BIKE: SCB redux

[Patrick Goetz]

Nothing definite yet, but I thought I'd mention that -- based on what 
was said at last night's UTC meeting -- it looks like it *might* be 
feasible for Public Works to remove the curb extensions on SCB using 
in-house labor.  Of the 400+ comments the city has received on the curb 
extensions, fewer than 10 were positive.  The vast majority have 
indicated they want them removed. 97.5% seems fairly consensus-like to 
me, modulo the fact that people who like the curb extensions are less 
likely to comment.  Given the number of people who have taken the time 
to either call the city or go to a public hearing, it's seems unlikely 
that there is a "silent majority" of curb extension lovers out there, 
though.

However, this leaves us with WHAT THEN?  As far as I can tell, the only 
possibility is to implement the original plan proposed by city staff in 
2000, with car-free bike lanes on both sides of the street and parking 
allowed only on the east side of the street.  Everyone hates the Gandy 
plan, and city engineers have informed me in no uncertain terms that 
they will not certify the original neighborhood plan, as they view it as 
being unsafe.  This leaves only 2 options:  no striping at all save for 
a center line or the original plan allowing for parking on one side of 
the street.  Although I would be happy with no striping at all at this 
point, this is probably not the safest option and certainly provides the 
least amount of traffic calming.  Ergo, the city staff plan.  Perhaps we 
can find a way for the city to throw in a few traffic circles at key 
intersections to aid in neighborhood traffic calming.  This would 
actually be better for bicyclists, too, and would help to slow traffic 
and deter cut-through traffic as well.

Re: implementation of the original striping plan proposed by staff in 
2000:  This reminds me of a comment I heard mayor Ritchie Daley make to 
a reporter during the great Chicago flood, in which much of downtown was 
under a couple of feet of water:  "Don't laugh, this isn't funny."