General Road and Highway Discussion

[Drake]

Just my opinion, but the Margaret Street diet doesn't have the air of professionalism the Davenport diet does. Margaret was not turned into a boulevard with lanes separated by trees and gardens like Davenport. The paint used on Margaret when new looked to be hastily put down and confusing. I recall driving on Margaret and having the impression vandals had pulled a prank. The lanes were all over the place and it was very confusing. Now, a couple years later that paint is almost completely gone and the myth of the poorly designed bicycle lanes are what remains.

In my memory, Margaret was painted before Davenport. Feel free to correct me on this. My memory is imperfect.

Observe:

Margaret 1

The lanes are narrower, the paint is washed out. This bicycle lane veers out into traffic to allow for onstreet parking. Cars, like the honeybadger, don't care. They drive over the bicycle lanes. Cyclists beware.

Margaret 2

Here is on street parking. I suggest it makes little sense in this location. 3 spots on the street are next to a parking lot that conservatively holds over 100 vehicles. Respect for private property owners aside, reality needs a check here. In a scenario where cars are parked on the street and a vehicle is exiting this parking lot, the cyclist is at risk due to visibility issues. The city has a hand in creating this liability scenario.

Observe the previous lane markers hastily painted over causing great confusion to people driving at regular road speeds. What lane am I in? Where should I drive?


Davenport 1

Lane markers clearly visible. Wide( r ) lanes for vehicles and bicycles. Identifiers at driveway for motorists that plead for their attention to announce cyclist lanes, etc. Years later, the paint is not washed out.

Davenport 2

Clearly marked lanes. Logical layout. Good signage.

Bonus:

I travelled the length of Davenport via streetview specifically looking for cyclists and pedestrians.

One texting pedestrian oblivious to the Googlecar

One cyclist on sidewalk outside the diet area