Interesting to see the article on resurgence of the 52/36 setup. What's old is new again! I'm using T.A. cranks on my commuter with 53/36 rings and a 5-speed 14-26 FW. This gives me a range of 37.2 - 102.2 gear inches on 27 x 1-1/8 tires. I can even run big chainring & big cog without the RD protesting (a bit of chain slack in the small-small combo, but I don't use that gear). Sure, I'd have smaller gaps if I switched to a modern drive train, but it still works for me.

My commute is mostly flat with quite few lights and stop signs, and one hill for which I do use my small ring. I usually shift into my 53x23 combo when I come to a red light, and then shift into the 53x19 combo when I'm up to speed (~20mph at 90rpm). It's low enough for me to start, even fully loaded with panniers and a 60-lb daughter in tow on a trailer-bike. Personally, given the OP's gearing options, I don't see the problem simply shifting up to the 50x26 combo at a red light instead of dropping down to the 34x16 combo.




In the big-big, 53x26 combo: