Bicycle Austin forum / Shoal Creek, part trois (?)

Re: Shoal Creek, part trois (?)

dummy@example.com (Jack) — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 20:58:22 +0000

Man; if you think that looks dangerous now, wait until the paint is wet. Geez.
I presume they have separate signalization sorted out to help, but still.

Re: Shoal Creek, part trois (?)

dummy@example.com (MichaelBluejay) — Sat, 30 May 2020 03:00:44 +0000

From the City: "Bikeway installation was recently completed on the west side of Shoal Creek Boulevard between 39th ½ Street and Shoalmont Drive. This was the final segment of bikeway installation on Shoal Creek Boulevard between 38th Street and US 183."

https://data.austintexas.gov/stories/s/ … -197074635

Re: Shoal Creek, part trois (?)

dummy@example.com (MichaelBluejay) — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 08:42:05 +0000

The Chronicle ran a photo of the newly-opened portion of the bikeway on Shoal Creek Blvd., noting "the 2-mile segment has already seen an 80% decrease in dangerous speeding, according to a press release from MoveATX, Bike Austin, and Walk Austin".

However, I'm with Jack on the idea that two-way bike lanes are a Bad Idea. Should have had one lane on each side of the road, same direction as car traffic.

https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/20 … headlines/

Re: Shoal Creek, part trois (?)

dummy@example.com (Jack) — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 22:47:09 +0000

Donald Lewis wrote:

Plastic posts are all there is to discourage someone of jumping on or off a Mopac toll lane in a non-approved spot.
Plastic or not, I would not risk tearing up the bottom of my car by driving over those.

Note the number of broken posts at the entrance to Mopac from the northbound frontage road near the south end of the bike/ped bridge--and most of those were done in within a week of their going up.
http://austintexas.gov/page/mopac-bicyc … ge-project for aerial view (photo pre-posts)

Re: Shoal Creek, part trois (?)

dummy@example.com (Donald Lewis) — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 02:45:15 +0000

Plastic posts are all there is to discourage someone of jumping on or off a Mopac toll lane in a non-approved spot.
Plastic or not, I would not risk tearing up the bottom of my car by driving over those.

Re: Shoal Creek, part trois (?)

dummy@example.com (MichaelBluejay) — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 01:30:30 +0000

I don't think "protected" means they're suggesting that it's impossible for a vehicle to hit us, just far less likely for them to do so. I applaud "far less likely".

It's also an efficient use of limited funds. They can improve way more miles of bike lanes with plastic posts than they could with concrete. I'll take it.

Re: Shoal Creek, part trois (?)

dummy@example.com (RedFalcon) — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 16:15:50 +0000

MichaelBluejay wrote:

The City reports that they've installed the protected bike lanes between Foster Lane and 183, and are trimming trees for the lower part of Shoal Creek Blvd.

Didn't most or part of this section already have buffered bike lanes on both sides? I guess the 'protected' parts are the flexible plastic posts designed to easily fold over when hit by a car.

Leaving aside the argument about the usefulness of this bike lane, this seems like yet another BS City of Austin measure. Make 'em out of concrete if you want to call it a 'protected'.

Re: Shoal Creek, part trois (?)

dummy@example.com (MichaelBluejay) — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 23:55:16 +0000

The City reports that they've installed the protected bike lanes between Foster Lane and 183, and are trimming trees for the lower part of Shoal Creek Blvd.

https://mailchi.mp/austintexas.gov/prot … and-us-183

Re: Shoal Creek, part trois (?)

dummy@example.com (RedFalcon) — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 03:42:02 +0000

And it looks like the city will be using chip seal on the new Shoal Creek surface. https://mailchi.mp/austintexas.gov/shoa … c3762d773a

I hate cars, but they are at least useful for tamping down chip seal. So, we will have to wait for drivers who are distracted or drunk to drive into the bike lane to help squish down the loose gravel. Of course, SCB residents will surely help by putting their trash cans in the bike lane too.

So, for a little while the new bike lane will be a gravel grind! Very cool. Very trendy! I will buy a new gravel bike so I can ride it before the drunks ruin it.

Re: Shoal Creek, part trois (?)

dummy@example.com (Jack) — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 19:21:23 +0000

MichaelBluejay wrote:

Work on Shoal Creek to begin mid-August. I might venture over to check it out once the new work is done.

I surely will.

Re: Shoal Creek, part trois (?)

dummy@example.com (MichaelBluejay) — Sat, 10 Aug 2019 00:14:32 +0000

Work on Shoal Creek to begin mid-August. https://data.austintexas.gov/stories/s/ … akeholders

I'm not wild about the two-way bike lane, but it's certainly better than cars parked in the bike lane.

I haven't ridden on Shoal Creek Blvd. in years, but I might venture over to check it out once the new work is done.

Re: Shoal Creek, part trois (?)

dummy@example.com (dougmc) — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 06:14:27 +0000

It would seem that the people against this are also getting their word out.

Re: Shoal Creek, part trois (?)

dummy@example.com (MichaelBluejay) — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 17:13:47 +0000

Thanks for posting this, Darron! I filled out the survey. But I don't want to get my hopes up, because the last effort was heartbreaking.

Re: Shoal Creek, part trois (?)

dummy@example.com (Darron) — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 13:59:03 +0000

Just read an article saying there is still time to give feedback on this:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ShoalCreekBlvd

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/ … 1879545840

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Shoal Creek Boulevard in central Austin may see some changes soon. The Austin Transportation Department is weighing several different options to see if there's a better way for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians to share the same road.
"I'm concerned about that intersection. I'm concerned about Shoal Creek in general," said Brock Lawson, who lives on Shoal Creek Boulevard.
Lawson attended the first of three open houses the city hosted to learn about the options the city is reviewing.
The city is looking at Shoal Creek Boulevard in two sections. For the section that extends from 38th Street to Foster Lane, ATD came up with five possibilities:
Leave the road as is. Right now, it has two lanes of traffic in the middle and on either side is a lane for parking that can also be used as a bike lane.
One way painted bicycle lanes. Remove parking on one side.
One way buffered bicycle lanes. Parking remains on both sides, but restricted between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
One way protected bike lanes. Parking removed.
Two way protected bike lanes. Parking removed on one side.
Upper Shoal Creek is from Foster Lane to 183, and ATD is considering three options for that stretch. They include installing different forms of bike lanes or keeping the status quo.

Re: Shoal Creek, part trois (?)

dummy@example.com (Jack) — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 18:21:29 +0000

Thanks for posting the survey link, RF. In terms of false "bike friendliness" the proposed two-way lane hits a lot of notes for those who don't understand what bicycle riders really need to be safe, but the reality of it is that implementing the proposal would make Shoal Creek riding far worse for riders of all skill levels than it is today.