S Presa St, A Repeat of S Flores St Waiting to Happen.

8.1

For all those who ride their bicycles down S Presa St, you've probably seen the bicycle lane signs and no painted bicycle lanes.  As I release this, the City Council is holding a hearing to remove the bicycle lanes down S Flores and from what I've been hearing in side the inner city departments, no more bicycle lanes.  On Thursday, May 29, 2014, the City Council will hold a hearing and a vote about the bicycle lanes down S Flores st.  The item Concerning S Flores will be Item 11A on the city council agenda. (Image 8.1)  If you wish to speak on this particular item, you must sign in at between the hours of 8am and 9am.  The Council session starts at 9am. 

Now S Presa needs bicycle lanes, but what needs them more is S St Mary's St.  Since the city has no intention of putting down bicycle lanes on where they're needed, we are going to have another fight, this time, one that is not needed. 

8.2

As you ride up from Carolina St, you come across a bike lane sign, but no bicycle lane.  And as you go further north, you see parked cars where the bicycle lane is going to be.  We have not yet reached a point in this country realizing that we don't need more parking, and that parking equals customers.  Because of that, if the city starts painting the paint and enforcing the no parking sign, we'll see more fighting and this time, I love these businesses, and I don't want my community to go to war with the places we love.

8.3

Now there's a solution to the S Presa dilemma, but since the city of San Antonio is against common sense solutions, we're not going to get it.  Something better than a bicycle lane, a two way cycletrack, better known as a protected bicycle lane from S Alamo to Carolina.(Image 8.4)  You  see, the cars are mainly parked on the east side of the street while the west side, does have some parked cars, but not as nearly as the east side.(Image 8.3)  Lets take away the parking on the west side of S Presa and put down a two way, protected bicycle lane.  Little needs to be done except put in separate traffic light signals for bicycles at Pereida.  This will give the cyclist the protection we seek and the business owners parking along the street they want.  Until businesses come to grips with the myth that parking equals customers, this is the best solution that I could come up with.  

8.4

As for the bus stops along the proposed two way cycletrack, I'm afraid that there's isn't enough room for bus islands, however, I'm willing to make certain compromises, ones that do not take away from the safety of the cycletrack. 

S St Mary's could also use this solution between Pereida and S Alamo (Image 8.5) on the east side of the street keeping the parking and the pick up area along the Bonham Elementary School.  But I simply don't count on these common sense thing happening.  There's a law that is simply preventing us from having these wonderful cycletracks and that is this:

8.5

Sec. 19-66. Conformity with state manual.

All traffic-control signs, signals and devices installed or erected in the city shall conform to the manual and specifications approved by the state highways and public transportation commission. All signs and signals required under this chapter shall so far as practicable be uniform as to type and location throughout the city. All traffic-control devices so erected and not inconsistent with the provisions of state law or this chapter shall be official traffic-control devices.

State law reference— Similar provisions, Vernon's Ann. Civ. St. art. 6701d, § 31.

 The State manual is useless to use when putting in the infrastructure we need to build a strong San Antonio.  We need to adopt a law that states when putting in bicycle lanes, cycletracks and other bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, signs, signals and devices, it needs to conform to the National Association of City Transportation Officials, NACTO, bikeway design guide.  Only then will we see the the city's infrastructure live up to the saying "Keep San Antonio REAL."

Image 8.1:  The Alternative on what the city will vote for Thursday May 29, 2014
Image 8.2:  The Bicycle Lane Sign and No Parking sign with no bicycle lane at S Presa and Eager.
Image 8.3:  Taco Haven, when open, parked cars block the building.
Image 8.4:  An Example of a Two Way Cycle Track proposed for Atlanta, GA.  http://midtownatl.com/about/programs-and-projects/capital-improvements/funded-capital-projects
Image 8.5:  S St Mary's St in front of the Bonham Elementary School looking north. 

Up Coming Bicycle Events

 
 Cycle In-Cinema .  
When:   Every Thursday, June-August at Dusk, 8:45pm
Where:  Main Plaza, 115 N Main Ave, 78205
Description:  Out Door Movie.  

UCC Union de Chicas Ciclistas
When:   Thursday, June 5, 2014 6:30pm
Where:  Rosella Coffee Co. 203 E Jones Ave #101  78215
 


If you have any event you want me to post about, please email me.  
 Up Coming Important Meetings
If you want to make a difference, please attend. 


 Frio City Sidewalks Public Meeting
When:   Thursday, May 29, 2014 6:00 PM
Where:  Collins Garden Branch Library  200 N. Park, San Antonio, TX

What Should you Say?   Ask that the Sidewalks are at least 6ft wide with neckdowns at every intersection on the streets that connect with Frio City Rd.  Demand that a protected Bicycle lane is also added and that they abide by the Bicycle Master Plan.  If parking is added, demand that they put in the parking as a barr.ier so that the bicycle lane is along the curb, and the parking is a natural barrier to the bicycle and sidewalks. 
Also ask for these types intersections called "Protected Intersections" so they can become safer for all users.  https://vimeo.com/86721046  contact:  Peter Rodriguez at 207-8154

West Huisache Project Public Meeting
When:   Monday, June 02, 2014 6:00 PM
Where:  Young Women's Leadership Academy  2123 W. Huisache, San Antonio, TX

What Shold you Say?  This time, no bike lanes, this is a neighborhood street.  It should have neckdowns to keep traffic flowing slow with islands and speed humps.  More Old Pecan Trees, Improved wider sidewalks.  It should also have 25MPH on this street.  Putting a bicycle lane down this street is just a waste of paint.  Also ask for these types intersections called "Protected Intersections" so they can become safer for all users.  https://vimeo.com/86721046
Contact: Peter Rodriguez@ 207-8154 or David Pulido @ 207-8128

Bandera & Eckhert and Bandera & Tezel/Prue Public Meeting
When:  June 5, 2014 6:30 PM
Where: Maverick Branch Library, 8700 Mystic Park, San Antonio, TX

What Should you Say?  Demand that the city follows the guidelines that were lay down in the Bicycle Master plan.  Also demand that they build the "Protected Intersections" at protectedintersections.com so this area can become safe for all road users. https://vimeo.com/86721046  And ask for sidewalks too.  contact: Peter Rodriguez at 207-8154

An Introduction and South Flores Success

Image 1.1

For years, I've wanted to fix the lousy infrastructure that we build for bicycles and for that matter, everyone that doesn't own a car. A friend of mine said that I should start an activist group, but my time with Smart Transit SA, (a pro-transit group) told me that we're all to busy to maintain a group, and most of all, most people that are interested, wouldn't know what to ask for or how to explain what is wrong with the current built environment. This is similar to what Steve Jobs said about the iPod.  He said that before he invented the iPod, people wouldn't ask for an iPod, but would have asked for a better CD player.   This blog is dedicated to pointing out the flaws, the idiotic designs that we have to deal with on a daily basis as cyclist and pedestrians and going to explain what could be done better to fix the current infrastructure. So instead of asking for a better CD player, those of us who are willing to be the voice for cyclist and a better San Antonio can now ask for an better iPod.

Also as a side note, this blog will be also reporting on the bicycling culture that exist here in San Antonio, Texas from time to time.  For right now, I'll be posting a story every Saturday or Sunday, so you'll get a lot of content in the next few weeks.

Image 1.2

Sometimes the city does something good, but seem to screw up a small section just to make sure that cars can go faster.  So far, in my opinion, the best thing the city of San Antonio has done has put a bicycle lane down South Flores St from Nogalitos to SE Military Dr.  For once, the city have finally put down a bicycle lane where one needs to be.  They even put up no parking signs along the street always keeping the lane readily available to use.  (Image 1.1)

Image 1.3

Image 1.4

 Two problem exist on the existing lane.  Problem one is the placement of the Bicycle Lane Ends sign (image 1.3)  which is obscured by a tree.(Image 1.4)   It should be placed one block south at Clay St. 

Problem two is the intersection of Probandt and S Flores.  Instead of actually keeping the bicycle lanes there, they decided to take out the bike lanes and put in a right turn lane going northbound.  You'll see this riding in the bicycle lane southbound, you'll come to a line cutting the bike lane (Image 1.5) and making way for the driving lane.  I don't know why they couldn't put up an sign alerting cyclist and drivers alike allowing cyclist to merge, but this is San Antonio, Keep San Antonio Lame.  If you happen to encounter this while riding your bicycle, simply put out your left hand like your about to make a left turn and merge as safely as you can, put your bicycle in the center of the lane until the bike lane comes again on the other side and go back into your lane.(Image 1.6).

Image 1.5

Image 1.6

And now the problem becomes more clear as your coming northbound on Flores.  As you come along, your bicycle  lane gives way to a right turn lane. (Image 1.7, Image 1.8)  If the City of San Antonio had any sense, they would have took the time out and had the bicycle lane go through the turn lane like other cities have done when doing the same problem including Austin, Texas. (Image 1.9, Image 1.10) They did this so cars, not people, not cyclist would have a quick way to leave the neighborhood (rolls eyes).  Probandt is the only street on the southside that connects to US90/I-10 freeway, no naturally, they need to make sure every one driving can get out of the southside as fast as they can. If you encounter this while riding your bicycle, simply stay in the right turn lane and treat it as you would a regular bicycle lane.  Simply wait for the light to turn green and continue as nothing has changed.

Image 1.7

Image 1.8

Image 1.9

Image 1.10

Lets give credit where credit is due, the city of San Antonio actually put a bicycle lane where the the bicycle lane was needed (WHICH IS NOT LAME) and not on some side neighborhood street like South Main Ave where there's no problems with heavy traffic, (WHICH IS LAME) which my next blog, next week will be all about.  The best of all, they actually put in no parking signs which is a very good thing and keeps the lane clear.  The only sad thing is that because several business fail to see how better S Flores is, the city is now considering removing the lanes.(Image 1.11)  I hope people will come out and attend this meeting, but we cyclist are just to few and we don't have the time or the effort to get out and tell how good this is.  I don't live in the neighborhood and I work when the next meeting is taking place.  If we lose these lanes, it will be so Lame.  So Transportation & Capital Improvements, please get rid of the bike lanes so you guys can KEEP San Antonio LAME. 

If anybody want to sign a petition to keep the lanes, please visit this website.  http://www.biketexas.org/advocacy/petitions/south-flores-bike-lanes

Image 1.11

Captions of Images. 
Image 1.1: viewing northbound, one block north of Theo.
Image 1.2: a before and after image courtesy of BikeTexas.org   http://y1nadlvtjcaexjuo.zippykid.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Picture-4.png
Image 1.3: viewing northbound, at S Flores and Nogalitos after the tree that obscures the sign
Image 1.4: viewing northbound, at S Flores and Clay St where the End sign should be.
Image 1.5: viewing southbound, before S Flores and Probandt, where the bicycle lane ends and gives way to vehicle traffic
Image 1.6: viewing southbound, after S Flores and Probandt, where the bicycle lane begins again.
Image 1.7: viewing northbound, before S Floes And Probandt, where the bicycle lane gives way to a Right Turn Lane
Image 1.8: viewing northbound, at S Flores and Probandt, where the bicycle lane is non existent but a painted barrier.  A bicycle lane should have been painted here along with the extra paint.  
Image 1.9: An example of a Right Turn Lane and a painted bicycle lane merging.  Bend, OR.  Source:  http://nacto.org/wp-content/gallery/2012_combinedbikelaneturnlane/combinedbikelaneturnlane_bend-or.jpg
Image 1.10: An Example of a Right Turn Lane and a Bicycle lane merge together in Billings, MT Source:  http://nacto.org/wp-content/gallery/2012_combinedbikelaneturnlane/combined-bike-lane-turn-lane-billings-mt.jpg
Image 1.11:  The posting from the city of San Antonio Transporation & Capital Improvement about the meeting of the S Flores bike lanes and possible alternative routes.