06-15-2021, 08:34 PM
(06-14-2021, 10:33 PM)danbrotherston Wrote:(06-14-2021, 10:00 PM)dtkvictim Wrote: Raised crossings would be great, but I don't really get the complaint about the curves. It adds, what, half a second to your trip? But it makes it a little more interesting! I see historically the curve existed to accommodate on-street parking which is frustrating, but now it provides space for some trees (and is the only block next to the LRT with trees), which I would gladly have a little curve for.
If you're alone on the trail, they're not much of a problem when walking or on a bike, but if you are on a bike and there is another trail user, either going the opposite direction, or walking in the same direction, it's awkward and tight. I know from experience. You'll notice on streetview, the new curves are even tighter than the old ones. If you wanted keep some curves, they could have been wider, with greater trail width at the curve, or the trees could have gone on the other side where they would be less likely to interfere with the LRT and the trail would have been straight.
As is, it's just a bad design. If they build a road like that, they'd lose their license.
Fair enough if you've found it narrow or crowded. I haven't experienced it in that area, but it's frustrated me elsewhere so I understand. I really think greenery between between sidewalks and roads would provide one of the single biggest boosts to the pedestrian experience (aside from the improvements that more directly prevent harm), so I would reject that idea that just moving trees to the other side is the same. Though, ideally we would have the situation that we see here: trees on both sides.