[Carfreeliving] Residential Driveways restrictions

[Mike Sallaberry]

Dave, even if there are 0 driveways (not sure how we'd achieve that in a 
city that is nearly 100% built out) putting a bike lane/path between 
parked cars and the sidewalk is a questionable idea at best.  Every 
intersection, you have cyclists popping out from behind a row of parked 
cars, reducing their visibility and creating even greater conflicts with 
turning vehicles and vehicles crossing perpendicularly at the 
intersections.  Also, trash accumulates more easily in that space and is 
more difficult to clear, especially since you'd have to put up a barrier 
along the left of the lane to keep parked cars out.  If a passenger opens 
their door, where does the cyclist veer to avoid that if there is a raised 
sidewalk or street furniture/trees to their right?  Pedestrians will spill 
into the space, along the midblock sections as they stroll along and at 
the intersections while they stand in the street/on the path waiting to 
cross.  Making left turns legally and predictably is more difficult. 
Cyclists who use the street to avoid these conflicts will be pressured to 
"use the path!"

The problems this design creates outnumbers the problems it solves.
Mike




Dave Snyder <dave at livablecity.org> 
Sent by: Carfreeliving-bounces at livablecity.org
04/26/2005 03:46 PM

To
Carfreeliving at livablecity.org
cc

Subject
[Carfreeliving] Residential Driveways restrictions






Look what they're considering in Philadelphia! This would be a good 
thing to consider in SF, especially on bike routes, particularly 
where we might want to consider putting the bike lane between the 
parked car and the sidewalk. Such a treatment would add danger at 
every driveway, but if you didn't have any driveways, it could add 
safety and comfort, not to mention improve the sidewalk experience.

Dave


>
>We are starting to grapple with the possibility of limiting front garages
>and driveways for new residential development.  I'm talking about 
rowhouses
>or twin houses here, not single-family detached.  Often the most 
compelling
>argument against driveways is that they convert public parking spaces 
into
>private ones.  However, I also want to make the argument that having too
>many driveways diminishes the pedestrian quality of the sidewalk.  I seem
>to remember hearing somewhere that a significant share of child 
pedestrian
>injuries occur in driveways.  Can anyone confirm this?
>
>*********************************************
>Deborah Schaaf
>Senior Planner
>Philadelphia City Planning Commission
>One Parkway Building, 13th floor
>Philadelphia PA 19102
>
>Phone: 215-683-4643
>Fax: 215-683-4630
>debby.schaaf at phila.gov


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