge still seems to be the biggest obstacle to this cycletrack’s success. I think a diagonal arrow on the lane before the merge would help drivers. Also, I do not like the use of double bollards at the beginning of each part of the cycletrack because they make things a little tight. I think only one bollard would be necessary there. Of course, as you’ll see, some people still like to use the cycletrack as their own personal waiting areas

So far, so good.

[ShawnoftheDread]

New situation for me: I use the L Street lane daily, but yesterday I went east of 18th for the first time. I wanted to link to the 15th street cycletrack to go southbound. When I got to 15th street, there were cars to the left of me turning left, I was in the green cycle lane, and there were cars to the right of me going straight. Our light was green. But I wanted to get into the 15th street track. Luckily there were no riders behind me (the lane is very narrow right there), so I just stopped and waited in the L Street lane until the light changed. But what’s the proper technique?

[DismalScientist]

@ShawnoftheDread 35735 wrote:

New situation for me: I use the L Street lane daily, but yesterday I went east of 18th for the first time. I wanted to link to the 15th street cycletrack to go southbound. When I got to 15th street, there were cars to the left of me turning left, I was in the green cycle lane, and there were cars to the right of me going straight. Our light was green. But I wanted to get into the 15th street track. Luckily there were no riders behind me (the lane is very narrow right there), so I just stopped and waited in the L Street lane until the light changed. But what’s the proper technique?

I would think you have two choices. First, merge right eventually into the rightmost traffic lane and turn right regularly. Second, move left into the left turn lane and become a pedestrian and get into the southbound cycletrack on the north side of L (or use the crosswalk to cross L).

[jrenaut]

I think the easiest way to turn right on 15th from the L St lane is to stay left like you’re a car turning left, then pull carefully into the crosswalk north of L. When the light on 15th goes green, cross L.

[Author]

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