[MissoulaGov] Safe Routes to School- Bike Boulevard?

Tue Nov 24 13:27:52 MST 2009

Geoff, Bob, and All:

As someone who lives on Gerald, I love the fact that this street serves as a
Bike/Ped alternative route. There is a great deal of non-motorized traffic
between campus/University neighborhood and downtown that really makes the
neighborhood feel more vibrant and alive. I think this could only be
improved by creating some sort of bike boulevard. One option for
accommodating school buses would be to use bollards to create some sort of
bus only area near the school while allocating some of the street to bikes
and peds only.

Another concern on Gerald is the regular semi traffic coming from both the
Missoulian and food deliveries to the Bridge Pizza. While trucks typically
avoid residential streets, in this area there is no alternative, and set of
lower truck speed limits (10-15 mph?) and other safety regulations should be
implemented to make these deliveries safer.

Personally, however, the school bus and truck traffic is nowhere near as
offensive as the fraternity and high school traffic that zips along Gerald.
(Disclaimer: I am another student complaining about this demographic
group... not a stodgy old man.) A bike boulevard or greenway would help this
scenario immeasurably, not by simply rerouting the traffic to a different
street, but rather by diffusing it across the entire area. A bike boulevard
on Gerald would transfer much of this traffic back to Higgins where it
belongs.

I know these suggestions don't apply directly to many folks outside the U
district, but I think Gerald could be a model street for how to do bike
boulevards throughout the community, as there are many areas of town with a
different flavor of the same problem.

One good resource that Bob failed to mention is his own:
http://www.strans.org/greenstreets.html

Best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving,
Jordan Hess

On Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 11:38 AM, Geoff Badenoch <geoffb at ism.net> wrote:

> When I was in Hellgate High School last year, I saw some plans posted on a
> wall that showed a re-working of the two blocks that border Hellgate on the
> east.  The plans were both for beautification and improved circulation.
> Don't know what became of them.
>
> School bus circulation is a big problem to address if motor vehicles are
> prohibited on Gerald.  That moves bus circulation and drop-off deeper into
> the neighborhood.
>
> As a cyclist, I love using Gerald as an alternative to the Brooks/Higgins
> intersection.
>
> Geoff Badenoch
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: missoulagov-bounces at cmslists.com
> [mailto:missoulagov-bounces at cmslists.com] On Behalf Of Bob Giordano
> Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 11:20 AM
> To: missoulagov at cmslists.com
> Subject: [MissoulaGov] Safe Routes to School- Bike Boulevard?
>
> An option for a more complete 'safe routes to school' network is the
> 'bicycle boulevard.'  This is a lower volume neighborhood street that is
> converted, with little money and time, to a bicycle, pedestrian, wheel
> chair (and other non-motorized modes) priority street.
>
> Imagine Gerald, which parallels Higgins, having more landscaping/play
> areas/traffic calming, allowing residences to have car access onto the
> street, but it would not be a thru street for motor vehicles (physically
> prohibited).  Stop signs would be re-oriented to favor the 'boulevard'
> when crossing other local streets. The presence of Paxson elementary and
> Hellgate High makes Gerald Avenue a good candidate.
>
> While 'bicycle boulevard' may not be the best name- others use the terms
> 'Home Street' or 'Green Street'- the point is a safe and livable route,
> not just spot calming, without much impact on the motor vehicle system.
>
> Imagine each neighborhood in Missoula having one mostly car-free street,
> and these connect into a network.  Imagine these local streets being part
> of a network along with trails, sidewalks and bike lanes, to further
> Missoula's bike/walk system.  We've done some preliminary surveys and find
> strong support among especially home-owners.  We are willing to help
> anyone do something like this in their neighborhood.
>
> Good further info:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_boulevard
>
> http://www.bta4bikes.org/at_work/bikeboulevards.php
>
> --
> Bob Giordano
> Missoula Institute for Sustainable Transportation
> www.strans.org, mist at strans.org, 406.880.6834
>
>
>
> Bob Jaffe wrote:
> > Just got some news on the safe routes to school grant.
> > The proposal for FY11 is being put together and will be submitted
> mid-december. If folks have ideas for things they would like to see in the
> > program they can post them here or send them on to Phil Smith
> > psmith at ci.missoula.mt.us<mailto:psmith at ci.missoula.mt.us>.
> >
> > There is a SR2S workshop planned for Dec. 1 6:30-8:30 at Lewis and Clark
> school.
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Jordan Hess

Email: jordan at montanatransit.com
Mobile: 406-431-3222
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