The new bike and pedestrian crossing signals at Wisconsin Avenue and Montgomery Lane in Bethesda have been activated. They had been installed last October, but now the signals and control boxes have been uncovered and put into service. This dual crossing is part of the new Bethesda bikeway segment that connects Woodmont Avenue to Montgomery Avenue via Montgomery Lane. It is part of a larger network of new protected bikeways allowing circulation throughout downtown Bethesda, including segments near Bethesda Row.
ReplyDeleteFYI this Memorial Day traveling North on Old Georgetown Road, not one cyclist in the bike lane.
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I travel that stretch every day. What was happening (but seems to have gotten better lately) is that drivers from the right lane were turning left to head north on 355. There were quite a few near t-bone accidents as the left lane is the only one that you can turn left on 355 or go straight not that second lane to the right. The signage was changed and again, that's helped. Now onto the bike signal which I don't understand the need for, number one. Two, that bike lane is one block. Finally, what is going to happen is driver's on Montgomery, as you approach the former Tommy Joe's location on the right, is they'll see a green signal for the bikes thinking that that's a green light for cars when the traffic light in fact at 355 is red. Driver's are already really distracted and in my view, extremely poor drivers that don't know even the basics. This is a confusing, unnecessary and of course a pretty large taxpayer expense. Lastly, as I said, I am there every day and see very, very few bikers. Pedestrians? Of course, plenty but we already have walk/don't walk signals for that at every intersection.
ReplyDelete7:02 - Of course not. There are very few daily, weekly, monthly. The traffic is often backed up almost to Lone Oak heading south into Bethesda which was never the case before. They looked at the traffic and determined that it was not severely impacted by the lane closure. Nice. Whoever issued that report is either blind or never drives Old Geo'twn at all as we do every day and know it has been affected negatively. Doesn't matter. Those white poles will never, ever be removed. Two bike related fatalities, while tragic and awful, doesn't equal shutting an entire traffic lane down from Cedar to almost Pike and Rose.
ReplyDeleteIn what situation would there be a green signal for bikes but not for cars? Bikes aren't going to be traveling straight if cars can't. Presumably the bike signal just mimics the pedestrian signal timing, yes?
ReplyDeleteI am seeing many more cyclists on the protected bike lanes in Bethesda Row. I would image that when the Purple Line and the South entrance to the Bethesda Metro open, combined with the completion of the CCT all the way to Silver Spring?m, we will see an explosion of bike usage. I think the county knows this, and is building a two story high, 425 space BIKE parking deck adjacent to the future Capital Crescent Civic Green. The CCT was at one time the most heavily used rail to trail pathway in the United States.
ReplyDelete1:04 The planners are dreaming if they think bike commuting will ever "explode". In the summer people may use a bike to get around more frequently. Then rain, cold and old age will dampen enthusiasm. I used to commute to work -maybe a 5 mile trip. Riding home in a downpour sucks especially if you are going up hill. Now factor that I am close to retirement. As people age, they get brittle. Brittle ole me in a downpour riding up hill sharing a road with cars. Nope.
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11:20 - You're right that the bike signal is timed with the traditional pedestrian cross walk signal. The point is, no one has ever seen a traffic signal on a pole like this which has been installed for bikes. Therefore, drivers can and likely will easily be confused approaching the intersection at Wisconsin Ave seeing green not realizing the actual traffic light for them is red. This new pole is pointed right in driver's sight line while coming up Montgomery. I hope that's a little clearer. They need to adjust that and in my opinion, didn't need it at all.
ReplyDelete1:04 PM Based on cursory observations around town, "the planners" would have a terrible time punching their way out of a paper bag, let alone plan anything meaningful.
ReplyDeleteThe bike lanes all over Bethesda are ridiculously stupid and this one takes the cake for poor planning. By taking away a lane on Montgomery on either side of Wisconsin, traffic heading Eastbound gets way backed up onto Woodmont and Hampden lane. Once you are actually able to cross Wisconsin, cars in the right lane, not knowing (or caring) that it's a turning lane) have to squeeze into the left lane. Then its chaos from Wisconsin to where it becomes E-W Highway. God forbid there's more than one car that needs to park outside of the hotel or a bus! And, by the way, the bike lane ends! What was the point?? I have only ever seen one person in that bike lane.
ReplyDeleteEast-West travel in the greater Bethesda area is hard enough, this just makes it worse. What a dumb dumb idea it was to put in a bike lane there.