So, DDOT is planning to extend the "cycle track" (the separated contraflow lane) all the way up to Euclid, and they plan to make it a two-way, rather than just a contraflow lane.
This should be interesting. Personally, I don't use the 15th St. contraflow lane that often anyway. I'm not sure why. Usually when I have to go downtown I take 11th or 14th. Maybe now that the lane will be extended to Euclid, I'll be more inclined to take it from there., since its only a block out of my way.
What I did find interesting is that according to DDOT's study, 49% of cyclists surveyed don't feel comfortable riding in the "sharrow" lane northbound on 15th St. NW (which is why I guess they are making the cycle track two-way), whereas 44% of the cyclists surveyed admitted to riding northbound in the contraflow lane (the wrong way). So....almost half of them don't feel "comfortable" riding the correct and predictable way on a public street, but almost the same number feels just fine running down fellow cyclists by going the wrong way in a one-way lane. Hmmmm...
This is odd because 15th St. is extremely wide at that location, and motor vehicles rarely travel in the sharrow lane anyway. I actually feel claustrophobic in the contraflow lane during rush hour periods because it tends to be clogged with cyclists, and the parked cars and flex-posts feel like they are closing in on me. The sharrow lane is huge and breathable, even with erratic taxi drivers weaving in and out of it.
Anyway, DDOT states that the construction is scheduled through September and October and should take about 4 weeks to complete.
You can peek at DDOT's plan here.
What do you think? Yay or Nay?
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