l j

Have you spoken to Gorden at Lakeside Bikes about the City Counci meeting. He is obviously bike friendly and a longtime Lake O business owner?
Lonnie

Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2011 13:55:35 -0800
From: todd@lancasterengineering.com
To: redmagoo@msn.com
CC: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] invite to visit Lake Oswego City Council

Hi Maggie,

I'm a consulting traffic engineer and may be able to offer some assistance. Regarding the intersection of Boones Ferry and Kerr/Country Club, that is a unique situation for sure and an interesting legal dilemma. Like motorcycles (but even more so), bicycles can be difficult for traffic signal detection systems to pick up unless they're designed with that in mind. This intersection likely uses an inductive loop system, so your carbon ride isn't going to get the job done. A bike push button on a post is certainly reasonable, but of course there would be an associated cost. Another option would be to add a bike loop in the shoulder, which could then be spliced into the existing detection system.

As for gaps in bike lanes, sometimes there are other considerations that may prohibit them from signing and marking it as a bike lane. For example, if they cannot meet minimum design standards for a bike lane, there can be liabilities associated with marking it as such. Also, some streets in Lake Oswego, such as Highway 43, are under ODOT jurisdiction, which adds another layer of complexity, but that doesn't mean it is not possible.

Give me a call or email if you'd like, I might be able to offer some advice on effective communication with Council and/or the right folks at the City.

-Todd
--
Todd E. Mobley, PE, PTOE
Principal
Lancaster Engineering
(503) 248-0313 phone
(503) 248-9251 fax

On Mon, Jan 17, 2011 at 10:14 AM, Maggie Rising wrote:

Anyone want to help put a little pressure on Lake Oswego to make some bike-friendly changes? I received wonderfully supportive e-mails from OBRA chat junkies after I posted a cry-mail about a ticket I got on my bike for running a red light in Lake Oswego. (Boones Ferry northbound across Kerr/Country Club) The judge told me that, even though the light is only tripped by cars, and even though cars don't pass through that light at 5:45 a.m., I will continue to get a ticket for advancing on a red. The only remedy, he says, is to take it to city council. Bike supporters encouraged following up on the judge's suggestion. They also pointed out that LO has some dangerous gaps in bike lines on some major thoroughfares which the city council should hear about, e.g., Boones Ferry in Lake Grove and HWY 43 in downtown LO. A few days later, while driving my car (I do own one, you know) I came upon my own young son in such a bike lane gap, and his obvious vulnerability contributed to
my resolve. It was suggested to me that it would be most effective if a group of us showed up together at city council. It appears the meeting would be on a Tuesday or Thursday evening. All who are interested, let me know, and I will begin working on a notification list.
There are a lot of experienced bike advocates out there, and I would appreciate their input about the legal hurdles to closing bike lane gaps. If it is not already apparent, what I mean is when there is a period of a few blocks or more with no bike lane, leaving the cyclist quite vulnerable, yet there is more than adequate bike lane on either side, luring the cyclist into choosing this "safer" route. Additionally, I wonder whether anyone out there has experience with cheaply altering traffic intersections such that bikes can eventually count on a green light. The intersection referenced above is part of my bike commute, alternate routes are physically demanding and more time-consuming, there is no cross-walk and no button to push. (It's actually quite difficult to find a safe commute to Portland from Lake Oswego.) I should mention I see people jay-walking there all the time. My dream gadget would be a post with a button on it. Is that reasonable?
Today's Oregonian has an article that mentions Mayor Sam Adam's dream that 1/4 of trips are made by bike. Swoon.
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Todd Mobley

Hi Maggie,

I'm a consulting traffic engineer and may be able to offer some assistance.
Regarding the intersection of Boones Ferry and Kerr/Country Club, that is a
unique situation for sure and an interesting legal dilemma. Like motorcycles
(but even more so), bicycles can be difficult for traffic signal detection
systems to pick up unless they're designed with that in mind. This
intersection likely uses an inductive loop system, so your carbon ride isn't
going to get the job done. A bike push button on a post is certainly
reasonable, but of course there would be an associated cost. Another option
would be to add a bike loop in the shoulder, which could then be spliced
into the existing detection system.

As for gaps in bike lanes, sometimes there are other considerations that may
prohibit them from signing and marking it as a bike lane. For example, if
they cannot meet minimum design standards for a bike lane, there can be
liabilities associated with marking it as such. Also, some streets in Lake
Oswego, such as Highway 43, are under ODOT jurisdiction, which adds another
layer of complexity, but that doesn't mean it is not possible.

Give me a call or email if you'd like, I might be able to offer some advice
on effective communication with Council and/or the right folks at the City.

-Todd

--
Todd E. Mobley, PE, PTOE
Principal
Lancaster Engineering
(503) 248-0313 phone
(503) 248-9251 fax

On Mon, Jan 17, 2011 at 10:14 AM, Maggie Rising wrote:

> Anyone want to help put a little pressure on Lake Oswego to make some
> bike-friendly changes? I received wonderfully supportive e-mails from OBRA
> chat junkies after I posted a cry-mail about a ticket I got on my bike for
> running a red light in Lake Oswego. (Boones Ferry northbound across
> Kerr/Country Club) The judge told me that, even though the light is only
> tripped by cars, and even though cars don't pass through that light at 5:45
> a.m., I will continue to get a ticket for advancing on a red. The only
> remedy, he says, is to take it to city council. Bike supporters encouraged
> following up on the judge's suggestion. They also pointed out that LO has
> some dangerous gaps in bike lines on some major thoroughfares which the city
> council should hear about, e.g., Boones Ferry in Lake Grove and HWY 43 in
> downtown LO. A few days later, while driving my car (I do own one, you
> know) I came upon my own young son in such a bike lane gap, and his obvious
> vulnerability contributed to
> my resolve. It was suggested to me that it would be most effective if a
> group of us showed up together at city council. It appears the meeting
> would be on a Tuesday or Thursday evening. All who are interested, let me
> know, and I will begin working on a notification list.
> There are a lot of experienced bike advocates out there, and I would
> appreciate their input about the legal hurdles to closing bike lane gaps.
> If it is not already apparent, what I mean is when there is a period of a
> few blocks or more with no bike lane, leaving the cyclist quite vulnerable,
> yet there is more than adequate bike lane on either side, luring the cyclist
> into choosing this "safer" route. Additionally, I wonder whether anyone
> out there has experience with cheaply altering traffic intersections such
> that bikes can eventually count on a green light. The intersection
> referenced above is part of my bike commute, alternate routes are physically
> demanding and more time-consuming, there is no cross-walk and no button to
> push. (It's actually quite difficult to find a safe commute to Portland
> from Lake Oswego.) I should mention I see people jay-walking there all the
> time. My dream gadget would be a post with a button on it. Is that
> reasonable?
> Today's Oregonian has an article that mentions Mayor Sam Adam's dream
> that 1/4 of trips are made by bike. Swoon.
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>

Maggie Rising

Anyone want to help put a little pressure on Lake Oswego to make some bike-friendly changes? I received wonderfully supportive e-mails from OBRA chat junkies after I posted a cry-mail about a ticket I got on my bike for running a red light in Lake Oswego. (Boones Ferry northbound across Kerr/Country Club) The judge told me that, even though the light is only tripped by cars, and even though cars don't pass through that light at 5:45 a.m., I will continue to get a ticket for advancing on a red. The only remedy, he says, is to take it to city council. Bike supporters encouraged following up on the judge's suggestion. They also pointed out that LO has some dangerous gaps in bike lines on some major thoroughfares which the city council should hear about, e.g., Boones Ferry in Lake Grove and HWY 43 in downtown LO. A few days later, while driving my car (I do own one, you know) I came upon my own young son in such a bike lane gap, and his obvious vulnerability contributed to
my resolve. It was suggested to me that it would be most effective if a group of us showed up together at city council. It appears the meeting would be on a Tuesday or Thursday evening. All who are interested, let me know, and I will begin working on a notification list.
There are a lot of experienced bike advocates out there, and I would appreciate their input about the legal hurdles to closing bike lane gaps. If it is not already apparent, what I mean is when there is a period of a few blocks or more with no bike lane, leaving the cyclist quite vulnerable, yet there is more than adequate bike lane on either side, luring the cyclist into choosing this "safer" route. Additionally, I wonder whether anyone out there has experience with cheaply altering traffic intersections such that bikes can eventually count on a green light. The intersection referenced above is part of my bike commute, alternate routes are physically demanding and more time-consuming, there is no cross-walk and no button to push. (It's actually quite difficult to find a safe commute to Portland from Lake Oswego.) I should mention I see people jay-walking there all the time. My dream gadget would be a post with a button on it. Is that reasonable?
Today's Oregonian has an article that mentions Mayor Sam Adam's dream that 1/4 of trips are made by bike. Swoon.