Hennepin Avenue adds often ignored lane markings to bike/bus lane
Mon, 11/09/2009 - 1:14pm | by blindeke
Two non-right-turning cars in the Hennepin Avenue bike/bus lane.
The "slow rollout" of the bike infrastructure continued recently as the city added lane markings to the Hennepin Avenue bike/bus/right-turn lanes. But just like the orange wands on 1st Avenue, it doesn't take a very long bike ride down Hennepin to see cars who don't understand the new rules. Depending on the traffic, it can be either very pleasant or very awkward toride down this lane. (I was buzzed by a red pickup that passed me heading down the street.)
What can the city do to make it obvious that this new Hennepin Avenue lane is not for regular traffic?
Comments
The only solution I can
The only solution I can think of is either some sort of physical barrier, or painting the entire lane a different color. Of course, the next question is "Is there a road paint that is not slippery when wet?". And then there's winter...but at least it make it more obvious to drivers during the summer (who hopefully would keep not driving in it during the winter).
A couple of physical posts right at the middle of the lanes, partway down the road so buses still have room to turn onto the lane, with signs on them would also do it I imagine. But I also imagine that since I never see that, there's probably a good reason for not installing physical posts in the middle of the road.
I was under the impression
I was under the impression the lane was going to look like the picture on the City's webpage (extra large sharrows and text that reads BUS BIKE ONLY):
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/hennepinfirst/
I vote for the Bike Bus only
I vote for the Bike Bus only street signage and colored lanes. Otherwise the little road signs on the side of the street will never really work.
Bigger sharrows and "Bike
Bigger sharrows and "Bike Bus Only" are a must.
What about a solid white line, wouldn't that make it obvious that it's a restricted lane? (Like the solid white lines at left turn lanes for example.)
Better Road Signage
I bike every day down this street and think people are having a tough time understanding the system change. I can't say yet whether people are ignoring markings, or are just confused by the change...I fault the markings not being clear enough.
I took a crack at how I would paint the roads to make it more clear. I think it turned out pretty well. Is it clear enough that cars going straight in the right lane can be called out for "ignoring" the markings?
Judge it yourself: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nolanob/4095940953/
Why not designated bike lane?
As I was biking home I thought more about the new Hennepin lanes. The bus and bike lane is so wide - why don't we designate a place for a bike lane? I use the extra width to pass buses when they are unloading or picking up passengers. Is this illegal on my part? Or if not, then why don't we just designate that part of the lane for bikes, but have it be a dashed line rather than solid? Reminds cars to use the right lane for turning...
See here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nolanob/4098843418/
I make it a point to take up
I make it a point to take up the entire lane when I bike down Hennepin. Why not?