Description
the new concrete Islands on the Longfellow Bridge off ramp to the Memorial Drive are dangerous for bicyclists, requiring a sharp weave maneuver to avoid being thrown off the bike at high speed, while having to look over the shoulder for cars. please urge MassDOT to change this configuration and make it safe by allowing bikes to go straight through as they did before.
7 Comments
Traffic - BMcK (Streets) (Verified Official)
John Hawkinson (Registered User)
Agreed, it's pretty bad. I have taken to changing lanes from the bike lane to the vehicular travel lane a few hundred feet before the end of the bridge (although it's tough to go between the flexposts at high speed, but it is doable) to avoid the risk of Something Bad happening at island.
I gather TP&T was consulted on this design and approved it? What is the thinking? also, there is an SCF issue with a photo of the problem that helps to understand this...
https://seeclickfix.com/issues/4517112-pavement-marking-issue
I'm confused why that was closed and sent to MassDOT with such optimism. Let me mark up the photo to show it a little better...it's hard to make the (1)-(2) transition at speed, and totally impossible to do (2)-(3).
If the goal is to slow down bikes, it's effective, but it's TOO effective. It makes us leave the bike lane and do something that's probably more dangerous.
peterd (Registered User)
關閉 Traffic - PB (Engineering) (Registered User)
It is not possible to safely allow a conflict between turning vehicles and through bicycles while either road user is moving at a high rate of speed. The turning island requires both turning vehicles and through bicycles to reduce their speed on approach to the intersection. MassDOT will be installing additional signage to increase the visibility of the island and reinforce the requirement for turning vehicles to yield to bicycles.
The only way for a cyclist to safely travel through the intersection at the high speed created by the downhill approach is to use the through vehicle lane.
peterd (Registered User)
John Hawkinson (Registered User)
Couterargument::
> go watch the speed limit sign on the bridge. It says 25MPH, but I regularly see drivers going 35, 40, 45MPH
Is the speed limit posted anywhere other than in the middle of the bridge? I haven't seen it posted at the ends, so it does seem kind of a bit of a trap?
peterd (Registered User)