Halifax Active Transportation - Page 20

swimmer_spe · #**381** Posted **Oct 8, 2015, 4:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

That would make for an awfully unattractive streetscape on Maynard though. But so is a surface parking lot I suppose.

My first reaction would be to view such a move as regressive, because the loss of street parking should be easily offset by the increase in cyclist patrons, and that we're never going to get anywhere in terms of encouraging less auto dependence if every time we make any progress with things like facilitating active transportation, we immediately contract it by reinforcing the pre-eminence of the automobile. Other than downtown, this is the regions densest, and most walkable retail area. If businesses can't even thrive here without multi-story parking garages, we may as well just give up.

But at the same time, it's probably unlikely they're ever going to give up the surface parking lot for development, so we may as well maximize the land usage somehow.

I was actually walking around the area tonight and I just find there is so much empty and underutilized space. The back streets like Maynard and Creighton are crying out for some townhouses and Gottingen really needs some nice midrises.

This comes down to planning. If the city were to plan out what the peninsula should be, then this would be nonexistant.

I wonder if they were to require a certain percentage of public parking garages per square km if that would make the issue of on street parking not an issue.

Hali87 · #**382** Posted **Oct 8, 2015, 7:04 PM**

How to park a car on bike lanes

Keith P. · #**383** Posted **Oct 8, 2015, 9:13 PM**

^^^ Typical dumb Coast stuff.

The issue might well be easier to resolve if there were any bikes actually using the Hollis St lane. So far they are few and far between.

Every time the Halifax Cycling Coalition opens its mouth it makes me dislike them even more. They are using yesterday's tragic cycling accident and resulting death of the cyclist as a platform to lobby for idiotic truck side guard mandates - even though there has been absolutely no reporting that they would have made any difference in that instance - and as usual, protected bike lanes. A disgusting display of opportunism and poor taste.

Hali87 · #**384** Posted **Oct 9, 2015, 1:43 AM**

That is in pretty poor taste. I'm not sure of the details of the accident (there are bike lanes on PCR already but it is a very hilly and winding road) and frankly they could be completely right, but now is not the time.

Hali87 · #**385** Posted **Oct 9, 2015, 1:45 AM**

However, I'd argue that people aren't using the bike lane because they think people can park in it during the day so it's useless or "not open yet" or something (in practice this is basically true).

Dmajackson · #**386** Posted **Oct 9, 2015, 3:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hali87

That is in pretty poor taste. I'm not sure of the details of the accident (there are bike lanes on PCR already but it is a very hilly and winding road) and frankly they could be completely right, but now is not the time.

According to The Chronicle Herald article I read this morning the accident happened on Purcell's Cove Road outbound BEFORE the bike lanes begin approximately where the "bike lane ahead" sign is located.

My guess is it was caused by the truck not providing 1 metre of space when passing but I could be wrong.

Nouvellecosse · #**387** Posted **Oct 9, 2015, 3:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hali87

However, I'd argue that people aren't using the bike lane because they think people can park in it during the day so it's useless or "not open yet" or something (in practice this is basically true).

Yeah i assumed it wasn't open yet myself. I've been down Hollis several times since they've been painted and always seen cars parked there. From now on I'll be stopping and photographing the cars and license plates and reporting them to the police.

OldDartmouthMark · #**388** Posted **Oct 9, 2015, 3:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

My guess is it was caused by the truck not providing 1 metre of space when passing but I could be wrong.

Probably not a good idea to speculate on such a serious matter when you don't have the facts.

Keith P. · #**389** Posted **Oct 9, 2015, 1:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

My guess is it was caused by the truck not providing 1 metre of space when passing but I could be wrong.

There was a News 95.7 report at the time that she was hit while veering through a crosswalk, though that has not been reported elsewhere.

JET · #**390** Posted **Oct 9, 2015, 4:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith P.

There was a News 95.7 report at the time that she was hit while veering through a crosswalk, though that has not been reported elsewhere.

"veering through a crosswalk' not sure what that would be, is it the same a driving on the crosswalk? or quickly turning from the road onto the crosswalk. I've seen both. Most cyclists that I see are using the same rules as cars, but the ones that flip flop between being a cyclist and being a pedestrian on wheels are a danger. Parents with small kids, all on bikes using crosswalks, are hard to comprehend.

Nouvellecosse · #**391** Posted **Oct 9, 2015, 5:07 PM**

Purcell's Cove Rd. seems to be a particularly risky place for cyclists. A couple months ago there was the incident of a car passenger attacking a cyclist with silly string while he was driving, and before that I remember a news report of someone reaching out of a car and pushing a cyclist, and stating that such incidents were fairly wide spread. Although part of that might be that sheer abundance of cyclists on that stretch. The Herring Cove loop always has a lot of riders in warmer months. All the spandex clad road warriors are probably a bit intimidating to your average suburban car potato and thus present an appealing target.

Although in this case it doesn't sound like anything sinister was involved and more likely a tragic accident.

beyeas · #**392** Posted **Oct 9, 2015, 6:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JET

"veering through a crosswalk' not sure what that would be, is it the same a driving on the crosswalk? or quickly turning from the road onto the crosswalk. I've seen both. Most cyclists that I see are using the same rules as cars, but the ones that flip flop between being a cyclist and being a pedestrian on wheels are a danger. Parents with small kids, all on bikes using crosswalks, are hard to comprehend.

The ones that frustrate me the most are the bikers (mostly university students rushing to and from classes) who blow straight through stop signs because they seem to think that "there is a cross walk so I have an automatic right of way and everyone should stop for me". A common place I see this is Vernon @ Jubilee. I am there multiple times a day and it is more common than not that bikers don't come to a stop. Worst I ever saw was a biker blow through the intersection thankfully JUST missing the small kids who were crossing but knocking the stop sign out of the x-walk guards hand... and they didn't even look back little less stop. And this is coming from a person who bikes all around with my family, and very often uses the Vernon/Windsor bike lane, so it is not like I am anti-bike, just anti-"stupidass students who don't think rules apply!" Someone is eventually going to get hurt, because I am have seen many times where a car had to hit the brakes to avoid a kid flying across that intersection.

Nouvellecosse · #**393** Posted **Oct 9, 2015, 6:33 PM**

Agreed. Being pro-safety isn't being anti-anyone. You can do anything in a safe or dangerous manner whether it be walk, bike, or drive a motor vehicle.

Keith P. · #**394** Posted **Oct 9, 2015, 10:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

Purcell's Cove Rd. seems to be a particularly risky place for cyclists. A couple months ago there was the incident of a car passenger attacking a cyclist with silly string while he was driving, and before that I remember a news report of someone reaching out of a car and pushing a cyclist, and stating that such incidents were fairly wide spread. Although part of that might be that sheer abundance of cyclists on that stretch. The Herring Cove loop always has a lot of riders in warmer months. All the spandex clad road warriors are probably a bit intimidating to your average suburban car potato and thus present an appealing target.

Although in this case it doesn't sound like anything sinister was involved and more likely a tragic accident.

I find it curious that although the cyclist has been identified and presumably the cause of the incident is known, there has been zero follow-up reporting in the media.

OldDartmouthMark · #**395** Posted **Oct 13, 2015, 1:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I find it curious that although the cyclist has been identified and presumably the cause of the incident is known, there has been zero follow-up reporting in the media.

No different than auto accidents when charges aren't laid. It's a tragic accident and the media doesn't have a need to drag the families through further grief.

It has been discussed quite a bit on media in terms of how to improve safety for cyclists, though. Unfortunately as long as trucks, cars and bicycles share the same roadways there will always be accidents. Our only hope is that increased awareness and education will reduce the number of accidents in the future.

Dmajackson · #**396** Posted **Oct 14, 2015, 4:50 AM**

No charges will be laid;

The Chronicle Herald

I was wrong last week with my hypothesis and while it's still not clear what happened I think the take away is for everyone to pay attention to everything in their surroundings to avoid accidents like these.

Dmajackson · #**397** Posted **Oct 21, 2015, 5:17 AM**

Regional Council approved the protected bicycle lane for Rainnie Drive tonight

;

http://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/151020ca1112.pdf

Keith P. · #**398** Posted **Oct 21, 2015, 2:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Regional Council approved the protected bicycle lane for Rainnie Drive tonight

;

http://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/151020ca1112.pdf

"Protection" on a street with virtually no traffic now. Quite wasteful.

Nouvellecosse · #**399** Posted **Nov 1, 2015, 5:46 PM**

Cyclist suffers severe head injuries after collision with SUV

Police say a 19-year-old man was attempting to turn left into a driveway when he was hit by a vehicle travelling the opposite direction on Oxford Street Friday night.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/halifax-cyclist-oxford-street-collision-1.3298194

swimmer_spe · #**400** Posted **Nov 1, 2015, 9:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

Cyclist suffers severe head injuries after collision with SUV

Police say a 19-year-old man was attempting to turn left into a driveway when he was hit by a vehicle travelling the opposite direction on Oxford Street Friday night.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/halifax-cyclist-oxford-street-collision-1.3298194

A few days ago, someone was killed in a car crash. Are they banning cars? Are they going to stop building roads?

It is horrible when someone dies from a accident but, what about the person who lived, and might have been the real reason for it?