Dear City Council members and Staff:
I am writing to applaud the City for the pilot safety improvements on Middle Ave between El Camino (ECR) and University, but also to point out the dangerous lack of proper bicycle lane markings and signage on the intended northbound bike lane (opposite Nealon Park heading toward ECR) that mistakenly encourages vehicles to assume this is open parking.
Currently, the only indications that the northbound bike lane is in fact reserved for bicycles are a short piece of green treatment at the intersection of Middle and University, and poorly placed signage along the route that is both too small and infrequent to be seen by motorists. There are no other bicycle lane markings on the pavement for the entire length of this street segment.
Consequently, park users and construction workers assume the bike lane is in fact a parking lane and use it unknowingly. These illegally parked vehicles force bicycle commuters to weave in and out of traffic and place playground users at great risk as families dash hurriedly across the street with children in tow.
For this stretch of Middle to attract non-motorized users with low-stress access to the Burgess facilities once an undercrossing is reality, I ask City staff, as soon as possible while the trial is on-going, to add the necessary pavement markings and visible signage to clearly signal a bicycle lane to all road users. Finally, the City should educate park users through email or direct mail that additional parking is available off of Middle in the Little House parking lot.
Respectfully,
Bill Kirsch
Partridge Ave
