4 Lane vs Super 2

"MissoulaBiker" <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I'm wondering if anyone out there has personally experienced this downsizing of their roads. If
so, how'd it work out? I've heard a few stories of motorists getting really bent out of shape
about the

Downsizing roads is often used to reduce speeding in residential areas and school zones. Yes, some
commuters don't like it, but those are mostly people whose kids don't have to cross the street.
Locals usually like the safer streets.

MissoulaBiker said:

Hi,

Out here in Missoula Mt we've decided to re-work one of our 4 lane roads into a 'Super 2'. The
Super 2 includes a turning lane in the center and bike lanes on the sides. The road diet is proven
to improve safety for everyone involved. But we expect some increase in traffic congestion during
peak hours.

I'm wondering if anyone out there has personally experienced this downsizing of their roads. If so,
how'd it work out? I've heard a few stories of motorists getting really bent out of shape about the
downsizing of the road. One woman 'vows to fight this with every fiber of her being' and the phrase
'god given right to drive' has been mentioned.

This has been done on a handful of roads here in Austin, Texas with nearly universally good results.
There are a few candidate roadways which have been rejected for the conversion from 4 to 3 lanes
because there wasn't enough turning traffic (no driveways on one side of the road, for instance);
but that's the exception rather than the rule.

It only takes a few left turns to really screw things up on a 4-lane undivided roadway.

---
Mike Dahmus m dah mus @ at @ io.com

In Toronto they recently did this with a relatively small stretch of a 4 lane road, which was mostly
residential but used as a minor arterial
- Dundas St East from Broadview to Kingston. (posted limit was 40 km/h, average speed 70km/h +)
Drivers (mostly out of towners cutting through rather than local residents) and some members of
city council got really upset by the whole plan.

Since the implementation, there have seemed to be no complaints or problems. Traffic is slower
(closer to the limit) but not highly congested as many feared - though I'm not sure how it has
affected congestion on neighbouring routes, but noone seems to be complaining about that either.
More bikes along there now.

In addition to a turning lane and reduction to one lane in each direction some sections have parking
to the right of the bike lane though, and striping the bike lane into the door zone seems like not
such a good idea for cyclists.

"MissoulaBiker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

Out here in Missoula Mt we've decided to re-work one of our 4 lane roads into a 'Super 2'. The
Super 2 includes a turning lane in the center and bike lanes on the sides. The road diet is proven
to improve safety for everyone involved. But we expect some increase in traffic congestion during
peak hours.

I'm wondering if anyone out there has personally experienced this downsizing of their roads. If
so, how'd it work out? I've heard a few stories of motorists getting really bent out of shape
about the downsizing of the road. One woman 'vows to fight this with every fiber of her being' and
the phrase 'god given right to drive' has been mentioned.