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Bike/Pedestrian unfriendly intersections

There are places where the No pedestrian crossing signs are justified. In Oakland at the intersection of 5th Ave and Tennyson Ave. on the western corner of Tennyson Ave., there is one of those signs because all traffic on Tennyson Ave. has to turn right and sight lines are bad there This sign is there for safety purposes. Crossing Freeport Rd. at Delefield Rd. is forbidden due to there not being anywhere to walk on the other side. There are also places where these signs are not justified. At the intersection of Washington Blvd. and Allegheny River Blvd. in Highland Park, Beulah Rd. and Churchill Rd. in Churchill, as well as several intersections along Rt. 19 in Cranberry Twp., There are no pedestrian crossing signs posted all the way around the intersection. All of the intersections in question have traffic lights and crossing in the direction of the green light should not be forbidden with signage. They should install pedestrian crossing signals and crosswalks in an attempt to make these areas somewhat more pedestrian, bicycle, and transit friendly. This kind of signage creates dead-ends for pedestrians and discourages physical activity which is necessary to end the American obesity epidemic and reduce pollution. Even the sprawling post-war suburbs can be outfitted with paths that allow pedestrian and bicycle use between culls-de-sac but are closed off to motor vehicle traffic. Any comments would be appreciated.
zzwergel
2017-10-28 11:56:53
I would distinguish among four distinctly different intersection types:
  1. Pedestrian signals exist, but the timing of the lights makes crossing the street with the ped-xing light dangerous.
  2. Signage or other infrastructure exists to support ped-xing, but it is still dangerous.
  3. No signage or infrastructure exists, or it exists and prohibits crossings, and it's needed.
  4. Not really a crossing, but peds cross there often anyway.
I can name examples of each. Shall I begin? Type 1: Trying to cross Perry Hwy in Ross Twp at Three Degree Road, from east to west, from in front of the gas station to Willi's Ski Shop. Type 2: Perry Hwy in West View, the ped-xing in the middle of the block just north of Center. Cars routinely blow through this crossing without yielding. Type 3: Babcock at Siebert, Ross Twp. Explicit do-not-cross signs on three of the four corners. Type 4: McKnight Rd at Houston Rd, Ross Twp. Riders of public transit exit northbound buses at this stop, then cross McKnight, despite no ped crossing, and in fact they have to jump the barrier separating north from southbound lanes, and traffic speeds often exceed 50 mph southbound. Peds are on their way to jobs in North Hills Village. The other two stops near NHV are far from these people's jobs. Also, nobody on Houston Rd uses public transit to get to work (there is no southbound bus stop).
stuinmccandless
2017-10-28 23:43:47
What about the intersections in Cranberry? I would not mind living out there if it had frequent and reliable bus or tram service to Downtown or the Northside as well as allowing pedestrians to cross the main street in order to get to/from a bus stop or to business on the other side on the street without needing a bicycle or a car. Amending the zoning ordinances in Ross, McCandless, Cranberry, Pine, Monroeville, and many other suburbs in the same manner that the City did involving parking minimums would encourage biking and the use of alternative modes of transportation. In order for someone who lives in Wexford or Cranberry to use public transportation, they need to drive most of the way to Pittsburgh just to get an O1 Ross Flyer which only operates directional during weekday rush hours. I'm pretty sure if you have to drive 15 miles just to get a bus, mosy people would rather drive another 5 miles to Downtown and park there than have to deal with an unreliable bus and a park and ride lot in which can be impossible to find a place to park.
zzwergel
2017-10-29 14:09:33
Not sure which of Stu's categories this one falls into, but I would put up Routes 88 & 51, coming from the South (on 88) as a pretty rotten intersection for a cyclist, or pedestrian for that matter.  The approach, from the McNeilly Road intersection is very narrow, there are no sidewalks or road shoulders, and the heavy traffic moves along faster than the 35 mph posted speed limit.  Once the intersection is reached, the new alignment leaves only the choices of turning left or right onto the decidedly un-bike-friendly Route 51 (also sans shoulder or sidewalk).  One can no longer cross 51 to get to Ivyglen Road or to cut through the Saint Norbert's property because the traffic is all uni-directionally routed to the South.  In other words, it is now essentially a one way and contra to the way the Northbound cyclist would want to go.  I used to cross there, from the South, but haven't done so since the traffic project was completed.  Coming from the North, it is possible to cross over to Glenbury but this cannot be done in reverse.
fultonco
2017-10-30 19:32:15
I haven't been out there on a bike since the rebuild started. My wife used to work in the area, in a private home near the Glenbury-Aaron intersection, so I've driven out there many times. No idea what it looks like at the moment, though. For a northern version of weird, there are several contenders for bad, though none stand out as all that difficult. Babcock-Babcock-Three Degree is a bit dicey, since it's so wide, and the Babcock-to-Babcock peel-off is hazardous for pedestrians. By bike it isn't that tough, though. Many of the McKnight intersections were just re-timed to improve traffic flow; that is, to make cars move faster. Getting across as a pedestrian is difficult, because none of them have a three-second advance like in-city lights do.
stuinmccandless
2017-10-31 12:04:29
forward Murray and pocusite. sidewalks closed for construction 5 way intersection near I376 lots of turning cars
aesiskind
2017-10-31 12:22:05
Blvd. of the Allies, Panther Hollow Rd., and Overlook Dr. Why is there an interchange here? There is a bus stop inside the traffic island formed by traffic coming from the Panther Hollow Bridge and eastbound traffic toward the Panther Hollow Bridge. There is no sidewalk or crosswalks in the vicinity., but the on ramp has a stop sign. For the westbound bus stop, there is a walkway that can be used to reach the pool or the Panther Hollow Bridge. Where the westbound off ramp to the Panther Hollow Bridge merges with traffic exiting eastbound traffic, there is a flashing red light and a yield sign for traffic turning right off of the ramp. I think a crosswalk should connect the two sidewalks of the bridge where the traffic island is. Better yet, rip the interchange out and replace it with a signalized intersection with crosswalks like the one at Bartlett St., Hobart St., and Greenfield Rd.
zzwergel
2017-11-01 14:51:35
The Beechwood Blvd. Parkway interchange is one of the worst auto-centric pieces of infrastructure in existence. It is extremely confusing and dangerous since being in the wrong lane dumps you onto a highway!
zzwergel
2017-11-01 14:59:12
I never found a good way to go westbound at the beechwood interchange. Eastbound I would play in traffic until monitor street but I would usually wait for a large break in traffic since traffic off the parkway tends to go 40-60 mph there. (actual speed limit is 25 I believe)
andyc
2017-11-02 14:32:32
@Andyc, Why would they speed near all of those houses? Why don't they paint sharrows on the remaining sections of Beechwood Blvd. that do not already have bike lanes all the way to the Greenfield Bridge? That should be the next phase of bike network extension since the bridge is back. Also, a stop sign should be installed on the ramps where they meet Beechwood Blvd.
zzwergel
2017-11-02 18:46:15
Why speed? Eastbound: Impatience and perceived lack of consequences I imagine. - You can't really put in a stop sign as the ramp simply becomes Beechwood Blvd with the exiting highway traffic having the right of way over traffic coming from Greenfield on Beechwood. (Which seems correct as there is far more traffic coming from 376 than from Greenfield.) It's not great but the cost to try and fix it in place (I don't think sharrows would help) is probably less than the cost of even better alternative fixes.  
andyc
2017-11-03 12:43:14
It should be converted into a T intersection with a 2-way stop or a roundabout if that is the case.
zzwergel
2017-11-03 20:24:23
Is it correct that if one was to walk along a road with no sidewalk or shoulder, the person must walk as far left as possible in the opposite direction as traffic?
zzwergel
2017-11-04 22:25:59
This is impossible to answer. Should? Case by case. And may vary from one 100-foot stretch to another. Sometimes there’s somewhere to walk, sometimes not. Sometimes a wheelchair can traverse it, usually not. Sometimes what you’re walking in is a storm outwash area; sometimes it’s dry, sometimes it’s a river. Sometimes a spot is plenty wide enough but is thick mud. Sometimes there’s snow; sometimes not. Sometimes it’s dark, sometimes not. What should YOU do? Save your skin. Don’t cause a crash; don’t be the one hit. This may require crossing the street to walk on the wrong side because it’s safer there. On more than one occasion, I’ve walked squarely out in front of moving traffic (with plenty of space to see me and react) and forced cars to come to a halt, so I could walk around an obstruction, usually fast moving water. Once moving toward them, once making them follow me up the street at a walking pace, neither with them having the option to go around me. Was that legal? Hell, I don't care, I was saving my skin. The world does not always divide into clean rules. The long story.
stuinmccandless
2017-11-05 13:58:30
Title 75 says:
§ 3544.  Pedestrians walking along or on highway. (a)  Mandatory use of available sidewalk.--Where a sidewalk is provided and its use is practicable, it is unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway. (b)  Absence of sidewalk.--Where a sidewalk is not available, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall walk only on a shoulder as far as practicable from the edge of the roadway. (c)  Absence of sidewalk and shoulder.--Where neither a sidewalk nor a shoulder is available, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall walk as near as practicable to an outside edge of the roadway and, if on a two-way roadway, shall walk only on the left side of the roadway. (d)  Right-of-way to vehicles.--Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, any pedestrian upon a roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
So legally you're supposed to walk on the left. But Stu's right. What you should actually do varies with conditions. When there's no shoulder on either side, I usually pick whichever side has some place for me to get off the road fast if need be. On a blind curve, being on the outside of the curve makes you more visible. Of course, if you're walking on the right, you need to be constantly aware of what's coming up behind you, so walking on the left is easier when there's no particular reason to prefer the right.
steven
2017-11-05 15:42:10
@Steven, Does that mean that one can legally walk away from Downtown via Bigelow Blvd., but not into Downtown. I would not recommend it though at least until some form of traffic calming is implemented. Are there any traffic calming chicanes in or around Pittsburgh?
zzwergel
2017-11-05 22:58:29
No, it doesn't mean that. I see nothing in the rules I posted that would permit walking on a road but only in one direction. Note that the rule about walking on the left only applies when a road has no sidewalk, no shoulder, and lanes running in both directions. The ramps connecting Bigelow to downtown are one-way ramps. I'm not sure if the very narrow strip of road outside the painted white lines on those ramps is considered a shoulder (if so, you must walk there) or not (you must walk as "near as practicable to an outside edge of the roadway", any edge allowed). Such a one-way restriction could happen on any road, though, if there's signage prohibiting pedestrians, but only when proceeding in one direction. I don't know if Bigelow has such sloppily installed signage or not, but it has nothing to do with the section of Title 75 I quoted.
steven
2017-11-06 03:28:51
Why are there so many roads which lack shoulders even when there is no sidewalk? Rt. 51 through Jefferson, Parts of William Penn Hwy, Bigelow Blvd., Blvd of the Allies, McKnight Rd, and Washington Blvd come to mind. Also, Can the sidewalk on Beechwood Blvd. near the Parkway spaghetti interchange be used as bypass. Would Who should I contact about implementing traffic calming in these residential streets? Would the rumble strips like those on 9th St. in Aspinwall work? I'm pretty sure the neighbors would appreciate it as well. @Vannevar, Why would a cyclist have to navigate an interchange like that? Wouldn't that be used as an interchange onto a freeway where cyclists are banned? metal rumble strips in Aspinwall Video (Visable starting at 0:13): https://youtu.be/2QH9rrPVKdM
zzwergel
2017-11-06 19:03:00
Tilting at windmills. Thousands of miles of roads that look like that. They can’t even keep them paved and the bridges fixed, so these aren’t ever getting better.
stuinmccandless
2017-11-08 09:48:49
@Stu, "Tilting at windmills.", what does that mean? Today, I biked Beechwood Blvd from the Greenfield Bridge to 5th Ave. I got through the spaghetti junction of doom unscathed, but the Hazelwood Ave./Beechwood Blvd./Browns Hill Rd. fustercluck is where I did run into some trouble. At the approach from the north on Beechwood Blvd., there is a sign banning left turns from 4PM to 6PM. What I had to do was a Copenhagen left via Hazelwood Ave. onto eastbound Beechwood Blvd. Waiting for a green light took FOREVER.
zzwergel
2017-11-08 17:56:34
"Tilting at windmills is an English idiom that means attacking imaginary enemies. The expression is derived from the novel Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes, and the word "tilt" in this context comes from jousting." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilting_at_windmills
benzo
2017-11-09 11:26:51
@paulheckbert, Good thing cyclists and pedestrians are mentioned.
zzwergel
2017-11-09 20:34:47
The bike/ped-related DDI backlash is oddly misplaced. The only locations these things get built are ones which have already been planned to be auto-dominated in the first place.  These don't get dropped into walkable neighborhoods and cities.  They're specifically used to connect high-volume arterials to limited access freeways.  No part of these roadways are ones you want your 16 yo old riding on, period. The DDI itself actually reduces the overall footprint and crossing distances that would be required for another type equal-capacity interchange.  It's a better engineering solution to crappy land use planning.
nmr
2017-11-10 08:41:00
At the approach from the north on Beechwood Blvd., there is a sign banning left turns from 4PM to 6PM.
  The best way to turn left in this case (IMHO) is to turn left is to turn left at Federal Street or Hezelwood Blvd. and then right at Saline and left at Beechwood Blvd. But as a group we often prefer to turn right at Loretta , go all the way to  Greenfield, turn left and then left at Hazelwood -- it's much easier to turn left at Greenfield/Hazzelwod than at Murray/Hazzelwood -- much less traffic.  
mikhail
2017-11-10 12:17:27
Two intersections in Schenley Park: https://youtu.be/6EVYMwfCF_I Panther Hollow Rd./Overlook Dr./Blvd. of the Allies--Highway style interchange with bus stop in traffic island.   https://youtu.be/YDlxXx_zqF8 Panther Hollow Rd./Greenfield Rd./Hobart St./Bartlett St.--Used to be a car-centric intersection with only two crosswalks. Now a more pedestrian-friendly intersection with talking pedestrian signals.
zzwergel
2017-11-11 20:10:57
If you're interested in the Forward-Murray-Pocusset intersection or other bike safety issues in Squirrel Hill, please attend the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition's 2017 ANNUAL MEETING & OPEN HOUSE, this Thursday evening, Nov. 16th, 7:00-9:00 PM, in Levinson Hall of the Sq. Hill Jewish Community Center (5738 Forbes Avenue).  The Junction Hollow situation may also come up (but please attend the other meetings specifically on that, also at JCC, Tuesday 11/14 at 8am or Wednesday 11/15 at 6pm). The evening's focus is on "Transportation Safety & Mobility in Squirrel Hill."  Our featured guest speaker is Director of the City's Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, Karina Ricks.  Ms. Ricks will talk about how the City's "Complete Streets" policy impacts the design of our streets and intersections to increase mobility and use by pedestrians, bicyclists, motor vehicles, transit riders and persons in wheelchairs.  She will also describe the recent efforts that have been undertaken by the City to improve pedestrian safety at the Forward-Murray-Pocusset intersection in light of the many construction projects taking place in that area. Another special speaker for the evening is Professor Mark Magalotti, coordinator of the Transportation Engineering Program at the University of Pittsburgh.  He will illustrate the contrast between efforts to improve pedestrian transportation in suburban areas and such efforts in the City of Pittsburgh.  Director Ricks and Prof. Magalotti will discuss how the City's Complete Streets perspective and other possibilities for improving pedestrian/bicycle safety can keep drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians moving safely and efficiently in an intersection like Forward-Murray-Pocusset, particularly during the current period of construction. ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT:  The Nov. 16th meeting will include an OPEN HOUSE format, with board members and partners at information tables - including a Ped-Bike Committee table - to describe, and answer questions about, the various projects and activities undertaken by SHUC.  Besides providing information at our table, we will seek to recruit additional individuals to join the Committee and participate in our activities.
maryshaw
2017-11-13 21:36:23
I wish I could have made any of those meetings, but work and other commitments interfered.
stuinmccandless
2017-11-18 21:22:04
They were all at bad times, either too early or too late. I am rarely awake before 9:00 AM
zzwergel
2017-11-21 19:53:02
I have another intersection. On Rt. 19 at Circle Dr. an Moccasin Dr. in Peters Township, crossing Rt. 19 from either side of the cross street is forbidden with signage. Crossing Circle Dr. is allowed and crossing Moccasin Dr. is also forbidden with signage. What would happen if someone wants/has to walk from there house on Old Washington Rd. or Moccasin Dr. to the Market District Express on Rt. 19? Do they have to dash across a four-lane road with center turning lane without a crosswalk posted 40MPH with 60 MPH traffic at Old Washington Rd., at a mid-block location or just disobey the signs and cross Rt. 19 on green at Circle Dr? Signs are visible :here https://youtu.be/37Mx-D9QTo4?t=112 and here:
zzwergel
2017-11-24 18:48:25
What about this Upper St. Clair monstrosity?
  Actually, this is very useful entrance/exit. Almost nobody bikes on US-19. Come of Davenwood through High School Access road through traffic light to this "monstruosity" to stay on Old Washington. I use it a lot when I commute from work.
mikhail
2017-11-27 00:01:44
Somewhat relevant to this discussion, a study was just published highlighting the most dangerous intersections in the county. The firm that put this study together was using 2014-2016 crash data from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. This focuses on car crashes, but has some interesting information A study on Allegheny County's unsafe intersections
kieran
2017-11-27 14:07:53
@Kieran, I am also pleasantly surprised that the Market District Express has two of the "Three Rivers" bike parking racks. Is Peters Township and/or Upper St. Clair seeing an influx of cyclists who use their bike for serious non-recreational purposes like commuting and shopping, or is it due to proximity to the Montour Trail? I stopped in the Rite-Aid in Library today after my excursion on the Bethel spur of the Montour Trail. Some street-level can serve as mini Park-and-rides for cyclists to bike to and lock up their bike and take the T to their destination. Racks at Park-and-ride lots can serve a an alternative in case a disabled person is on the T or their are already two bikes aboard the tram. Also, racks at high platform stations can be used for storage at the far end of someone's trip if their final destination does not have bike parking facilities nearby.
  • Allegheny (Already there)
  • North Side
  • Gateway (Already some nearby)
  • First Ave. (Already some nearby)
  • South Hills Junction (Already there)
  • Dawn
  • Pennant
  • Boggs
  • Fallowfield
  • Bon Air
  • Potomac
  • Denise
  • Dormont Junction
  • Mt. Lebanon
  • McNeilly
  • Castle Shannon (Already there)
  • Memorial Hall
  • St. Anne's
  • Bethel Village
  • South Hills Village (Already there)
  • Hillcrest
  • Lytle
  • Munroe
  • Logan Rd.
  • W. Library
  • Library
zzwergel
2017-11-27 19:57:21
Somebody mapped "the most dangerous intersections in Allegheny County". Apparently this was done using car-car crash data.  I see no mention of bicycles or pedestrians in the data. Some top conclusions: West End Circle, Liberty Bridge & McArdle, and Saw Mill Run Blvd are bad. They have a zoomable map and a table of crash counts: https://www.dallashartman.com/blog/2017/11/intersections-allegheny-county/ I was disappointed by the weak analysis. For example: they don't display any traffic volume data. They only give crash counts, not crash risks (i.e. number of crashes divided by number of cars). It's no surprise that the intersections with high traffic volume have high crash counts. I wonder who has traffic volume data. Google? Apple?
paulheckbert
2017-11-27 23:46:04
Paul, PennDOT has a fairly robust traffic monitoring system (iTMS) that's publicly available: http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/itms/main.htm Note that volumes are shown as average annual daily traffic (theoretically, total volume of cars per year divided by 365)  and aren't complete for all roadway segments.  You'll have to do some math to add up the volume entering an intersection from each leg in order to determine a rough crash rate.
nmr
2017-11-28 07:25:20
I locked up my bike on the wave rack at South Hills Junction and rode down to Sarah. It appears that there is space for a second shelter on the northbound track that is taped off. Are there bplans of installing a rack there?
zzwergel
2017-11-28 20:18:54
Today, I ended up taking the 1 Freeport Road bus from Aspinwall to the 31st St. Bridge Instead of the 91 because it came first. After successfully crossing the two ramps from Rt. 28 with a walking man symble, I got the red hand signal on the relief island between the outbound exit and River Ave. I pressed the beg button and waited between 3 and 6 minutes. I told myself "Piss on this, I'm going to cross because that direction already has a green light. I'm not waiting here any longer." I also hit the button repeatedly to no effect. Once I got across River Ave., I called 311 and reported the problem. William on the other end said they will check into the timing of the traffic light.
zzwergel
2017-11-29 16:09:32
Starting A new thread about bike racks at or near transit stations.
zzwergel
2017-11-30 14:50:36
Getting across the West End Circle on foot, pushing a bike, is also an exercise in patience.
stuinmccandless
2017-12-05 17:32:25
List of pedestrian dead-end intersections:
  • Washington Blvd at Allegheny River Blvd. (Highland Park)
  • Beulah Rd. at Churchill Rd. (Churchill)
  • Washington Rd at Valley Brook Ramp (Peters Township)
  • Washington Rd. at Gallery Dr. (Peters Township)
  • Washington Rd. at McMurray Rd. (Peters Township)
  • Washington Rd. at Donaldson Crossroads/Shopping Center Dr./Dam Rd. (Peters Township)
  • Washington Rd. at McDowell Ln. (Peters Township)
  • Washington Rd. at Gallery Rd./McClelland Rd. (Peters Township)
  • Rt. 19 at Francis Way (Cranberry Township)
  • Rt. 19 at Rt. 228/Freedom Rd. (Cranberry Township)
What are you supposed to do in these situations when crossing one of these intersections on foot becomes necessary? Defy the signage and cross in the direction of the green light?
zzwergel
2017-12-10 15:07:56
Yeah, pretty much. I can add the H-shaped corner of Perry Hwy, Sewickley-Oakmont Rd, Three Degree Road, and the couple of little neighborhood streets that meet there. For a recently rebuilt road with recently upgraded traffic lights (2014), this is horrible to cross, following the rules. There are pedestrian signals, but you are best off NOT using them, as they are a sure way to get killed. You are far better off jay-walking 100 yards away from the corners. Wheelchairs and the infirm need not apply. Cyclists generally have no trouble if they take the lane, but boy, is that a steep learning curve.
stuinmccandless
2017-12-10 17:18:19
Why do these signs exist? Other intersections in Cranberry Township and Peters Township have pedestrian signals. Allegheny River Blvd. used to have a crosswalk on the upstream side of the intersection. The traffic light there is not much more than a year old and I thought the city had a "Complete Streets" order by Bill Peduto. That doesn't look like complete streets to me.
zzwergel
2017-12-10 19:47:50
Probably isn’t. The corner I mentioned, it’s more than signs. The lighted ped-xing signal itself says to go when it’s not safe to. It might look good on paper but as implemented, just doesn’t work.
stuinmccandless
2017-12-11 15:56:39
What about the complete streets thing? Washington Blvd. is in the city limits.
zzwergel
2017-12-11 21:47:37
Yesterday, I made it through two dangerous intersections. https://youtu.be/NdT-SSd4fjQ In this video, they can be seen starting at 3:45 and 7:05. By the way, what is the car on a carousel about at 1:27?
zzwergel
2017-12-21 17:52:25
@fultonco How would you bike on 88? Start at 3:50. This doesn't look pleasant at all. On Babcock, there's a six-foot shoulder. No shoulder here, just a gutter pan. I'd take the lane, and give zero fucks. All yinz get to follow me down 88 at sixteen mph.
stuinmccandless
2017-12-23 10:18:33
@stu, Wouldn't that be illegal to impede traffic and cause road rage?
zzwergel
2017-12-23 15:29:28
Cause road rage, certainly. Impeding traffic? I say it isn't. You are traffic. But it's likely a grey area if it ends up in a traffic court. I mention Babcock, but some of Perry is two lanes as well, from Lindley Lane (by that mural by the convenience store) all the way into and past West View. I take the lane for most of this, but practicing "control and release" where feasible. Control: You control the lane. They stack up behind you until such time that you deem it safe for you to pull to the right and release them to pass you. Then you resume control. For me, I control the lane through the Perrysville business district, then release once I get to the top of that little rise, where on-street parking disappears. I remain on the shoulder until I get to the top of that next rise, then I resume control, and keep it all the way to Rochester Road. I might release control just after the Thompson Road light, but because the shoulder disappears to nothing, I would be unsafe if I stayed there more than a hundred feet or so. Beyond Rochester, I control the lane up the hill and over the top, and do not release. There is no shoulder. So, all told, that's most of a mile of a non-flat road in which I insist on controlling the traffic behind me, and I will fight anyone who says I should do anything differently. Including a cop. Including a judge. I may need legal help to do that. 88 looks to be flatter, but like Perry, very few places to release. And when I say release, I do not mean rolling through the parking lot of a business. That's not safe; it's also not legal. But let's get back to the concern about blocking traffic. No. You are not standing sideways in the middle of the street, preventing traffic from movement. That's obstructing traffic. You move down the street at 16 mph. That's not obstructing traffic. That means that traffic is moving 16 mph. Someone prove me wrong. But also worthy of note, this was the basis for the argument against the guy in Westmoreland County a couple months ago (aside from his rock throwing stupidity).
stuinmccandless
2017-12-23 19:15:39
For one thing, I do not want to end up becoming the next piece of roadkill rotting away on the side of Library Rd. or end up in court or jail. Also, is someone willing to help me with my mental stability when situations like this arise and/or show me the technique of control and release at different points along various roads where it becomes necessary. Also, on this major street in the city limits, why is there no sidewalk let alone a shoulder? Were the planners deliberately trying to create a dangerous and stressful situation for pedestrians and cyclists?
zzwergel
2017-12-23 22:12:13
It's State Route 88, so we're talking PennDOT, not City Planning, for the design. And like Saw Mill Run Blvd, Penn Ave in Point Breeze, and West Carson Street, it's designed to move cars, not people.
stuinmccandless
2017-12-24 21:40:51
Penn Ave. has sidewalks it's entire length except in Churchill. Would installing BMUFL signs help on these streets?
zzwergel
2017-12-24 22:47:16
Freeport Rd at Eastern Ave., Aspinwall. there is a bus stop on both sides of Freeport Rd. yet there is no painted crosswalk. Because of thise, the bus stops don't get used that often. I wonder if the same reason also applies on Butler St at 49th St. since the crosswalk was just painted a few weeks ago.
zzwergel
2017-12-24 22:58:48
Signs, or the lack of them, is not the problem. Traffic moving 53 mph on a road posted 35, that should be 30 or less, is the problem. This video, about a half hour in length, was from the memorial for James Price, a cyclist who got mowed down by a high-speed driver on Penn Ave near Lexington. Not necessary to watch the whole thing, but the five minutes after about 9:50 are telling. Very close passes from traffic while I stood on the curb, and one car moving close to 50 mph. This is absolutely routine, and no sign is going to fix it. A motorcycle cop got mowed down here by a driver while trying to do some speed enforcement.
stuinmccandless
2017-12-25 08:08:47
Regent Square. Braddock Ave. at:
  • Forbes Ave. (Traffic light with pedestrian signals)
  • Guthrie St.  (Two crosswalks)
  • Biddle Ave. (Two Crosswalks and a pedestrian-activated crosswalk warning)
  • Henrietta St. (Two crosswalks)
  • Overton St. (No crosswalk)
  • Hutchinson Ave. (Traffic light with exclusive pedestrian interval)
  • Sanders St. (No crosswalk)
  • Charleston Ave. (One crosswalk)
zzwergel
2017-12-29 19:02:45
Saw Mill Run Blvd. at Library Rd./Glenbury St./ Hillview St. Today, I went for a ride from South Bank to the Rite-Aid opposite this intersection. After crossing Library Rd. expecting a crosswalk crossing Saw Mill Run Blvd. over to Rite-Aid, I Turned into Hillview St and noticed the only crosswalk crossing Saw Mill Run Blvd is on the north side of Glenbury St. I had to cross the Library Rd. speed turn lane, Library Rd., and Glenbury St. before crossing Saw Mill Run Blvd. just to cross the jug-handle to reach Rite-Aid. Why can't a crosswalk be painted across Saw Mill Run Blvd. between the triangular island and the southern corner of the jug-handle? This is clearly a City traffic light and I thought the City had a "Complete Streets" order. This bullshit does not look like complete streets to me. I will post video later.
zzwergel
2018-01-03 16:27:17
Saw Mill Run Blvd. at Library Rd./Glenbury St./ Hillview St. That is the intersection, to which I was referring, in an earlier post in this thread.  It has never been good but since the re-design, it is definitely more dangerous for bicyclists. I don't doubt that if anyone could pull off taking the lane all the way down Route 88, it would be Stu but I'm in that area all the time and rarely see any bicyclists.  It just isn't a good prescription for living a long and full life.  South Hills drivers are not used to that sort of thing so one would have a number of horns stuck up one's ass.  That is just not how I want to spend my time on the bike.  It used to be possible to use the network of roads above 88, on the north side of the road, to get to Hillview and cross 51 to Ivyglen and on up into Overbrook and Carrick.  But with the re-design that option has been essentially removed.  I prefer now to cross at Marylea and Delco, a bit further north.  There is a traffic light and the action on those two roads is significantly subdued. I know that Stu and a few others did a ride on 51 a few years ago but I would repeat the part in the previous paragraph, about living a long and full life with a horn up your ass, when describing the "joys" of bicycling along its path.
fultonco
2018-01-03 18:24:15
@Fultonco, I have video of it here. https://youtu.be/q9_i474Pk6s P.S. I wore a bright orange vest and had my read red blinker on as I did this ride.
zzwergel
2018-01-03 18:42:02
I just took a look at Google Maps. What you are supposed to do is continue on Saw Mill Run Blvd. past Library Rd. and turn R. onto Fairhaven Rd., L. onto Stewart Ave., L. to Saw Mill Run Blvd. and R. onto the Jug-handle. After that, turn left off the Jug handle into the Rite-Aid parking lot, or onto Ivyglen St. I'll make it a point to do this when there is another break in the weather.
zzwergel
2018-01-03 20:24:48
Thanks Z.  Nice video.  Good quality.  I'll have to give that intersection route you recommend a closer look some time.  Be safe out there.
fultonco
2018-01-03 20:49:42
Z, you called it.  "This is the stupidest intersection..." It ain't meant for pedestrians, or bicycles.
fultonco
2018-01-03 21:04:08
@Fultonco, What happened to the "Complete Streets" order that was in effect when this traffic light was installed? I'm pretty sure that is a City-owned traffic light based on its appearance. P.S. the bus stop on the jug-handle across from Glenbury St. was a really good idea because it takes an eternity to cross Saw Mill Run Blvd. here. After I was done at the store, I caught the Y49 back to Downtown from that stop.
zzwergel
2018-01-03 21:56:30
I don't know, Z.  Before the re-design, vehicular traffic there was a nightmare.  It is also a frequently flooded area.  I think complete streets was way down on the list of priorities. This is why cycling into Pittsburgh city proper, from the South Hills is so unpalatable.  Most every crossing of Route 51 is quite unfriendly to bicyclists and pedestrians. Smart move, with taking the bus back.  If you wanted to ride, once you were across 51, continue up Ivyglen and through the hillside neighborhood streets to Brownsville Road.  Then take it to 18th Street and down into the South Side.  Your ride on 51 was valiant but I wouldn't recommend doing it on a regular basis. I believe I have a video of that ride, in the downhill direction, in the thread called South Hills Commuting Films.  Would love to have your video on that thread as well.      
fultonco
2018-01-04 18:53:15
@fultonco, Another problem with cycling from the South Hills is Mt. Washington. In order to go from Mt. Lebanon, Dormont, Beechview, or Brookline; one would have to descend the Hill on W Liberty Ave. and then climb the back side of Mt. Washington on Warrington Ave., Boggs Ave., Woodruff St./Merrimac St or Southern Ave. just to have to descend Sycamore St., 18th St., P.J. McArdle Roadway., or Arlington Ave. If going from Bethel Park or Castle Shannon, it would be necessary to add inn at least one more climb of Castle Shannon Blvd. before the two mile long descent on W. Liberty Ave.
zzwergel
2018-01-04 20:24:34
What happened to the “Complete Streets” order that was in effect when this traffic light was installed? I’m pretty sure that is a City-owned traffic light based on its appearance. PennDOT redid that intersection, not the city, and PennDOT's understanding of Complete Streets is mostly "cater to both cars and trucks equally". Their money, their rules. I doubt the city had any say in it.
steven
2018-01-04 20:27:28
@Steven, Why does that traffic light look like the traffic lights on Smithfield St. in Downtown as well as the new traffic light on Butler St. at 46th St? Butler St. is also a state maintained road, but the traffic lights belong to the City of Pittsburgh.
zzwergel
2018-01-04 20:35:47
@Fultonco, In that video, you crossed the T tracks at Casswell. Why can't you just walk to Casswell and hop on the T there when you don't need your bike?
zzwergel
2018-01-04 20:39:59
How do you know those Butler Street traffic lights belong to Pittsburgh? I'd guess traffic light selection has to do with stuff like the width of the road, traffic speed, and maybe whether it's synchronized with other lights.
steven
2018-01-04 23:57:30
@Steven, There are many places in the city limits that have those type of traffic lights. Once you leave the city limits, you will no longer see the antique traffic lights such as on Butler St. at 52nd St. or the black traffic lights like on Butler St. at 40th St. The traffic lights seem to be dependent on the local municipality.
zzwergel
2018-01-05 13:19:40
@zz this is a bit complicated. Under PennDOT's Green Light Go program the state funds some signal systems on state roads, but allows the municipality in which they're located to actually operate them. http://pennshare.maps.arcgis.com/apps/OnePane/basicviewer/index.html?appid=a31ed30f42f849d591631140df98c2bb All of Pittsburgh's are managed in this manner. This generally means that the city is allowed to select their preferred hardware (signal poles and mast arms / cabinets / signal heads), software (computer system that runs the signal), and detection systems. This is why you see consistent design on newly replaced signals throughout the city. The state also generally defers to the city for timing of the signals, within reason. That being said, this program does not extend to the design of the actual streets the signals control, and as Steven said, the state does not have their own Complete Streets policy.
nmr
2018-01-05 13:53:56
@NMR, Don't crosswalks, pedestrian signals, etc have do do with the (City owned and operated) traffic lights?
zzwergel
2018-01-06 16:17:15
zzwergel Member 01/04/2018 at 8:24pm # In reply to your comments from this date, you are correct.  The hills that must be traversed, in order to get from town to the South Hills are big challenges.  Thrown in Route 51 and some of the other approaches, such as Brownsville Road, 88, West Liberty Avenue, Crane Avenue, Whited Street, and you have a daunting ride, no matter the skill level. Essentially, to get from downtown to Mount Lebanon, one  must climb two major hills and take on heavy traffic.  Some the side roads, besides adding distance to one's commute, are very steep and involve more frequent ups and downs. The Seldom Seen Greenway is an option but there seems to be no will to address that project.  Even if developed, it too is a major climb from 51 into the Beechview neighborhood, which is the home of 3 Dirty Dozen hills and a number of honorable mentions. If the Wabash Tunnel would ever be opened to cyclists and pedestrians, at least one big climb would be eliminated. As an aside, one of my co-workers is incredulous regarding the cyclist he sees who rides up that first portion of Potomac, from Banksville, without getting out of the seat.  That is a pretty amazing feat.
fultonco
2018-01-11 19:34:49
@Stu,
It’s State Route 88, so we’re talking PennDOT, not City Planning, for the design. And like Saw Mill Run Blvd, Penn Ave in Point Breeze, and West Carson Street, it’s designed to move cars, not people.
Why was this? I'm pretty sure that road predates widespread motor vehicle use. It was probably built to accommodate horses, buggies, and pedestrians, but not motor vehicles at first.
zzwergel
2018-02-15 01:09:02
What is a pedestrian supposed to do in this situation? This doesn't look like complete streets to me. This traffic light was installed in late 2016 before the Dirty Dozen
zzwergel
2018-02-16 23:13:02
Bump
zzwergel
2018-02-17 18:39:01
What is a pedestrian supposed to do in this situation? I think you're supposed to turn around, go back the way you came, and be thankful that some street planner has protected you from getting where you were going.
steven
2018-02-17 18:57:26
Why are there no crosswalks and/or pedestrian signals given this traffic light was installed in late 2016 after the Complete Streets ordinance took place? Is it because hanging up signs on the traffic light gantry posts cost less than getting out a jackhammer and chiseling out those triangular speed wedges, narrowing the approaches with a garden and sidewalk, installing pedestrian signals/buttons, and painting crosswalks so the few pedestrians that want/need to cross the intersection are protected by an exclusive pedestrian interval? Motorists shouldn't worry because the exclusive pedestrian interval will only occur if the button is activated and my proceed in turning right after stopping if the crosswalk is not activated. All this would make this problematic intersection much safer for all users. I got video of me biking through that very intersection on a Saturday afternoon. https://youtu.be/gBIztzHdGME?t=622 P.S. Why does the sidewalk from the bridge only extend downstream and not upstream as well forcing pedestrians to cross fast moving, non-stop traffic entering or exiting the bridge from/to the east?
zzwergel
2018-02-18 00:29:10
I need to grab photos of the Babcock-Siebert corner in Ross Twp. Signs posted on three corners saying “No pedestrian crossing”. It’s a T intersection.
stuinmccandless
2018-02-18 12:07:31
You can cross Siebert Rd. at Evergreen Rd. and you can cross Babcock Blvd. at 7th St. at Hillcrest Dr. which is one block either way.
zzwergel
2018-02-18 12:55:13
In practice, there isn’t any real problem getting across any part of this corner. It’s just laziness on someone’s part to put up signs than have a ped-xing button on these crossings. Something for Walk//Bike Ross to work on.
stuinmccandless
2018-02-18 19:53:05
@Stu, Just cross on green while making sure there is no traffic about to run you over Then why don't most of the signalized intersections in Lawrenceville which also lack pedestrian signals have the "No pedestrian crossing" signs as well?
zzwergel
2018-02-19 00:57:48
I just submitted a pedestrian signal request for the Washington Blvd./Allegheny River Blvd. intersection. 311 ID.  225509
zzwergel
2018-02-27 17:34:12
Is it possible for this sign to appear at signalized intersections on complete streets?
zzwergel
2018-02-28 23:46:03
That's a very pointed question. I feel like you have a specific location in mind. You would think in the hypothetical simple case that the answer would be no, but the reality is quite a bit more complicated. Pittsburgh has a complete streets policy (by law) and is advancing towards a vision zero policy (currently only an executive order I think). However, that's really about informing current and future design changes, but not necessarily backfilling these new design targets against all existing infrastructure. Design decisions are made differently than they used to, but many legacy designs still persist. It may take a long time before decisions are revisited or addressed unless the streetscape is changing or it is specifically prioritized by city leadership. Complete streets also don't mean that every street prioritizes every mode, and some street infrastructure will target one mode while de-prioritizing other modes.
benzo
2018-03-01 12:24:40
Vision Zero. Doesn't that mean no fatal car crashes?
Complete streets also don’t mean that every street prioritizes every mode, and some street infrastructure will target one mode while de-prioritizing other modes.
What does "Complete Streets" actually mean?
zzwergel
2018-03-01 17:13:38
Start by reading the Wikipedia article on the subject.
stuinmccandless
2018-03-02 19:26:35
I do not know where to post this, but I think it might belong here. Would installing BMUFL signs at each end and every 1/2 mile along the 45MPH posted speed limit section of Allegheny River Blvd. in both directions help reduce harassment? @RustyRed said in a post that those signs were recently installed along Becks Run Rd. There already have been "Share the road" signs along ARB for as long as I can remember as well as seeing a ghost bike across from Sandycreek Rd. I remember seeing the ghost bike and signs back in 2003-2006 when I was seeing a therapist in Penn Hills. I also noticed the shoulders are not wide enough to sideline disabled vehicles, but appear to have ample. room for pedestrians and an occasional bike. Don't forget there are many houses and businesses between Nadine Rd. and Sandycreek Rd. Residents need a place to walk their dogs and jog so the shoulder along there should remain clear for those activities. Eastbound shoulder wide enough to acomodate an occasional cyclist. Cyclists must take the lane westbound. "Share the road" sign. I'm pretty sure the people who live here do not appreciate speeding traffic in front of their house. Why is the house number 4829 and not 10400 as Allegheny River Blvd. is parallel to Frankstown Rd. 4829 should be in Lawrenceville given this is a continuation of Butler St.
zzwergel
2018-03-13 18:50:24
Would a stop sign here do any good?
zzwergel
2018-03-13 21:23:11
Bump!
zzwergel
2018-03-15 00:37:22
There are ways to calm traffic. Stop signs will do more harm than good. An overhead traffic light that cycles red green red green red green every 10 seconds would be more effective. Something like this. You can see it changes often, so will slow accordingly. A BMUFL sign here would be most welcome.
stuinmccandless
2018-03-17 17:56:21
'Why would a stop sign do more harm than good? Maybe put a sign saying something like "Bikes merge from left lane ahead" underneath the stop sign. Put up a sign with an arrow pointing to a green box warning of merging bikes from the left as well as  BMUFL signs and sharrows in the right lane to Craft Ave. Sharrows should be painted in the right lane from Craft Ave. to Schenley Dr.
zzwergel
2018-03-24 20:26:58
Push to top.
zzwergel
2018-03-26 19:23:00
Z, signs by themselves have little value, and the faster the ambient speed, the lesser that value, but the number line does not stop at zero. You can get negative value where you have a mere sign for speed control. Some drivers will see it and attempt to slow to the desired speed, but others will not, setting up the likelihood of rear-end collisions. A rapidly switching signal, like the video I posted, would have much better effect.
stuinmccandless
2018-03-30 20:15:33
I do not understand the reason for speeding here. There is a traffic light ahead that will more than likely require stopping. The traffic light is not going to wait for anyone. It will turn red and it will turn green at the same time regardless of how early in the cycle a vehicle arrives at the red light. Because of this, there is absolutely no need to use excessive speed prior to approaching a series of signalized intersections with large volumes of pedestrian traffic in all directions during every cycle. I think installing stop sign and rumble strips across the ramp to force vehicles to slow down.
zzwergel
2018-04-02 18:05:47
That’s the exit ramp from the Parkway East. Entirely possible traffic could be going 75 mph at the far end of that exit ramp, and most will be 50+. From that, the light at Craft is not yet visible. If you want to get them to 25, tops, with the expectation of slowing them to the 12-15 mph of bikes in that lane, you need to place a blatantly obvious traffic control device in such a manner that it will not cause more trouble than it solves. A rapidly changing light accomplishes exactly that. Signs do not.
stuinmccandless
2018-04-07 17:02:25
Sorry for being inactive. I am currently in Key West, Florida and returning this Saturday. Along the Overseas Highway, most of it has a parallel bike trail as well as very narrow bike lanes on each side. There are also very few traffic lights and crosswalks to aid in crossing the highway once you leave Stock Island. --Biking from 15th St. in Marathon to Publix grocery store: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tixGpyouzao --Biking from US-1 Mile 0 to Mile 3, Key West, Fl (Publix) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB9M5PdFOrE Here are some pictures of bike racks in Key West:
zzwergel
2018-04-24 12:02:41
Perrysville Ave. at Cemetery Ln. Crossing Perrysville Ave. from inbound bus stop is a bit dicey as there is a pedestrian signal, but no marked crosswalks. Also, Crossing the southern exit ramp from 279 is forbidden with a sign. The northbound exit ramp does not have such signage. There is also a complete lack of any sidewalk and there is no shoulder adjacent to the northbound travel lane. I encountered this yesterday after I alighted a returning O1 bus at that bus stop. on my way to Ross Garage to pick up my helmet and camera which I had left on a 91 bus earlier in the week. I mostly had to walk on the well-worn grass to the side of the road, but occasionally had to walk on the road itself between bursts of traffic. Judging on how worn the grassy area to the side of the road is, there probably should be a sidewalk there.
zzwergel
2018-05-08 14:34:46
Would the following be a good idea? The black limes indicate curb-cuts.
zzwergel
2018-05-11 20:45:23
Does anyone ever look at this? Should I keep posting or abandon this thread?
zzwergel
2018-05-14 13:05:06
It’s not you. I’ve been so tied up at work, I go days at a time without seeing the board or being on a bike. To address your question, it helps to document troublesome spots and explain the issues. Some are bad for biking, some are bad for pedestrians. Nothing will change without pointing out the problems. So even if nobody is responding, keep your camera running, and post away.
stuinmccandless
2018-05-19 18:52:15
No one of importance reads this thread. Ie, no elected officials or penndot decision makers. Thus while it is nice documenting these issues they need to be followed up with communications with people who actually can change things. (311 for city, penndot, county, etc)
edronline
2018-05-20 13:54:00
"No one of importance reads this thread." Speak for yourself please.
fultonco
2018-05-21 19:23:17
Clarification: Few (zero) people who themselves have the authority to act on a request peruse this thread as a matter of routine. But this does provide a handy place to post links to photos, describe situations, and discuss with others. That can then be sent as links to the people with the authority to act.
stuinmccandless
2018-05-21 22:00:06
I agree with you stu that it is a handy place to describe issues, but without the second step of connecting with officials to push for change it is really just an exercise in futility.
edronline
2018-05-22 05:48:52
I agree, to some extent. My thread on dangerous drain grates is coming up on 10 years, and a good many still aren’t fixed. I think a few that were, though, got attention directly or indirectly through that thread, so I can’t agree that commiserating on this thread is entirely a waste. What’s needed is to know how to follow up, and with whom.
stuinmccandless
2018-05-22 12:15:16
@Stu, Would a traffic light like the one shown above be of any use in that area by any chance?
zzwergel
2018-05-22 18:32:43
Adding signals by the Highland Park Bridge would accomplish little without additional changes. That spot might be a lost cause. I really don't know what you can fix there in terms of being able to use the bridge. Access to the bridge, both ends, sucks, and the sidewalk is rarely cleaned, often blocked. I would focus more on speed control on connecting roads, ability to get to the bridge on foot or bike, and haranguing whomever to keep the sidewalk clean and clear.
stuinmccandless
2018-05-26 10:11:30
@Stu, Do you know of anyone in the Aspinwall/Sharpsburg area who can go with me to do some sweeping on the sidewalks leading up to and on the bridge? It is supposed to be rainy tomorrow and on Monday and Tuesday, its supposed to go up to 89°F.
zzwergel
2018-05-26 14:08:50
I would not have been able to help, as I had out-of-town company. The best I can suggest is to put up flyers saying “Bridge cleanup project, meet at 9am Saturday at _____. Please bring tools and bags.” We did this one time on the West End Bridge. It took 5-6 of us most of a morning to sweep the upstream side. I rode there by bike but brought no tools. Someone had a pickup truck, so could haul away trash. We tried not to dump too much in the river; most went into bags. If you got this started, you would get help, if not immediately then eventually.
stuinmccandless
2018-05-28 16:24:21
@Stu, Why would installing traffic lights on the Highland Park Bridge not do any good? Also, are the areas in this video examples of urban sprawl? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKOhiHq8yJU
zzwergel
2018-05-28 17:38:13
They would be seen as more annoyance than purposeful. The bridge itself is posted 45 mph, and as far as I’m concerned, not usable by bike (in the traffic lane). Focus on what can be fixed: clear sidewalks, accessibility, ped/bike safety.
stuinmccandless
2018-05-28 22:41:51
HPB already has plans as part of the 28 widening at the hpb.
edronline
2018-05-29 06:54:16
@Ed, does the plan include a fence to keep litter off of the sidewalk?
zzwergel
2018-05-29 21:01:46
Z, fences are not going to keep litter off the sidewalk.
stuinmccandless
2018-05-31 07:08:57
HPB is bikeable in a group. I've done with Team Decaf and it wasn't too bad. Going solo is a different story.
chrishent
2018-05-31 13:51:16
My attention was caught by the comments about the West End Bridge Sidewalk, that of the Highland Park Bridge, and the idea of putting up a chain link fence to keep litter off.  I've often had the same thought. I rode over the West End Bridge recently, on the sidewalk, and noted a fair amount of glass.  Most of it seemed to come from recent fender benders where the small pieces of wreckage were apparently gathered up and just tossed over onto the sidewalk. It seems to me that a chain link fence, while not keeping everything from the sidewalk, would prevent this sort of dumping and would curtail the occasional beer bottle toss onto the sidewalk by a passing motorist.  If there is a reason why a fence wouldn't function in this way, please explain.
fultonco
2018-05-31 17:36:55
I found this one in Edgewood! You cannot cross Braddock Ave. from either side of this T-intersection by the GetGo. No pedestrian crossing sign on both corners of the access road. Why is this? It is not inharently dangerous to cross here if they were to install pedestrian signals with a 4 second advance before the access road gets a green light.
zzwergel
2018-07-30 21:08:34
@Stu, Can you explain why a fence won't help with garbage? What about a garbage can near the ends of the bridges?
zzwergel
2018-07-30 21:11:26
Maybe it will. Dani's experiment with the 40th St Bridge seems to be working pretty well.
stuinmccandless
2018-07-31 18:13:27
What experiment with the 40th St. Bridge?
zzwergel
2018-07-31 18:32:00
One woman in Millvale got so sick of the city, county and PennDOT pointing fingers at one another over sidewalk maintenance, she decided to take matters into her own hands. If you cross the upstream sidewalk, you will find her trash can. You can also donate to her expenses here.
stuinmccandless
2018-08-05 19:16:55
Forbes Ave. and Schenley Dr. Extension. 5th Ave. and University Pl. 5th Ave. at Darragh St./McKee Pl. Sign by the Eliza Furnace Trail trailhead parking lot in Greenfield.
zzwergel
2018-08-07 15:18:36
I rechecked within the past week. The corner of Babcock and Siebert in Ross Twp still has “No pedestrian crossing” signs across all four directions, quite a feat for a T intersection.
stuinmccandless
2018-08-08 07:37:43
Why are there these signs in Oakland?
zzwergel
2018-08-09 12:48:00
The one at University Place seems obvious. All cars exiting University Place must turn right, so if pedestrians crossed from the west side of University Place, they'd be contending with such cars. On the other hand, if they walk across the street to the east side of University Place, they can cross without interacting with any cars. The situation at Darragh/McKee and Forbes/Schenley is similar. By placing a pedestrian crossing on only one side of the intersection, they can ensure that turning cars are never in contention with pedestrians crossing the wide one-way road. It's an attempt to sacrifice some pedestrian convenience for safety.
steven
2018-08-10 03:08:39
What about this intersection in Brookville, PA https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1633902,-79.0977844,3a,60y,191.71h,91.61t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szzub2ivw8K-HtLPVoYuu9w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 "No pedestrian crossing" signs all the way around. What are pedestrians supposed to do? Jaywalk mid-block? Why can't pedestrians just cross on green like they would in Lawrenceville with its many traffic lights without pedestrian signals? Edit: I just noticed this intersection is along PA bike route V.
zzwergel
2018-11-28 19:14:23
Bringing back this old thread. It appears as if someone placed a trash can on the sidewalk at the Aspinwall end of the bridge. Speaking of bad intersections, I have a few.
  • Sewickley Bridge/Rt. 51--Pedestrians and cyclists have to cross the rightmost traffic lane in order to reach the bridge Thankfully, the traffic seems to come in bursts.
  • Negley Ave./Coral St.--No marked crosswalk across Negley Ave.
  • Negley Ave./Baum Blvd.--"No crossing" signs force pedestrians on the northern sidewalk of Baum Blvd. to cross Baum Blvd twice which almost got me run over.
  • Liberty Ave./14th St.--An RRFB should be installed to alert traffic of pedestrians crossing to get to/from the bus stop.
zzwergel
2019-09-11 22:12:16
Go to the Penndot complaint site to tell them about the trashcan on the sidewalk. If it's not them Penndot is nice enough to pass on the complaint to the right body (Allegheny county? O'Hara? Aspinwall?) Or a lot of times they'll just deal with it.its 200 times better than city of Pittsburgh 311. https://customercare.penndot.gov/Intranet/PennDOT/Press/eCCC.nsf/m_Start.xsp
edronline
2019-09-11 22:21:56
@Eric, I think someone placed it there so people would place there trash in it and not litter.
zzwergel
2019-09-12 03:20:35
SewBr/51, note the nearby ghost bike for Emily Jancart. That spot is a hellhole.
stuinmccandless
2019-09-12 07:22:36
Zach, I know that you like to explore new places but please be careful. We don't want to do a ghost bike for you.
edronline
2019-09-12 07:46:47
No, I did not see the ghost bike. Did the rumble strips on Rt 65 in Kilbuck Township get redone since the latest Google Streetview run? This section of Rt. 65 has a wide shoulder on the north/westbound side of the road. The only problem is that there are rumble strips that fill the entire shoulder creating a death trap for cyclists. Instead of cross-posting, I will post a link here. http://localhost/message-board/topic/route-65-ohio-river-blvd-public-meeting-on-wednesday-night-8-21/#post-365516
zzwergel
2019-09-13 05:12:34
What's the status of red light cameras in Pittsburgh? According to this map, Philadelphia has red light cameras (red dots on map) but our area has only license plate readers (brown dots), not red light cameras. Why? https://www.photoenforced.com/pennsylvania.html  
paulheckbert
2019-11-13 02:27:54
Pittsburgh passed an ordinance permitting them in 2013, as required by state law. Both the state law and the city ordinance were written to automatically expire after a certain number of years, unless renewed. PA has renewed theirs, and it currently expires in 2027. The text in the website I linked above suggests that Pittsburgh's ordinance expired on June 30, 2017. But perhaps city council renewed it and the website is out of date.
steven
2019-11-16 04:39:53
Liberty Ave. at 40th St., Lawrenceville/Bloomfield I think "No Pedestrian Crossing" signs should be installed across the eastern approach of Liberty Ave. Most traffic turns left off of 40th St. at this intersection. Pedestrians should cross Liberty Ave. on the western approach as less traffic turns right from Liberty Ave. making it safer to cross. Gamma Dr. at Zeta Dr., RIDC Park I think left turns from Zeta Dr. should be banned at all times as I was almost hit by a Jeep turning left from Zeta Dr. as I was riding south on Gamma Dr. from the P10 bus stop to Evolutionary Fitness in the dark. Also Installing a sidewalk on Alpha Dr. from the end of the bridge over Rt. 28 to Gamma Dr. would be nice given the worn in footpath here. Crosswalks should be painted across all three approaches of Alpha Dr. at Beta Dr. as well.
zzwergel
2019-11-16 18:40:54