Raise the Hammer

Fantastic images. This is exactly the best way to run the lanes past the GO Station without interfering with parking on either side. At James the south curb parking becomes a left turn lane. Simple solution to a simple problem. Well done. Agree on Hughson too. It could be a great cycling route from Hunter through downtown to the James N GO Station and waterfront. One small suggestion would be to make the Hughson lanes also bi-directional and protected.

Comment edited by jason on 2014-02-20 08:39:23

Thanks! I am definitely a fan of separated lanes because they provide separation from high volumes of fast-moving traffic. That said, there is no high volume on Hughson, so separated lanes are not necessary. In any case, there isn't room for them anyway.

Elimininating through traffic by creating alternating one-way restrictions for cars (the direction alternates between northbound and southbound every few blocks) would create a prefectly pleasant cycling environment. If there are blocks where the street is not needed for access to properties, the street could be closed to cars entirely.

Fantastic design. That is a far more appropriate design for a train station!

The current departments that planned Hunter are so lazy they just skip over their main train station altogether. I'm likely missing some facts as to why that happened. Nevertheless, your proposal is far too proper and permanent for the lazy half complete pilot projects that are the norm.

If the new generation of urban planners are coming in with clearer vision, that gives me tremendous hope that transformation will occur, even if slowly. Thank you, and wishing you tremendous success in your profession! (Read: help!! :)

Comment edited by mikeonthemountain on 2014-02-20 08:42:36

Assuming that the signallized bike lanes means cyclists would have an advance green?

Not sure exactly what you mean by advanced green in this context. North/South cyclists are the only vehicles moving on the north/south signal phase, and East/West cyclists are not signal controlled (simply yield to pedestrians).

At first glance, the traffic signals appeared to be facing the GO station doors. My bad.

A few things:
1) You're making that stretch of Hughson one-way?
2) Your design would prevent Hunter from being converted to two-ways, which I know that individuals in Durand have long been advocating for.
3) Where would you move the existing taxi stand to? Their lobby is rather loud in the city.
4) Where would you allow for DARTS drop-off/pick-up at the station?

He has a dream!

Yes, in the image, Hughson is one-way northbound. This has the advantage that during the north/south signal phase, there are no cars in the intersection at all, creating a perfectly safe environment for pedestrians and cyclists. With cars permitted in both directions, cars turning right onto Hunter would conflict with cyclists going straight into the cycle track.

However, that is just an idea I threw in, it is by no means necessary. This design can just as easily be implemented with the current lane configuration on Hughson. Nothing has changed north of the centre line of Hunter Stret (apart from the new signals).

And Hunter street IS two-ways in this design, just not for cars. My impression is that residents support two-way streets because they calm traffic and improve pedestrian and cyclist experience relative to our current one-way speedways. This design accomplishes all those goals, so I don't see the need to compromise all other transport modes by cramming in an additional car lane.

Hughson is already 1-way from Main to LIUNA. I like the idea personally. I'm hopeful that once we see a couple of complete, safe, vibrant 1-way streets developed in Hamilton we will realize that they aren't horrible. Sure two-way is preferred, but in the absence of road-space, give me a 1-lane Hughson with 2-way bike lanes.

In response to 3 and 4, in the last image, the existing cut-outs for taxi and DARTs drop-off/pickup have been retained on either side of the "central" portion of the building, much as it is now.

As long as the lane/taxi-curb/sidewalk are at uniform grade, there should be no barrier to wheelchairs/walkers/mobility challenged.

The HSR is in the habit of keeping active standby stock idling along the south curb of Hunter, between John North and GO's access ramp, but again, if the bike lane is painted along this brief portion, it shouldn't be an issue. Alternately, the City could expressly designate an area along Haymarket.

The Hughson thing strikes me as over-designed. Hughson south of Main is not a high-speed high-traffic deadly road that is imposing for cyclists - it's a road that's comfortable for mixed cyclist traffic already.

I like the separated bi-directional bike lane. I want one of those on Main, really.

Comment edited by Pxtl on 2014-02-20 10:59:55

The point of the bike lanes on Hughson isn't to provide separation from traffic (as you mention, there is very little to begin with). The point is to allow cycling in both directions on a street which has segments too narrow for bi-directional car traffic. For those segments I had in mind a 1.5m contraflow bike lane and a 3.0m shared car/bike lane.

This discussion could not be more timely. The Durand Neighbourhood Association (DNA), Councillor Farr and City staff from the Traffic Department are currently working together to revisit concerns and issues that were not addressed in the 2002 Durand Traffic Study. This includes bike lanes and obviously the proposed bike lane on Hunter Street. Please visit the Durand Neighbourhood Association blog on our website (www.durandna.com) and take part in Democravise, a tool that we are using to solicit concerns, questions and suggestions to make Durand streets safe for all users. Input from Duranders and others is appreciated. There will be a Special Traffic Meeting, Thursday March 6, City Hall, Room 192 at 7pm. City Staff will be present. Mark your calendars.

FYI the city made "the letter writer" remove their name from this article because it was a violation of their media contact rules. This is how our city treats its progressive employees.

this person works for the city of Hamilton???? Wow, how did they let that happen?

Its pretty common policy for large corporations. It's how most corporations treat employees progressive or not. I believe it would apply to conservative employees as well.

best for city hall if its people don't have ideas. and if they DO, they had better not tell them to anyone