In what is considered a fairly amazing turn-around, SDOT has backed off on a re-channelization plan for Admiral Way SW. SLB had some concerns with the initial plan which are somewhat resolved with the removal of the downhill bike lane that could have channeled fast moving cyclists into a narrow downhill bike lane. However, the problems integrating cyclists with traffic at the top and bottom of Admiral have not been resolved. At the top of the hill cyclists could still find themselves leaving the uphill bike lane, located between a parallel parking area for motor vehicles and the sidewalk, at a low rate of speed only to be confronted with the problem of joining a busy Sharrowed roadway with vehicles already travelling at 30+ mph.
Sharrows are proposed in the downhill lane (SDOT, let’s hope those Sharrows are properly installed closer to the center of the right lane rather than close to the curb) but still the Sharrows follow the right turn only lane that leads vehicles down to Avalon Way SW. This, as SLB has stated before, could still reinforce the incorrect idea that cyclists cannot travel under the bridge and must exit the street grid at Manning. Worse, it may lead cyclists to travel in the right turn only lane, only to make a dangerous leftwards movement across the lanes into traffic continuing on Admiral. SDOT needs to take a closer look at how cyclists use this route to rectify potential problems.
To view the SDOT street schematic click here.
SDOT, for whatever reason, perceived of the problem as being between the viewpoint entrance at the top of the hill and Manning at the bottom of the hill. Obvious to us cyclists those two points are exactly where the problems actually start. I explained this to Counsel member Rasmussen and he forwarded my email to SDOT, but I suspect road width constraints (at top and bottom of the hill) prevent them from actually addressing a fix.
A downhill bike lane would have been a disaster. I’ve never had problems with merging left at the bottom to take the ramp to Spokane St. The new proposal for an uphill lane is sort of an improvement, but I’ll continue to find other calmer routes up the hill.
thanks for your coverage of this