Charlotte trying to be more bike friendly

[Bikeguy]

The 2022 CLT Bike Camp schedule is out! Registration opens on January 1. Plan to register that day if you want your kiddo to be part of CLT Bike Camp this coming summer. www.cltbkecamp.org 

[Bikeguy]

January 1, 12:00 am

Don't be late.  

Camps will fill up very fast.  

https://www.smore.com/zmb04?fbclid=IwAR1hasPcQK3crBD4wyzXobOozsbyiJs0vwmkl0drKuSLf3OmQSTcgI2kbAc

[michaelef]

What's the best contact method for the city and cleaning up the bike lanes? I've noticed that even the new lanes in Plaza/ Parkwood Ave are just filled with debris. 

 

Small rant: Most roads in NoDa, Plaza,Northend full of debris and gravel. Meanwhile uptown and Southend are clean.

[tozmervo]

10 minutes ago, michaelef said:

What's the best contact method for the city and cleaning up the bike lanes? I've noticed that even the new lanes in Plaza/ Parkwood Ave are just filled with debris. 

Small rant: Most roads in NoDa, Plaza,Northend full of debris and gravel. Meanwhile uptown and Southend are clean.

Probably 311?  I think those are city maintained streets

[Matthew.Brendan]

You can try the CLT+ app on your phone also

[Bikeguy]

HELP! please keep your eyes out! Our Truck was stolen!!!

[KJHburg]

a gentle reminder to the bikers out there please let walkers on greenways like me know you are coming up behind me or others.  Simply use your bell or yell an audible.  I had a speeding bicycle come with 12 inches of my elbow while I was walking on the Little Sugar Creek Greenway south of Sharon Rd West today.   I do not wear earbuds but the birds and traffic in the distance or dogs barking I can't hear bicyclists coming up all the time.   I would say only 1 in 7 or 8 did notify me.   Or slow down.   Thank you! 

[kermit]

slightly OT but urbanist tweeter is on fire today:

[CLT>]

Are there  any recent developments that have done bike user infrastructure right? Parking, repair stations, signage, etc.  What has  been missing from most of what has been built lately?

[michaelef]

https://twitter.com/krissy__o/status/1517247755927920640?s=21&t=FhxJALzdS6ZcezTlFD62EQThis is infuriating. Time to use concrete walls 

 

Edited April 22, 2022 by michaelef

[TGIBridays]

For those interested the Charlotte Urbanists group is trying to organize a critical mass bike ride in May.

From a reddit post, it looks like they're looking at May 27th at 5:30 but that could change. It sounds like they're working to get other Charlotte bike groups involved to make it as big as possible. 

 

 

[TGIBridays]

An updated to my post above. 

 

[TGIBridays]

Back again! 

Last month's ride was a lot of fun with a big showing of around 200-300 people. I may not be able to make it out this month, but I highly recommend it if you're free. 

Here's a few of the pictures/videos I captured from the ride.

 

 

[CharlotteWkndBuzz]

Rode the new protected bike lanes in uptown today for the first time. Absolutely loved them. Ton a bikers and scooters out today despite the heat. Really wish we could get a perpendicular protected lanes through uptown into Southend. The “bike lanes” on Tryon are not adequate enough and disappear periodically. Also nonexistent in areas. Don’t trust other drivers either being in that skinny little lane while ppl fly by you. Protected lanes are the way to go and we need more of them. 

[kermit]

33 minutes ago, CharlotteWkndBuzz said:

 Really wish we could get a perpendicular protected lanes through uptown into Southend.

Glad to hear the new protected lanes are good. 

I think the city is under the impression that the rail trail is a good enough perpendicular route through uptown. Unfortunately it is discontinuous and  stations don’t permit bikes (nor should they). Its useless for bikes from CTC south and technically bikes should not pass through 7th or 9th street stations. This needs to be fixed!

[CharlotteWkndBuzz]

Yeah, I kinda figured they think the rail trail would suffice for that. However, the rail trail on a nice day is so crowded with walkers/joggers and it’s difficult sometimes weaving in n out of traffic with a bike. Heard one person as I rode by ask their friend if bikes are even allowed on the rail trail lol. Love the rail trail but wish it had a biking side and a walking side on each side of the tracks. 
 

Also, always found this odd on why the rail trail just ends at the apartment complex (right across from junction 1504). Any plans to ever connect this? Maybe when that lot gets developed. 

Edited July 25, 2022 by CharlotteWkndBuzz

[Matthew.Brendan]

The rail trail as it exists is fantastic only compared to having no trail at all.

If you raise the bar to something more than literally “better than nothing” it’s shortcomings are obvious. We’ll ignore the missing uptown link to span Gultch 277 (promised from day 1 and cut) so 15 years and counting… but don’t worry there are some pretty teaser renders that show a pedestrian bridge may finally be coming Real Soon Now….

More egregious are the disconnected portions like shown above, and that’s not the only one. Also that it plays hopscotch, sometimes it’s on this side, now it’s on that side… now it’s on both, now we gotta switch back to the other side. Seamless it is not. 

and finally, as someone who loves biking, I absolutely detest biking on the rail trail - as most times it is so busy/crowded (a victim of its own success! despite its flaws!) that it makes the whole endeavor miserable for both bicyclists trying to pick their way through the crowd (as the majority of the trail is actually quite narrow over all) and also for pedestrians as you have to be mindful of getting clipped from behind by some crazy biker going way too fast for the amount of people walking here hey slow down ffs! 
 

 

[CM2424]

The city should get rid of on-street parking on Tryon and extend the rail trail through the heart of downtown.  There is no reason to have parking spots on the city's most valuable land when there are tens of thousands pf parking spots in decks and lots a few blocks away.   Imagine Tryon with a protected bike lane, more outdoor seating for restaurants, food trucks, art, etc?  If you want to actually connect South End and Uptown, this is the way.  

[archiham04]

On 7/25/2022 at 11:39 AM, CM2424 said:

The city should get rid of on-street parking on Tryon and extend the rail trail through the heart of downtown.  There is no reason to have parking spots on the city's most valuable land when there are tens of thousands pf parking spots in decks and lots a few blocks away.   Imagine Tryon with a protected bike lane, more outdoor seating for restaurants, food trucks, art, etc?  If you want to actually connect South End and Uptown, this is the way.  

I like your idea and agree that Tryon could be better, but remember Tryon was 6 lanes at one point.  The city invested millions to extend and enhance the sidewalks, plant trees and create pedestrian amenities.  It is one of the cities greatest investments in terms of long term impact and return on investment (in my opinion).   I like to see Tryon shine as it is, and would like the city to concentrate on other streets to accomplish similar goals.

[southslider]

Don't forget Charlotte couldn't have wires crossing their parade / festival street for Gold Line.  Any vertical elements to truly protect bike lanes along Tryon, so as not be a delivery truck lane, would face the same challenge.

[kermit]

NYC is considering a program that would pay people who report violators  25% of ticket revenue for blocking  bike lanes (would be an approximately $40 bounty). Lets jump on this bandwagon, Johnny Jennings sign me up!

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-29/nyc-may-pay-people-for-reporting-bike-lane-blockers

Edited September 30, 2022 by kermit

[LKN704]

29 minutes ago, kermit said:

NYC is considering a program that would pay people who report violators  25% of ticket revenue for blocking  bike lanes (would be an approximately $40 bounty). Lets jump on this bandwagon, Johnny Jennings sign me up!

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-29/nyc-may-pay-people-for-reporting-bike-lane-blockers

They talked about this in the DC Reddit yesterday and essentially imagining bringing it to DC, and the consensus in a city with crazy drivers like DC (where bikers flicking motorists off can result in a weapon being pulled), deputizing citizens like this is an easy way to get your a** whooped. 

I'm not sure about NYC, but in DC, most of the vehicles parked and/or blocking bike (and bus) lanes are either police or government vehicles anyways. 

[kermit]

22 minutes ago, LKN704 said:

They talked about this in the DC Reddit yesterday and essentially imagining bringing it to DC, and the consensus in a city with crazy drivers like DC (where bikers flicking motorists off can result in a weapon being pulled), deputizing citizens like this is an easy way to get your a** whooped. 

I'm not sure about NYC, but in DC, most of the vehicles parked and/or blocking bike (and bus) lanes are either police or government vehicles anyways. 

Meh, no one should negotiate with terrorists / bullies.

“Better to die on your feet than live on your knees”

Edited September 30, 2022 by kermit

[AirNostrumMAD]

1 hour ago, kermit said:

Meh, no one should negotiate with terrorists / bullies.

“Better to die on your feet than live on your knees”

I’d agree with that in a lot of circumstances, but I really have a huge thing of not confronting people unless you’re in immediate danger and you have to defend yourself. It’s best just to report to police even if it leads nowhere. Eventually people get caught assuming the municipality doesn’t ignore crime and let it spiral out of control. I know some call it victim-blaming but it really is just about being safe. 

Way, way too often do people put themselves in a more dangerous situations by responding directly to wrong-doers in the city. Way, way too often a response to an aggressor, a wrong-doer, etc. can turn into a life threatening situation as opposed to just ignoring and going to authorities, various representatives and other groups (which there are plenty in DC) and trying to address problems through certain channels. Whether that’s more protected bike lanes, cameras, police presence, etc. 

[LKN704]

50 minutes ago, AirNostrumMAD said:

I’d agree with that in a lot of circumstances, but I really have a huge thing of not confronting people unless you’re in immediate danger and you have to defend yourself. It’s best just to report to police even if it leads nowhere. Eventually people get caught assuming the municipality doesn’t ignore crime and let it spiral out of control. I know some call it victim-blaming but it really is just about being safe. 

Way, way too often do people put themselves in a more dangerous situations by responding directly to wrong-doers in the city. Way, way too often a response to an aggressor, a wrong-doer, etc. can turn into a life threatening situation as opposed to just ignoring and going to authorities, various representatives and other groups (which there are plenty in DC) and trying to address problems through certain channels. Whether that’s more protected bike lanes, cameras, police presence, etc. 

I agree. I'm relatively assertive and have no issue being confrontational, but there are just certain things I would not do in DC (or NYC/LA). It reminds me of this incident that took place earlier this year in Logan Circle (DC):

I can't recall the specific details, but I believe the driver of the pick up truck was honking their horn at the car in front for not moving, and then the driver of the car got out with the baseball bat going all gung ho. 

There are tons of maniacs out there who treat gestures like the honking of a horn or giving the middle finger as a huge sign of disrespect, and immediately resort to violence. The lack of consequences for such behavior ultimately ends up encouraging it.