For the second year, Ithaca is getting together to provide “breakfast stations” at various points around town. Anyone going to (or from) school or work or errands by bike can stop by for some snack and beverage “on us!” The stations are distributed all over Ithaca — here’s a map of the locations:

View Ithaca Bike to Work Day May 16, 2013 in a larger map

The location details:

Seneca at Cayuga, looking west

The intersection of Cayuga and Seneca feels very dangerous to cross for many pedestrians. In particular, cars coming down Seneca (one-way) and making the left turn into Cayuga Street seem not adequately cautious about pedestrians. This is an especially problematic situation because the southwest corner of that intersection is the home of the New Roots school, with youngsters constantly going and coming on community involvements.

The Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Council (BPAC) has been discussing this intersection and what could be done about it. Remarks by BPAC member Daniel Keough, who provided the above photo and has been studying this problem:

I just noticed this TURN must yield to pedestrians sign. Though it is good to have this since many drivers attempt this turn at a high rate of speed…so fast they need to float to the right lane on Cayuga St…a better plan would be to:
REMOVE the last parking space on the left side just East of this intersection “Daylighting” allowing more visibility of and by the driver,
Also as had been discussed last night and previously recommended by BPAC is to keep the lights red throughout the time pedestrian WALK signals are displayed. We have heard in the past that city engineers are willing to make such a change at certain intersections, but this decision would be a policy change.

Ithaca is a place where most of us seem to agree on a lot of green, sustainable, people-friendly ideas and policies. All kinds of things are great, until it comes time to create some facts on the ground — and, then, there is an inexhaustable supply of reasons why it can’t be done yet, not in this way, not by these means, etc. We would have a completed, 20-mile Black Diamond Trail, if only ___ . We could have more bike lanes if only we didn’t need the space for parking, the winters weren’t so harsh, the paint were cheaper, the city weren’t so hilly.

I came across this article on the unlikely site of “Business Insider” that really bursts this protective bubble of excuses. What a breath of fresh air; for example:

I tire of hearing the incessant “we don’t have space for bicycles” whine, especially in North American cities. The space is right there if you want it to be there. Removing car lanes to create cycle tracks is, of course, doable. So many cities are doing it. Not making cycle tracks for those who cycle now, but for the many who COULD be cycling if it was made safe. Read the rest of this entry »

Imagine a mile long stretch of N. Cayuga Street in downtown Ithaca closed to cars — but open to people walking, biking, rolling, dancing, and having fun. We did it last September and with your help we will do it again on Sunday, May 5, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Enthusiastic volunteers are the secret to the success of this community-based event, and we’re looking for a large number of volunteers to help manage the intersections and be ambassadors for the festival. 

We need YOU to volunteer for Streets Alive! Ithaca Sunday, May 5:

Choose one of two shifts– noon-2:30 pm or 2:00-4:30 pm. Volunteers receive limited edition T-shirts and a big community thank you (community service credit is available for college students, too). We’ve made it very easy to sign up and volunteer. Just go to our website and fill-in the volunteer form:
http://streetsaliveithaca.com/volunteer/

But, if by some chance you don’t volunteer to help put the event on, be sure you attend as a participant! And, bring all your friends; they’ll thank you.

We had a few over a dozen people assemble today for the fifth annual Tour de Solstice, aka “Shortest Ride on the Shortest Day.” Ithaca had received its first snowfall of the year the previous night. We woke up to snowy roads and sidewalks, so it was a bit worrysome about a bike ride off the main roads. But, true to our mild micro-climate, before noon the whole route we were going to take was solid footing.

Taking Willow Ave toward the center of town.

We began by taking what will be Phase Two of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail — crossing the two bridges on Buffalo Street, then heading past Pedal Dockers along the gravel driveways toward the new boathouses. The surface has quite a few pot holes and puddles, but with no traffic it’s easy to weave around safely. At Ithaca College’s boathouse, we’re back on paved roads all the way to Third Street and the entrance to the Farmers’ Market. We took a break to check out the Rutabaga Curling championships, which were in progress amid noisy enthusiasm, but it was hard to see past the crowds. So, we continued along the Waterfront Trail to Dey Street, where we crossed NY 13 and took Willow Ave all the way back to Cayuga St. We crossed over to Tioga Street, then took that all the way to the commons, where we walked our bikes the block or so to the Ale House.

The Ale House made a table with 14 stools around it for us, where we occupied most of the space toward the back of the place. Good soup, good beer, good conversation for the better part of an hour — the marks of a successful Tour de Solstice.

People gradually dispersed, riding home or to their waiting cars. I accompanied the last of us, the three representatives of the Southern Tier Bicycle Club, back across town to Cass Park where we parted until the next impromptu “tour.”

I just wanted to draw attention to this hazard in the sidewalk along Cliff Street in the stretch just north of the Inlet bridge.  The photo shows that the hole extends about a third of the width of the sidewalk. The ground to the right of the sidewalk is about 8′ below sidewalk level. This is a surface used by most bicyclists heading up the hill and a considerable number of downhill cyclists. There is no sidewalk on the other side of the street, so it’s used by all pedestrians. The potential injuries could be very serious; if our weather turns wintry, the likelihood of such injury would increase considerably.

The substantial changes along East State Street are expected to put more pedestrians and cyclists as well as motorists on the street. In preparation, a redesign of the Mitchell-State intersection is being planned and suggestions have been invited. Below is BPAC member Andy Goodell’s summary of proposed solutions.

Options for the Mitchell-State Intersection

Here is my attempt at documenting a few of the options discussed at the BPAC meeting for input into the project. I’m definitely not an engineer, or using the proper programs, or ensuring that all standards are met, but I think it shows reasonably well the options mentioned.

I didn’t have a particular way to mark it, but these designs all assume that there are traffic lights for all directions at the State/Mitchell intersection. The gray blocks are parking areas (or the island). Green is bike lane, bike box, or the gas line bike path cut-through.
[click on images to see large format]

The bike lane ends before the intersection and bikes will merge with traffic in the right lane. Cyclists then bear left to connect to the Mitchell St Bike lane. In this design, the curve of the road is realigned to facilitate where the majority of traffic is heading. Pros: easy turn for cyclists after merging, and traffic can move easier than with the sharper turn angle. Cons: Stop lines would be further back though traffic lights mitigate sight issues. The downhill Mitchell left turn area could only hold 1-2 cars.

Cyclists can either merge with the left lane to turn left, or stay right and continue to the next intersection where traffic is lower, to make a left turn onto a new contra-flow bike lane. An additional yield sign for traffic heading west on Brindley would allow cyclist to finish the short climb without stopping. Pros: Easier left turn than Mitchell, space is available, straight access to College Ave. Cons: If west count Rt 79 traffic backs up, this route could be blocked.

Cyclists can either merge with the left lane to turn left, or stay right and use a jug-handle left turn on its own signal phase. Pros: Easy access for cyclists without needing to cross lanes of moving traffic. Cons: additional light cycle needed, more space needed for jug.

Bike land ends at Mitchell, but has a bike box in the right hand lane for turning left at the same time cars turn from the left lane. Pros: Easy left turn directly to the Mitchell St. Bike lane. Cons: If left turning traffic has a red light while straight traffic has a green light there would be conflicts.

Hello all!

I would like to draw your attention to an important project that could use your support. I have been volunteering with promoting this new, transit-oriented development in Collegetown because I see it as a great way to encourage people to use active and public transportation more often. See Collegetown Crossing Flyer (PDF).

One of the most exciting developments since Ithaca Festival is the planned “Streets Alive!” on September 23. Most of Cayuga street will be closed to regular traffic and replaced with a variety of celebratory activities from dancing to a bike rodeo. On the right is a draft map of what will be happening and where — click on the image to see a larger image or download the PDF:  SA Event Map Draft Read the rest of this entry »

The Ithaca city engineers have shared a draft (NB: it’s a draft; comments are invited!) of plans for a system of “bicycle boulevards” in the “flats” part of the city.  According to the document,

“The recommended Bike Blvd. network is composed of two primary north/south routes (Tioga St. & Park/Corn/Plain St.) and a few low-traffic/traffic-calmed connectors in the Northside Neighborhood area and in the South-of-the-Creek Neighborhood area. The network is located in “The Flats” area of Ithaca; the hilly areas were not deemed suitable for Bike Blvd. treatments (due in part to the steep grades and in part because of the traffic characteristics of the streets). The map illustrates the locations of the recommended routes.”

Don’t go by the map alone; the complete draft plan has lots of additional information, details, rationales, etc. Download the PDF and have a read: Bike Blvd Plan, draft 6-21-12.

Personally, I hope that there is room for reordering of priorities, taking a different Read the rest of this entry »