Street Design That Sends Automobiles Into Bike Lanes Demonstrated For The First Time In Michigan

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Image for article titled Road Design That Sends Cars Into Bike Lanes Demonstrated For The First Time In Michigan

Dozens of Kalamazoo, Michigan, residents gathered alongside the shoulder of a busy two lane street to see the brand new site visitors association coming to city, and it appears about as secure as we suspected. 

MLive was on the scene and bought footage of this unusual new structure for Winchell Avenue west of Rambling Street in Kalamazoo, a university city with a yr spherical inhabitants of somewhat over 75,000. See for those who can comply with the right way to use what is called an “edge line street.” Which is an apt title, as I’d definitely be on edge if I used to be making an attempt to bike down this road.

Metropolis of Kalamazoo hosts pilot street demonstration

If you happen to can’t watch the video it’s fairly easy—the street will now be one automobile lane vast with bike lanes on both facet and a parking lane. Whereas the street can technically solely match one automobile at a time, it should nonetheless be two manner. If a automobile is coming from the other way, the primary automobile can simply jump over into the bike lane, giving the bicyclist proper of manner, in fact. Anybody who’s ever ridden a motorcycle can attest they’ve felt secure and revered by automobiles in site visitors. The town additionally says it should submit indicators and paint pavement markings describing the right way to drive down this bike-crushing new roadway.

Whereas individuals within the space would possibly get use to such an odd street structure, the truth that town is routinely flooded with contemporary batches of youngsters with automobiles, bikes, and unhealthy choice making abilities yearly implies that this distinctive street appears a threat not value taking. The brand new structure is already supposed to assist decelerate rushing drivers within the space, who appear to take a double yellow line as an invite to disregard the posted 25 mph velocity restrict. This goofy structure was chosen after residents requested for, what else, extra parking.

The brand new road design is ready to go reside round August 8.

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