{"id":226,"date":"2013-09-01T21:23:55","date_gmt":"2013-09-02T02:23:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/safetga.org\/?p=226"},"modified":"2013-12-14T15:47:35","modified_gmt":"2013-12-14T20:47:35","slug":"barriers-down-whats-next-for-tga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/safetga.org\/?p=226","title":{"rendered":"Tower Grove Ave: What’s Next?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The concrete construction barriers<\/a> on Tower Grove Avenue which sparked<\/a>\u00a0the SafeTGA<\/a> project are gone<\/a>. \u00a0Yet real hazards for cyclists remain, and upcoming streets projects threaten the very character of this route. \u00a0Here are some thoughts about current problems and future concerns, as well as a few ideas about what might help.<\/p>\n

Tower Grove Avenue<\/a>\u00a0from Magnolia to Shaw is a tree-lined, half-mile stretch of two-lane road\u00a0bordering the Missouri Botanical Gardens<\/a>. \u00a0With light traffic, sporadic parking, and no intersections, this section is in many ways the heart of this bicycle corridor. \u00a0With concrete construction barriers blocking one of its lanes now removed, it is time to ask: what is next for this busiest bike route in St. Louis?<\/p>\n

\n
\"SectionA<\/a>

Tower Grove Avenue, Magnolia to Shaw<\/b>. \u00a0The road is 50′ wide on this 0.5 mi segment, and cars travel mostly in the left lane. \u00a0The wider right lane is used for parking, cycling, and occasional car travel. With cars parked, safest cycling is out of the door zone, as shown. Occasional Botanical Gardens events increase traffic and parking demands significantly.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\"Hazards<\/a>

Cyclist Hazards.<\/b> Pull-in diagonal parking places cyclists in blind spot as drivers pull out (above left). In heavy traffic cars sometimes drive in right lane (above right). \u00a0This intimidates many riders into riding further right than is safe, and greatly exacerbates hazards near parked cars.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

On most days, with light traffic and parked cars, the right lane of Tower Grove Ave is a de facto bike lane — automobiles stay in the left lane and bicycles take the right, away from the dangerous door zone of parked cars (see first illustration above). \u00a0In heavy traffic, drivers will more frequently drive in the right lane, particularly when few cars are parked. \u00a0Right lane travel can be very intimidating to cyclists and is particularly hazardous near parked cars (see second illustration above). \u00a0Additional concerns arise on major Botanical Garden events, where the right southbound lane is used for pull-in diagonal parking<\/a>. \u00a0Drivers have limited vision pulling out of such spots; this, together with heavy pedestrian traffic,\u00a0makes for hazardous cycling on certain days, typically summer weekends.<\/p>\n

The biggest threat to Tower Grove Ave as a safe cycling corridor is the upcoming\u00a0closure<\/a> of Kingsighway Boulevard for two years starting Spring 2014 (Kingsighway is an arterial paralleling Tower Grove Avenue a half mile to the east). \u00a0Although Tower Grove Avenue is not a designated detour, there is little doubt traffic will increase. \u00a0Heavier car traffic poses a real threat to the character of this road and its viability as a core bicycle corridor: besides intimidating riders into more dangerous positions, it will increase cyclist conflicts at the Shaw and Magnolia intersections.<\/p>\n

What can be done to make Tower Grove Avenue a safer street to ride, both during the Kingsighway closure and after? Below are some options.<\/p>\n