New Signal Technology used for Trail Crossing

Submitted by keith.webb on

Work crews are close to completing the signal light installation and the University Parks Trail and King Road. Watch for an update on a media event planned for the week of August 14th to "light the light". Specials thanks to the Lucas County Engineering Office for making this a priority.

 There are two common methods used to detect vehicles at intersections. Induction loop is an embedded wire in the roadway that detects a metal object, works great for cars, less so for bikes and not at all for pedestrians. Cameras located overhead do a better job but lack pedestrian detection.

This crossing will use advanced detection for both vehicle traffic on King and bikes and pedestrians on the U/P trail. I would suggest that both motorists and trail users watch the video below to learn how the Radar Detection works for everyone!

 

New Main Library Bike Parking Installed

Submitted by keith.webb on

New Bike Parking

Earlier this year, the TLCPL Main Branch reached out to We Are Traffic to provide design guidance and ultimately supply the bike racks now installed on the parking deck near the entrance. This provides covered parking that is monitored by security cameras (enhanced but not guaranteed security). We Are Traffic is proud of our partnership with Toledo-Lucas County Public Library to provide routine accomodations for cyclists (see below links). We are fortunate that TLCPL includes the needs of cyclists as part of their planning process and that is how projects like this happen "automagically". Contact us for your bike parking needs today, consultation services are free and should you procure your equipment through us, funds stay LOCAL for our advocacy work.

Toledo-Lucas County Mott Library - Sustainability by Design
New Bike Racks installed at Sylvania Library
King Road Library Grand Opening - Ride your Bike!

Kilburn Bike Lanes Phase 3 of 3

Submitted by keith.webb on

UPDATE: The Round-a-bout is now completed at Sylvania Ave (August 10) so this project is now FINISHED! Bike lanes from Secor Metropark to Sylvania Metamora!

Preliminary work on Phase 3 of the Kilburn Road Bike Lane project is scheduled to start August 8. This phase will provide bike lanes on Kilburn between Brint and Sylvania-Metamora, extending the lanes completed last year in Phase 2 from Sylvania to Brint. Kilburn will not be closed during construction but provide one-way traffic. This project will complete within the 2021 construction season. Thanks to Lucas County Engineer's Office, Richfield Township and the residents along Kilburn Road!

When completed, this will provide bike lanes from Sylvania-Metamora Road to Secor Metroparks! From Secor Metroparks you can take the Moseley Trail to Wiregrass Metropark and beyond!

Phase 1 from Central Avenue at Secor Metropark
Phase 2 from Sylvania to Brint
 

Why safety and vehicle speed are incompatible goals for street design

Submitted by keith.webb on

Nearly all transportation agencies will tell you that safety is their absolute top priority, but if you look more closely, you’ll discover that—in practice—it takes a backseat to moving as many vehicles as possible, as quickly as possible. How can street design be used to slow down vehicles and make all people safer? How would our streets look different if we truly prioritized safety ahead of speed? Why must transportation agencies choose only one top priority on their streets: Speed, or safety.

Read more about Dangerous by Design from Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition:
https://smartgrowthamerica.org/dangerous-by-design/
https://smartgrowthamerica.org/why-safety-and-speed...

 

Source: Smart Growth America

PNC Bank Supports Cyclists

Submitted by keith.webb on

As we near the end of 2021, our last infrastructure project closed at the PNC Bank on Central Avenue with new bike parking! We are thankful for the cooperation of PNC Bank Corporate offices in Pittsburgh, PA, for adding the bike rack to the project that was already underway.

This project reflects our ongoing success in working with municipalities like Sylvania Township, which included bike parking in their local zoning regulations effective this year. Unfortunately, there are certain thresholds to trigger a review with the Township. This project did not (that will be a future project).

We Are Traffic's original request for bike parking at this location was submitted locally on January 17, 2019—almost three years ago. This example demonstrates why advocacy requires persistence. While we occasionally have faster results, other projects that started before are still active.

We renewed our interaction with PNC Bank when we learned the branch's parking lot was being re-designed. Through the tremendous support of their Corporate VP of Construction, a bike rack was finally installed—thank you again, PNC!

Just remember that advocacy, especially as it relates to infrastructure, can take a long time! So keep at it. We're here to help in any way to support our local bicycling community. Let us know where you need bike parking to make it easier to use your bike for transportation!

Intersection Improvements Benefit Cyclists

Submitted by keith.webb on


Click image for additional pictures



Last August 2018, ODOT was resurfacing Central Avenue from King Road to US 23. During the milling process, a portion of Sequoia Road was included in the process, the "loop wire" that is used to detect vehicles was pulled from the roadway [click for photo]. The loop wire was replaced below the new pavement surface, so you could not see where the wire was located in the road to properly place your bike for detection. We reported this issue to ODOT and originally requested placement a "Bicycle Detector Pavement Marking" and signage.

In conversations with Dylan Foukes at ODOT, he mentioned that there was a project to improve several intersections along Central Avenue and while Sequoia Road was not originally part of the project, Dylan believed that the new technology being deployed would provide a better solution for cyclists and Sequoia was included. This intersection is particularly important to cyclists as it provides a pathway to the University Parks Trailhead.

The new sensors were installed on May 9 and are now fully functional after being programmed on May 15. Now you will not need to guess where to place your bike for the signal crossing, position in the center of the lane like any other vehicle. Many thanks to Dylan Foukes and the ODOT team in thinking forward about bicycle transportation! 

Now if you're a nerd like me, watch this short video to learn how the radar works, very cool!

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