{"id":343,"date":"2013-10-04T09:30:04","date_gmt":"2013-10-04T14:30:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/safetga.org\/?p=343"},"modified":"2014-08-29T10:54:06","modified_gmt":"2014-08-29T15:54:06","slug":"case-for-bike-lanes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/safetga.org\/?p=343","title":{"rendered":"Tower Grove Ave: A Case for Bike Lanes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tower Grove Avenue<\/a> next to the Botanical Gardens is a jewel of a road, with wide right lanes and no intersections. \u00a0Cars usually drive in the left lane and cyclists on the right, with plenty of clearance from parked cars. \u00a0Its relative safety and convenience are a big reason Tower Grove Ave is the busiest cycling route in St. Louis.<\/p>\n

\"Cycling<\/a>

Cars take the left lane and cyclists take the right on Tower Grove Ave next to the Botanical Gardens. \u00a0This safe and enjoyable arrangement helps make this road a key St. Louis bicycle corridor.<\/p><\/div>\n


\nDuring periods of heavy traffic cars will sometimes drive in the right lane, and this “bike lane” arrangement breaks down. \u00a0Such driving, often aggressive, is alarming and intimidating to cyclists, and creates particular danger when approaching parked cars.\u00a0Heavy traffic and right-lane driving pose a real danger to the viability of Tower Grove Ave as a safe and popular cycling route.<\/p>\n

\"In<\/a>

In heavy traffic cars will sometimes drive in the right lane. Such aggressive driving is intimidating and dangerous, particularly near parked cars.<\/p><\/div>\n

Unfortunately, the upcoming closure of Kingshighway<\/a> to replace an aging bridge will significantly increase traffic along Tower Grove Ave, but the current plan is to keep the lane arrangement on Tower Grove Ave unchanged. \u00a0As a result, these hazards for cyclists are likely to only get worse for the next few years, changing the character of the road and making it unsuitable for all but the most fearless riders.<\/p>\n

\"Starting<\/a>

Starting in late 2014\u00a0Kingsighway Blvd will be closed for two years between Vandeventer and Shaw to replace the aging viaduct. Traffic along Tower Grove Ave will increase as a result.<\/p><\/div>\n

There are solutions, however. \u00a0Dedicated bike lanes can improve safety and comfort for cyclists by enforcing the arrangement that works today: cars in the left lane and bicycles on the right. \u00a0A dedicated bike lane will calm traffic and make the road safer for all users, preserving its unique character for cyclists, pedestrians, and residents during the Kingshighway closure and for years to come.<\/p>\n

Update<\/h4>\n

Tower Grove Avenue is slated to get buffered bike lanes as part of the Bike St. Louis Phase 3 project<\/a>. \u00a0However, we\u00a0recently learned from people involved in the project that bike lanes on Tower Grove are to be delayed indefinitely, presumably to improve traffic flow when Kingshighway is closed. When I talked to him a year ago, Alderman Conway was strongly opposed to bike lanes until the Kingshighway project is complete. (I am waiting to hear back about his current position). Unless something changes, for two years Tower Grove will have no new bike lanes and become much more dangerous to ride on.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

A dedicated bike lane would preserve the current arrangement even in heavy traffic, restricting driving to the left lane and protecting cyclists’ space on the right.<\/p><\/div>\n

The case of Tower Grove Ave illustrates in a nutshell how driver convenience is reflexively prioritized over cyclist safety. And it is more than just cyclists being intimidated – the developing Cortex district has committed itself to the idea that being more accessible to cyclists and pedestrians is critical to being competitive on the national and international stage. Delaying bike lanes to speed traffic subverts all of this.<\/p>\n

If you feel that dedicated bicycle lanes should be in place before Kingshighway closes, please share your thoughts<\/a> with Alderman Stephen Conway, the Streets Department, and your Alderman today. Your voice really will make a difference.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tower Grove Avenue next to the Botanical Gardens is a jewel of a road, with wide right lanes and no intersections. \u00a0Cars usually drive in the left lane and cyclists on the right, with plenty of clearance from parked cars.…<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more ›<\/a><\/div>\n

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