tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post2593188763499333119..comments2024-03-17T20:47:31.628-07:00Comments on Salem Breakfast on Bikes: Our Approach to Rail Safety has Real Costs and Sometimes Fails to Encourage ComplianceSalem Breakfast on Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15618055627843335993noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-32006718494342340902013-07-15T10:43:31.686-07:002013-07-15T10:43:31.686-07:00Interesting bit in the paper today about Quiet Zon...Interesting bit in the paper today about Quiet Zones - <br /><br />“Union Pacific believes quiet zones compromise the safety of railroad employees, customers, and the general public,” the railroad states on its website. “While the railroad does not endorse quiet zones, it does comply with provisions outlined in the federal law.”<br /><br />Employees, customers, then the public...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-81058386169817028402013-05-19T16:00:23.253-07:002013-05-19T16:00:23.253-07:00To avoid the confusion at Mill & 12th, I use t...To avoid the confusion at Mill & 12th, I use the railroad tracks as a cross walk on Mill St. It is elevated so you are visible to drivers, they slow down to cross the tracks any way, and it looks like a cross walk to drivers. It is not designed this way, but it works pretty well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-82799537596563369932013-05-18T17:26:37.467-07:002013-05-18T17:26:37.467-07:00I'm seeing that crosswalk on 12th used a great...I'm seeing that crosswalk on 12th used a great deal. It is effectively slowing down the speedway here. While getting on to the Promenade from 12th going north is made a bit more difficult due to the hairpin turn to get on the sidewalk (and thus making it a bit confusing for motorist/bike interaction as hand-signals here are a bit difficult to use properly), it is more than made up for by the improved crossing over the tracks and the (admittedly sharp turn) connection with the Promenade itself. I don't miss that ballast rock interchange at all.<br /><br />While the situation could make for a lot of conflicts with pedestrians, I haven't had too many. Most people are using the south sidewalk, which diverts the conflict point for me. I even am using the pedestrian crossing myself (dismounting from the bike), and have found this opens up better access to the hospital from this point in town. <br /><br />So, I'm using this area more...though always with caution.B+https://www.blogger.com/profile/18353381870331760316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-32404719739511997042013-05-15T22:52:52.146-07:002013-05-15T22:52:52.146-07:00The crossing and the quiet zone modifications are ...The crossing and the quiet zone modifications are two separate issues. The elimination of the crosswalk across Mill doesn't improve things. <br /><br />I don't make that turn from 13th to the Promenade that often. I would normally take Winter to State to the Promenade. I might just take the lane on 12th for another block to State and get on the Promenade from there. Getting on the sidewalk at Mill like you describe seems acceptable too. There is rarely another car coming from Mill and if there were it shouldn't matter to them if I'm going straight or turning onto the sidewalk. The other examples you give just require basic vehicular cycling techniques. <br /><br />The students are using the crosswalk. I don't think I've seen anyone trying to cross from the north side of Mill as I thought they would. Curtnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-22567807706258638102013-05-15T18:13:44.189-07:002013-05-15T18:13:44.189-07:00Tell us more about how it works for you!
How do y...Tell us more about how it works for you!<br /><br />How do you, for example, go north on 13th and from the bike lane make a right-turn onto the promenade? How do you avoid the urban deer problem?<br /><br />The flashing beacon and median has seemed helpful for people on foot, but I still think it should have been on the north side of the intersection, not the south side; and that the way the promenade was terminated in a dead-end without making a connection across Mill makes things difficult and confusing. <br /><br />Anyway, if there are routes through this area that do work in your observation or experience, it would be good to learn more about them!Salem Breakfast on Bikeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15618055627843335993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-27401041211772745882013-05-15T16:30:58.652-07:002013-05-15T16:30:58.652-07:00I disagree. I think this crossing is working much...I disagree. I think this crossing is working much better than I anticipated and is a big improvement.Curtnoreply@blogger.com