SCormier assigned this issue to SCormier

Issue acknowledged - assigning to Streets Division.

Any update? Looks like the section between Elks & 127 was plowed, but they stopped once they hit the big snow bank just South of the Alliance Church driveway (which is the worst spot)

Per Streets Maintenance Manager: the bike lane was cleared of snow and ice on 3/28/17 by Streets Division - issue closed.

Pretty sure that isn't the case, based on my morning commute 3/29/17. Lane was only cleared for one block. Unless somebody went out in the last few hours, this issue needs to remain open.

Looks like the plow made it this far & gave up

Reopening.

Issue Acknowlege

It is very surprising that the Streets Maintainance Manager said that the lane was clear when it obviously isn't. Thanks to the OP for actually checking it out. I'd encourage Chapin Spencer to devote more resources to keeping the bike lanes safe. We send our kids out there to bike to school and we trust that the city will prioritize their safety.

While I agree that the Streets Maintenance Manager should of properly followed through, the City can not continue to devote unlimited resources to cater to cyclists, particularly during snow months. On a second note I hope there is not a single parent allowing their child to bike to school after snow storms or in below freezing temps on North Ave.

I don't think clearing a bike lane more than 2 weeks after the last snow event counts as "devoting unlimited resources" to cater to cyclists. This is basic DPW street maintenance, and issues like this should be handled as such instead of having to be reported via See Click Fix.

From DPWs snow clearing plan: Bike lanes

"Burlington has 7.75 miles of dedicated bike lanes throughout the City. They are all on major truck routes and the lane will be plowed to the curb. After the roads and sidewalks are cleared, DPW will dispatch a sidewalk tractor and clean the bike lane free of snow."

"the City can not continue to devote unlimited resources to cater to cyclists, particularly during snow months."

Clearly the evidence in this ticket shows that they aren't devoting enough resources to bicycle infrastructure, although I have noticed that they are taking walking and bicycling more seriously this winter.

If there's some snow in the way, go around it. If theres gravel in the road accept the risks of riding during winter. Street sweepers out the earliest ever this year. And they are terrible again for a reason. Tolerate the riding environment you choose to be a part of

Biking resources should be limited in the winter. The city wasted resources sweeping for cyclists.

"If there's some snow in the way, go around it. If theres gravel in the road accept the risks of riding during winter."

Yes, we all accept the risks of going outside and transporting ourselves. If and when someone is injured because of the gravel/ice in the road, you will probably call it a tragic accident that couldn't be avoided.

But itt can be avoided. And SeeClickFix is an excellent resource for calling out hazards and obstacles in the road for DPW to assess and correct. "Tolerating" it while also trying to make it better for everyone, including drivers, should be our mutual goal. I assume you wouldn't be putting up resistance if this gravel and ice was in the car travel lane.

"Biking resources should be limited in the winter. The city wasted resources sweeping for cyclists."

Bicycling resources are limited all year round. It's a hard stretch to say that the city "wasted resources" by sweeping some streets that got dirty again. They were clean for a week or two, which meant that many less chipped windshields for drivers and safer streets for everyone.

It is your choice to ride when it is dangerous. Snow, ice and gravel happen in the winter. I accept that there is ice and gravel in the road when I drive my vehicle. I do not ride my motorcycle though, too dangerous. But I dont complain to the city, I find alternate transportation.

Too bad the sweeping did little and my windshield got chipped.

"Snow, ice and gravel happen in the winter."

Yes they do. DPW has the tools to mitigate their effects on the roadway and sidewalks so users can be safer. Accepting the conditions does not mean we can not and should not change them.

"But I dont complain to the city, I find alternate transportation."

While there are a few SeeClickFix tickets that would be fairly categorized as "complaining", asking for a travel lane to be properly cleared of ice and debris would not be considered one of them. This issue is a legitimate use of SeeClickFix.

And for the record, I don't ride my motorcycle in the winter either. Why? Because it's not a practical form a transportation due to the cold and variable traction. I also find alternate transport; a bicycle.

Cycling after a snow storm is a huge liability and not practical, particulary without insurance. And yes cyclists want to ride year round, and wish for DPW to clean up for them to do so. They want DPW to spend more resources so they can cycle when it is not DPWs policy, aka cater towards.

FPW has the tool yes, but not the human or finacial resources.

Anonymous Burlingtonian: the last snow storm was over 2 weeks ago. Asking DPW to clear a bike lane more than 14 days after the last snow isn't a drain on human or financial resources, especially when their own snow clearing policy states that clearing bike lanes is part of their regular snow clearing plans, just like roads and sidewalks are.

While your opinions about people who ride bikes are clear, this site is for reporting issues that need to be addressed by the City, not for debating what mode of transportation you personally feel is the most practical.

"Cycling after a snow storm is a huge liability and not practical, particulary without insurance."

It has been very clear that you don't believe bicycling is practical. I'm sorry you feel that way. That doesn't change the fact that this is a legitimate issue for DPW to address.

"They want DPW to spend more resources so they can cycle when it is not DPWs policy, aka cater towards."

See 'That Guy's comment above from 3/30. That's a quote from DPW's Snow Clearing Plan. You don't agree, and that is okay, but please don't be factually wrong.

DPW stating their intended purpose doesnt actually mean they will or can. But to cont to post pictures of a small amount of snow seems petty. DPW is not going to OCD clean North Ave for cyclists. In addition, the bike lane was cleaned, just not to a cyclists desires.

Just so we are clear, cycling is very practical. Just not for your average person year round with improper equipment and no insurance.

Cyclists also have the magic ability to use vehicle lanes and go around perceived obstacles.

DPW, if you're still out there... The whole section between Elks Club & the High School is full of snow again. Please send the sidewalk plow out to clear this section as it creates a hazard for people on bikes or people driving, forcing bikes out into traffic in a very busy/fast section of road. Thanks.

This is what Im talking about. 6" of snow yesterday and the biking community has been negatively affected. Please stop everything and clean the roads ASAP. Quickly, before it melts. The entitlement is unbelievable.

"This is what Im talking about. 6" of snow yesterday and the biking community has been negatively affected. Please stop everything and clean the roads ASAP. Quickly, before it melts. The entitlement is unbelievable."

Really? If DPW didn't plow the roads at all, you would be upset. You might even feel entitled to usable roads.

DPW has a Snow Clearing Plan. When the snow and ice isn't properly cleared according to the plan, it's helpful to point this out to DPW using SeeClickFix. You seem to have this belief that DPW cannot do this or even afford it, yet they have proven several times this season that they are willing and capable. If you have information that we don't have to back up your belief, please share. Otherwise, stop making assumptions.

And yeah, people on bicycles can use the wide travel lane. The problem is that not all drivers know that or respect it. Have you ever been hit by someone in a car trying to intimidate you off of the road? I have. So if we have the infrastructure there, why not maintain it?

Because all of North Ave looked terrible, storm water flooding in bike lanes, sidewalks not completely clean, snow in the road. They always miss a section by the corner. But 12 hours after it stopped snowing, Liam is already requesting bike lane attention. Be patient. It seems like you guys want the bike lanes plowed first. If DPW didnt plow the roads, people couldnt work. If the bike lanes arent plow, 10 people are affected.

DPW cant maintain Burlington, despite what their website says. What makes you think the bike lanes will be maintained.

@Anonymous Burlingtonian,

Two questions:
1. who are you? - Since you seem to know who I am, I'd love to know who I'm having this discussion with.

2. If expecting streets to be cleared of snow 12 hours post storm is unreasonable to you, what is reasonable? 24h? 48? 2 weeks (which is where the original post started)? Never, or whenever it melts?

What started as a valid report about lack of maintenance has devolved into an argument about what you feel is reasonable, so I'd love to hear what you think our expectations should be lowered to.

My daughter bikes to school. She finds it extremely frustrating that the city doesn't effectively plow the bike lanes. She has been riding the bike lanes since she was at Edmunds Elementary. Having school kids walk and bike to school makes our neighborhoods much more pleasant and safe since it keeps stressed out parents and recently licensed teens off the roads. The city's plan to keep the bike lanes and sidewalks clear of snow is a good one. It just needs a bit more attention to details like this one. Yesterday I was speaking to a plow operator and he said he appreciated the communication that this forum provides. He remembered my name from the comments.

Your reputation precedes you.
I am a citizen who was in favor of the bike lanes, but feel that the cycling community is demanding more than what DPW can reasonably given.

@anonymous burlingtonian, that's quite the opinion you have there.

As a cyclist I know I'm under served, I know we had to fight hard to even get the bike lanes on North Ave. It's a new section for DPW to deal with and I feel it's important to give them the feed back now while they're still learning how to best manage this section.

I only had to merge into traffic twice today to avoid hazards in the bike lanes and once more to go around a Burlington Electric Department truck. As long as motorists are willing to slow down and give cyclists the space they need to be safe this isn't an issue. However, with distracted driving on the rise and more and more pedestrians and cyclists suffering from this bad motorist behavior. I want my space, and I want it cleared to the same standard that other road users get.

I don't remember having to pay an additional "car tax" that entitled my car to greater consideration from public agencies than my bicycle gets, so there's not a ton of weight in the argument that taking care of bicycle access is unreasonable but taking care of cars is deserved. It's just what we've come to expect.

Infrastructure really only works if it works pretty close to all the time, because otherwise people can't rely on access and they're forced to make other choices. A bus line that misses its stop times will be quickly abandoned because people can't trust that they'll get to work on time; similarly, if bike lanes aren't maintained and biking in the road isn't safe, cyclists will abandon pedal power and go back to using cars. This makes practical sense and shouldn't be controversial.

By the same token, it shouldn't be controversial to say that, whenever maintenance of access takes longer than a business day, it starts affecting people's transportation choices in lasting ways. That's often unavoidable (as in big storms), but suggesting that it's unbelievably entitled to want passable roadways in time for the workday commute is, respectfully, pretty far off base.

@DPW, please close this issue. With recent warm temps & rain the original request for plowing is no longer needed since most of the snow has finally melted (almost 3 weeks later).

The bike lane is clear.

Thanks for fixing this issue!