Raise the Hammer

The "Yield to bike lane when turning left" sign (shown in the image with the "no left turn on red" sign) is also a novel piece in Hamilton. Kudos to the city for putting those up.

This actually brings a tear to my eye to see. I'm so damned happy it's actually happening.

I always love the map of cycling in this city. Anyone who considers Barton Street a safe cycling street is welcome to try it.

They do look great. Even the section west of Victoria is better than I imagined looking at the rough markings. I haven't had a chance to use the cycle-track yet, but will soon. I did drive on Cannon this morning around 9:45 to drop someone off at Aldershot GO. I like the new configuration as a driver too. Seems better proportioned and safer with two driving lanes. Didn't take any longer than usual to go from John to Queen.

The only thing I'm going to negatively say on this is that the pinch point that has been created at Sherman and Cannon forces all Westbound traffic into a single lane. Perhaps it's just that the stadium construction is already annoying my driving sensibilities or that Barton is only one lane through most of the same area or that the ongoing discussion is removing a lane of Main St. for the LRT ... but we're losing lanes of east/west traffic routes steadily with no new bypasses being planned.

There is an identical pinch point at Cannon and Ottawa... which has nothing to do with the cycle track.

Similarly another problem that I noticed is where Eastbound cyclists are dumped out at Sherman when the cycle track ends. There doesn't appear to be any markings for a safe exit, cyclists are forced going the wrong direction (South) on a pointless 2 block one way SB stretch of Sherman (it returns to 2 way South of Wilson). Is the city planning on addressing this somehow? I did notice a new pole installed a few feet South of the intersection on the West side of Sherman but I can't imagine what it's for. Wouldn't really make sense for bicycle signals unless they do extend the lane Northbound (the wrong way) on Sherman.

If I could put forward my own suggestion it would be for bike sharrows and signage on Cannon Street, East of Sherman. The traffic isn't as bad as it was on Cannon, West of Sherman before the cycle track but it's still 2 lanes EB and one lane WB with street parking on the North curb which can be pretty hectic for cyclists. In the interests of the whole "Pan-Am" precinct thing, there should be sharrows to carry cyclists onto and off of the cycle track, at least past the stadium (preferably to roughly Kenilworth where Cannon ends and turns into Britannia).

Comment edited by MattM on 2014-09-03 18:03:22

I bear good news. A conventional (non-protected) bike lane is currently "In the works" between Melrose & Gage. Then a further extention from Gage to Kenilworth is "In the planning stage."

Happy-making, save for four little words: Three year pilot project.

The project follows best practices for cycle track design.

Errr... The Cannon lanes are a huge leap forward and represent a wonderful breakthrough for Hamilton. But "best practices"? As implemented in The Netherlands? In accordance with the CROW bicycle traffic design engineering standards? No.

I could produce a list of departures from real best practices. Cannon is great, but let's not try to oversell it.

Here is an example of real protected bicycle lanes. Please note that there is genuine physical protection between people and car drivers, not just a flimsy knock-down stick.

To be infinitely demanding why don't we ask for Woonerfs too.

The Ministry of Labour does not consider itself to be "infinitely demanding" when insisting upon zero tolerance of workplace danger.

I have a similar amount of tolerance, namely zero, to street danger. There are proven effective ways of implementing this zero tolerance. It is simply a matter of doing it.

Hunter near GO would make great sense for one. A calmer Main at City Hall. We asked and the public preferred one on York by the market when it was rebuilt. Plenty of opportunities in Hamilton for that, but where will the 70km/hr trucks go?

The market would have been a good spot for one. In front of the GO on Hunter or James North from Barton to Cannon or Wilson would also be good choices, so would the street i live on. There's an art to knowing when to savour victory and to know how far you can push things forward without producing a destructive populist backlash. In response to 30km/h in the north-end one of my neighbours said change that 3 to 8 and i'd be happy. I gather from meetings I've attended he isn't alone in that view, but so far it hasn't amounted to a serious threat to the traffic management plan.

Comment edited by RobF on 2014-09-04 08:37:08

Why do you even bother posting anymore?

And look at all those empty sidewalks! Maybe those also can be used for cars.

Do you mean that it is "amusing" that not many cyclists are using a bike lane that has not been finished or officially opened and has signs asking cyclists not to use it?

Or that cyclists don't cycle on a very dangerous and uncomfortable street when there is no safe bike infrastructure?

Or maybe you are forgetting about the grassroots residents campaign that led to the cycle lane being built: a campaign that showed massive community support.

(Have you ever tried cycling on Cannon yourself? It is a pretty scary experience even for a seasoned urban cyclist.)

Comment edited by kevlahan on 2014-09-04 16:23:19

^The comment equivalent of SMACK - Shut yo mouth!^

Hell - driving on Cannon can be scary sometimes. The lane markings have already gone a long way to control the speed on the street. Less room to move means cars and trucks are stuck doing the speed limit. This will be a welcome addition to the city.

I've already read many comments from motorists that the cycle track is making the street safer to drive on as well, since it separates the cyclists from the vehicle traffic and creates a more well defined drive route through the middle of the street. No more jerks crossing over 3-4 lanes at high speed, weaving in and out. The street now rolls at a decent, steady pace and everything is kept separate and comfortable. Cars, bikes and pedestrians. It's what complete streets are all about, making the street safer for EVERYONE.

Comment edited by MattM on 2014-09-04 17:58:07

Despite the fact that they're not 'open' yet, I have seen many cyclists enjoying the track. This is a positive thing for our city, but I'm worried about cars turning westbound onto Cannon across the cycle track. They are going to have to be aware of cyclists approaching from the west. Not a big adjustment, but old habits die hard when it comes to two way cycle tracks on one way streets. Stay safe!

I actually think the Cannon track is closer to a traditional model than most bike lanes. Cannon is now functionally a 2-way street like any other, except that one of the "ways" is bikes only. Drivers should treat it as such. Drivers know how to use 2-way streets, all they really have to remember is that Cannon is one.

The only unconventional part is the same part as any bike lane - that cars are turning across a lane of same-direction traffic so they have to keep an eye behind them when they turn. That problem is universal to bike lanes.

This is going to be good.

the city has also installed 'no left turn on red' signs along the route, so this will help cut down on that problem. Montreal has 'no right on red' city-wide, which I would love to see here.

I saw that. This is good.

Pic from this morning. Cannon is a million times safer now for all users.

https://twitter.com/jason77leach/status/...

Hope to see more planters used like this.

Having driven Cannon at morning and eve rush hour several times this week, it is categorically safer and calmer as a driver too. No more with the morons roaring across all lanes to the curb lane so they can end up one car ahead of everyone at the next light. Everyone drove in a controlled, safe manner the entire length. And yesterday at rush hour there were several cars parked on the north curb west of Victoria, and guess what - traffic was fine.

I personally don't have any use for getting the HSR's input on anything anymore. Their claim that having parked cars for those whopping 2 hours a day would somehow harm their time-table is rich considering they've spent the last 3 decades destroying a once great transit system.