Description
The new bike lane on Brookland Park Blvd is doubling travel time in morning and evening traffic. Previously two lanes were ideal and allowed for an unrestricted flow of traffic. For example, in between Chamberlayne and Brook rd. there is a dedicated right-turn only lane. This is completely unnecessary as roughly 10% of vehicles make right turns here. The lack of a second lane is detrimental to the flow of traffic. This needs to be addressed.
12 Comments
Concerned (Guest)
Agreed. This change seems quite odd and not well thought out or implemented. I wonder if the city got any feedback from residents in the area before proceeding.
In general, bike lanes would be welcome, but not at the expense of removing existing lanes for cars. What is the use of having a bike lane on only a small stretch of Brookland Parkway from Brook to North Boulevard? I don't think there will be nearly enough bike traffic to justify sacrificing half the road, particularly given that there are no other bike lanes on any adjoining roads in the area. Are bikers just supposed to ride back and forth along Brookland Parkway?
The bike lane itself seems obscenely wide. In fact, it is wide enough for automobiles, which leads to confusion, as many people are driving their cars down the bike lane. Presumably there are plans to paint markings on the bike lane itself -- otherwise, this confusion is likely to be dangerous for bikers.
Also, the new right-turn-only lane at the Brookland Park Blvd/Brook Rd intersection is causing worse congestion in the morning. Every morning, cars going straight through that intersection were backed up quite a distance even with two lanes. Forcing all of those cars into a single lane is just making matters worse. This morning I noticed that some cars in that single lane had to wait through two red lights in order to get through the intersection. In the meantime, very few cars are making right turns there.
If a bike lane is really needed along Brookland Parkway (questionable), perhaps a better solution would be to use the existing shoulder area. Of course, this would mean the shoulder could no longer be used for parking, but as it is, it isn't really quite wide enough for safe parking, and in fact, very few people ever park in the shoulder anyway.
In any case, this issue probably needs to be thought out more carefully, and any changes should be made with actively solicited feedback from people who live and drive in the area. It would be very nice to make the roads safer for bikes, but this doesn't seem like the right solution.
SteveBarber (Registered User)
Sorry I can't be an advocate for my fellow cyclist on this one.
Steve Barber
Acknowledged RVA Care Warrior (Registered User)
11/03/2014 - Thank you so much for sharing your very important concern with the City of Richmond government online. This situation has been formally reported to Richmond Traffic Engineering Mgmt Team (20020960301) so that proper inspection, consideration and handling can take place accordingly.
Because of a longer amount of time that may be involved with this type request, updates or follow up can also be conducted by dialing the Richmond Customer Care Center at 804-646-7000.
We appreciate your communication that helps us in “Building The Best Richmond” together – rtt
RVA Care Warrior (Registered User)
RVA Care Warrior (Registered User)
Anthony (Registered User)
Yes, having only a single lane allowed to go straight across Brook Rd. on Brookland Park Blvd. has led to excessive traffic back-up in the morning and afternoon. When the light turns green, it doesn't remain green long enough to accommodate the long line of cars that builds up, so many people end up waiting through the light twice. The alternative is to make a right on Brook and cut through the Sherwood Park neighborhood, or to make a right on Seminary before reaching Brook and doing the same. These traffic difficulties seem like an unnecessary sacrifice for what is likely to be a minimal benefit to a small number of bikers.
Going east on Brookland Park Blvd., bicycle signs have been painted along the roadway. It seems like a similar approach could be taken on Brookland Pkwy. Go back to two lanes and then just paint bicycle signs in the shoulder area. There should be plenty of room for two car lanes as well as bicycles.
SteveBarber (Registered User)
The last thing we need is to become a cut-thru for commuters in the morning.
SB
Anthony (Registered User)
I have noticed many drivers ignoring the right-turn-only designation of the right lane at Brookland Park Blvd. and Brook Rd. They end up blocking that lane and preventing other drivers from turning right. When the light changes, they go straight across Brook Rd. and ride down the bike lane on Brookland Parkway, often times eventually cutting into the proper driving lane, endangering drivers in that lane. Also, cars backed up in the left lane on Brookland Park Blvd. often create gridlock at Northumberland, making it difficult for cars to turn left from Northumberland in order to get into the right-turn-only lane. I have also seen a number of cars riding in the bike lane going east on Brookland Parkway from the Westwood/Hermitage intersection. In the meantime, I have yet to see even a single bicycle riding in the bicycle lanes.
The best solution is probably to revert to the old setup without the dedicated bike lanes. Short of that, perhaps the start of the bike lane heading west on Brookland Parkway could be removed, allowing two lanes of traffic to cross over Brook Rd. Then, the two lanes could merge into one lane further down the road (much like the merger that happens when heading east on Brookland Park Blvd. after crossing over Chamberlayne Ave.).
An anonymous SeeClickFix user (Registered User)
Anonymous (Guest)
Edgy (Registered User)
Closed Matthew Toner (Registered User)