"Tempe tests new red bike lanes

TEMPE, Ariz. - The city of Tempe is testing a new colored surface
treatment in bike lanes at two intersections. The red coating is a
multi-purpose epoxy stone treatment that makes the bike lanes more
visible and encourages auto drivers to comply with unique lane striping
at these locations.

Only bicycles are allowed to travel northbound and southbound through
the two intersections (Ash Avenue/University Drive and College
Avenue/Apache Boulevard). Vehicles are prohibited from traveling through
the intersections and must turn either right or left, thus minimizing
vehicle traffic into the adjacent neighborhoods.

Tempe is testing the new colored bike lanes for possible broader use in
the community. For more information on Tempe's bike program, visit
www.tempe.gov/tim or call 480-350-2775."


http://listserv.tempe.gov/admin/WA.EXE?A2=ind0803&L=tempenews&F=P&S=&P=1753

Here is the Apache/College intersection. Note that College is a one way street north of Apache - cyclist are supposed to ride up on the sidewalk when traveling northbound.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&t=k&ll=33.414711,-111.934838&spn=0.000791,0.000948&z=20

Here is the Ash/University intersection:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&ll=33.421961,-111.942354&spn=0.000791,0.000948&t=h&z=20

Al

Wait... Have they applied these yet?

It looks confusing in google maps...

Wait... Have they applied these yet?

Not sure as its been a bit over a week since I passed thru either of these intersections. I will ride by one late today.

The Google Maps links I provided show the bike lanes clearly, but there they are not yet red until the next GM update for this area (likely a long while as it was recently updated with full zoom resolution)

Al

I was one road up at Ash and 5th. I didn't notice any red lanes but maybe they don't go that far up if they've been applied already. If I have time today I'll ride down Ash a bit and see what I can find. Either way I think it's an interesting idea. It will be interesting to see if I feel any safer riding in red lanes than in regular colored lanes. Although neither of the roads they are testing them on are roads that I usually feel uncomfortable riding on.

Although neither of the roads they are testing them on are roads that I usually feel uncomfortable riding on.

Exactly. Why all this fuss for a 25mph road? Right now cyclist feel so comfortable on College that half of them are riding the wrong way in the bike lanes.

I guess the red is not so much for cyclist comfort, but to make it more clear that motorists can not go straight into a wrong way one way street, but cyclists can, gulp.

Al

That's interesting.

I've seen similar bike-specific lanes elsewhere. Sometimes they're on the same pavement as sidewalks, sometimes they follow along with the street itself, or whatever.

One thing in particular is that, as a pedestrian, you would be expected to stay out of that bike lane, whether you're walking along or waiting at a stoplight. I had to remind my dad, "Hey, step over here, that's the bike lane," a few times until he got the hang of it.

Cyclists are still expected to ride with some intelligence, too. They know that it's not a ride-anyhow-you-want lane.

They have it up.



I thought it kinda blended into the road at night. Clear you can see somthing going on?

Exactly. Why all this fuss for a 25mph road? Right now cyclist feel so comfortable on College that half of them are riding the wrong way in the bike lanes.

I guess the red is not so much for cyclist comfort, but to make it more clear that motorists can not go straight into a wrong way one way street, but cyclists can, gulp.

Al

yea when you can turn the corner and head into a bike lane with a door zone.

yea when you can turn the corner and head into a bike lane with a door zone.

At College northbound at Apache I most of the time make a left and use the LTL. Otherwise I turn right. I did a while back go straight and straight into the one way street, which I did not realize was a one way street as there are no signs indicating such, but a bike lane that directs cyclist into the one way street - an oncoming car alerted me. I later noted that cyclist are directed to go on the sidewalk to avoid riding the wrong way. As this sidewalk leads to campus (where bicycles are only permitted on weekends) I can see why this is done, but it would be nice if there was a sign that read "Caution One Way Street" or something. Maybe there is now, I can't recall.

Al

I am all for testing stuff and understand the need for testing in lower impact areas, but I wish they would figure out something for cyclists on/along the arterials. they keep messing with the 25 mph roads instead of the ones that could really use some work.

I am all for testing stuff and understand the need for testing in lower impact areas, but I wish they would figure out something for cyclists on/along the arterials. they keep messing with the 25 mph roads instead of the ones that could really use some work.

Exactly... who "needs" lanes on 25MPH streets?

At College northbound at Apache I most of the time make a left and use the LTL. Otherwise I turn right. I did a while back go straight and straight into the one way street, which I did not realize was a one way street as there are no signs indicating such, but a bike lane that directs cyclist into the one way street - an oncoming car alerted me. I later noted that cyclist are directed to go on the sidewalk to avoid riding the wrong way. As this sidewalk leads to campus (where bicycles are only permitted on weekends) I can see why this is done, but it would be nice if there was a sign that read "Caution One Way Street" or something. Maybe there is now, I can't recall.

Al

They actually took all of the bike dismount zone signs off of the campus and the police/campus police don't seem to have any issues with bicyclists on campus now. I think they finally just gave up.

Exactly... who "needs" lanes on 25MPH streets?

Easy pickings as they are already wide enough so only striping is needed and also local neighbors like the traffic calming that goes along with it.
http://www.tempe.gov/tim/CollegeAveProj/CollegeAveStreetscape.htm

Arterials are much more difficult as they either need to be physically widened with no further public space available or lanes for motor vehicles need to be eliminated, a hard sell to the public for already (rush hour) congested roads.

Al

OK. I just drove northbound College across Apache, used the bike lanes and the red lane, U-turned and came back using the bike lanes.

The bike lanes are not painted red. Only the within-intersection 'paths' that connects the bike lanes on opposing sides of the intersection are painted red. There are no white stripes bordering the red lane. When going northbound this greatly clarifies that cyclists should get on the sidewalk and not ride against one way traffic in the road. That helps cyclist. It also clarifies to motorists coming from either direction (who see the red lane path) that cyclists using the bike lane will be going straight thru the intersection instead of turning left or right as all other traffic is required to do.

Putting aside the discussion if BLs are appropriate on a 25mph road and if the bike lane striping leading to the sidewalk on a one way street is, I think given the existing facilities, that the red lanes are an moderate improvement.

I will post a video of this drive thru tomorrow or a bit later.

Al

I am with gene. Let's stop the foolishness such as bike lanes on 25mph streets and focus on fixing real hazards, such as freeway-style merges and diverges.

I am with gene. Let's stop the foolishness such as bike lanes on 25mph streets and focus on fixing real hazards, such as freeway-style merges and diverges.

As I said above, I agree as well. However at this intersection bike (nor non-motorized vehicle) lanes are needed. They are not needed elsewhere on this street.

Cyclists must be able to travel N/S bound thru this intersection to get to/from campus. It is one of the more heavily used cyclists corridors onto campus. So a N/S thru lane is needed and in this case it is laid out correctly to have the thru cyclist lane between the L/R turn lanes for all vehicles.

What could still be done better is to have the lane wider. Dozens of cyclists at a time may travel thru at once during peak hours. Why squeeze a 4' wide lane between L/R turn lanes?

The other oddity is leading northbound up onto the sidewalk. But at some point this bike corridor must lead onto campus paths/sidewalks, for better or worse. Would it be better to have an on street lane for the extra 200 yards the road continues? Maybe. One thing about this implementation is it does help reduce motorists intentionally or accidentally going northbound as they are unlikely to use a 4' wide BL and unlikely to drive up on the sidewalk. Make it a full width lane and have it continue on the street and enforcement will be needed to prevent motor vehicle use.

So could it be done a bit better? Yes. Does the red paint make it a bit better? Yes. Is it problematic the way it is now? No.

Al

I will post a video of this drive thru tomorrow or a bit later.


As promised:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M663tYhffJI

Not very interesting to watch unless you want to see what was done.

Al

Hmm... For some reason i had this firetruck red image in my head haha. I guess that does help at least some at that intersection. Thanks for posting the video noisebeam!

As promised:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M663tYhffJI

Not very interesting to watch unless you want to see what was done.

Al

Just curious as to why you use the sidewalk portion going northbound?
There is a big arrow pointing to the raised bike lane which you don't use.
I myself call this a raised bike lane as the sidewalk is seperated.

I use this route when school is out.

Just curious as to why you use the sidewalk portion going northbound?
There is a big arrow pointing to the raised bike lane which you don't use.
I myself call this a raised bike lane as the sidewalk is seperated.

I use this route when school is out.

Can you show me the difference? I just followed where the red lane took me which was a raised path/sidewalk (it does intersect with other sidewalks and other days I've cycled thru there are peds on it)

If you are calling the raised path a bike lane, then how do you explain what happens at the intersection with Lemon/Orange?

Al

I'm unsure of the benefits of colouring bikelanes, but I realise that many motorists are simple folk and if colour coding makes it easier for the poor dears, have at it. They do them in green here - mostly just at intersections. I haven't noticed any practical difference between them and uncoloured lanes, but YMMV.

I'm unsure of the benefits of colouring bikelanes, but I realise that many motorists are simple folk and if colour coding makes it easier for the poor dears, have at it. They do them in green here - mostly just at intersections. I haven't noticed any practical difference between them and uncoloured lanes, but YMMV.

I'm not sure if you noticed, but the 'normal' bike lanes are not colored red - instead red paths are painted within the intersection that connect the 'normal' bike lanes across each side of the intersection.
In this case the benefit is mainly so cyclist can follow the red path to lead them to the correct place on the other side of the intersection. Without them it is a bit more confusing where to go.

Al

I'm not sure if you noticed, but the 'normal' bike lanes are not colored red - instead red paths are painted within the intersection that connect the 'normal' bike lanes across each side of the intersection.
In this case the benefit is mainly so cyclist can follow the red path to lead them to the correct place on the other side of the intersection. Without them it is a bit more confusing where to go.

Al

Yeah, that's a slightly different implementation than here, where the colouring terminates at the stop line.

It's a good idea, if the destination on the other side is otherwise confusing. I'm just curious why regular white lines and a few bike symbols can't do the job as well as this 'experimental' method. But hey, if it's working, I'm certainly not going to argue that it's an inappropriate treatment.

Yeah, that's a slightly different implementation than here, where the colouring terminates at the stop line.

It's a good idea, if the destination on the other side is otherwise confusing. I'm just curious why regular white lines and a few bike symbols can't do the job as well as this 'experimental' method. But hey, if it's working, I'm certainly not going to argue that it's an inappropriate treatment.

My guess is that white lines thru the intersection would be even more confusing and that also goes against AASTHO guidelines.

If you watch the (boring) video you can see better how they are implemented.

Al

Here is a news video about the red lanes:
http://www.azfamily.com/video/localnews-index.html?nvid=228991&shu=1

Al

My guess is that white lines thru the intersection would be even more confusing and that also goes against AASTHO guidelines.

If you watch the (boring) video you can see better how they are implemented.

Al
I've watched your video and agree with your assessment, Al.
Since it's an extraordinary condition - bicyclist traffic is allowed to go straight across an intersection in which other vehicular traffic is not - extraordinary treatment (a route across the intersection designated in red) seems to be a reasonable approach. I also agree it's confusing to call these designated routes bike lanes since they are in the intersection, and that extending the white stripes would be more confusing than using red designation.

I do have questions about the return. After you make the U-turn aren't you now on a one-way street? Is vehicular traffic on that road allowed, and, if so, is it allowed to go left, straight or right? If it is allowed to go right, is the bike lane to the left of a right only lane that I did not notice? If vehicular traffic is allowed to go straight, what is the point of the red route for cyclists in that direction, other than just to be symmetrical with the other direction?

I do have questions about the return. After you make the U-turn aren't you now on a one-way street? Is vehicular traffic on that road allowed, and, if so, is it allowed to go left, straight or right? If it is allowed to go right, is the bike lane to the left of a right only lane that I did not notice? If vehicular traffic is allowed to go straight, what is the point of the red route for cyclists in that direction, other than just to be symmetrical with the other direction?

After I make the U-turn and am traveling south I am on a one way street that is shared with motorist traffic. At the intersection only bicycle's are permitted to travel thru and across the intersection (Google map link is out of date and shows a motor vehicle thru lane too). Motorists must turn right or left. The bike lane is appropriately between the left and right turn only lanes. If one watches the video I shot at 0:47-0:52 you can clearly see this. When I approach southbound you see the RTOL and to my left a gore zone and left beyond it a LTOL.

I think one benefit of the red lane in the southbound direction is that without it there is no indication to oncoming motorists (who will turn left across cyclist path and must yeild by traffic law) that there may be thru vehicles. The red lane helps a bit in that regard.

Al

These red lanes are being promoted as improving safety for cyclists. I am ignorant of the frequency and type of bicycle related accidents at these two intersections prior to the red lanes, so I don't know what type of accident they are intended to address. I will find out.

Al

Another news story about the lanes:

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/111963

A (concerning) quote:
"Tempe spent $3,600 to test the material at two places where drivers too often veered into lanes reserved for bicyclists, said Amanda Nelson, a Tempe transit spokeswoman.

“This will further define who belongs where,” Nelson said."

Firstly at these intersections how could motorist veer into these lanes? Motorist can't travel the same routes as the bike lane, how could veering occur? Then, what does it mean: 'define who belong where'? Does that mean cyclist don't belong outside of the red lanes?!

The other concern is this - the article talks about painting bike lanes, but this is not what this implementation is about. No bike lanes have been painted red - only the most likely path of thru cyclists have been painted red within the intersection.

Al

I'm unsure of the benefits of colouring bikelanes, but I realise that many motorists are simple folk and if colour coding makes it easier for the poor dears, have at it. They do them in green here - mostly just at intersections. I haven't noticed any practical difference between them and uncoloured lanes, but YMMV.

Cars aren't the only things on the streets -- pedestrians walk out there, too.

I mentioned this earlier:

That's interesting.

I've seen similar bike-specific lanes elsewhere. Sometimes they're on the same pavement as sidewalks, sometimes they follow along with the street itself, or whatever.

One thing in particular is that, as a pedestrian, you would be expected to stay out of that bike lane, whether you're walking along or waiting at a stoplight. I had to remind my dad, "Hey, step over here, that's the bike lane," a few times until he got the hang of it.

Cyclists are still expected to ride with some intelligence, too. They know that it's not a ride-anyhow-you-want lane.

Can you show me the difference? I just followed where the red lane took me which was a raised path/sidewalk (it does intersect with other sidewalks and other days I've cycled thru there are peds on it)

If you are calling the raised path a bike lane, then how do you explain what happens at the intersection with Lemon/Orange?

Al

Well you can see in your video going northbound an arrow pointing north as you go up onto the sidewalk portion and secondly there is no bicycle lane ends sign so the bicycle lane has to carry through the intersection via that arrow.
To me they used the raised bike lane as a way to seperate southbound motor traffic from the cyclist going northbound. I am not saying it goes very far.

hope to see you at the meeting:)

hope to see you at the meeting:)

I very much wanted to go, but have visitors staying with me right now. Next time.

Al

Another news article about the new red paint published today:
http://www.azcentral.com/community/tempe/articles/0326tr-bikelanes0327.html

"All of which adds up to city traffic engineers looking for ways to keep the bikes where they should be, and cars where they should be, with no unfortunate meetings between the two."

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/pics/breaking/0326tr-bikelanes0327.jpg

Kind of ironic that bus (making a right turn) is in the red zone

Al