Is Jacksonvile ready for a road diet?

[Metro Jacksonville]

Is Jacksonvile ready for a road diet?



Are the residents of Jacksonville willing to have one less four-lane road to create a more inviting atmosphere for pedestrians and bicyclist? Considering a road diet for Kings Road, just west of downtown, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will get the answer to this question and more, when it hosts a Public Hearing this month on the project.

Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2015-aug-is-jacksonvile-ready-for-a-road-diet

[Jax Friend]

I think this is great news for King St. It seems to me that some citizens interpret less traffic lanes as diminishing an areas economic viability. Riverside and Avondale are local examples of why that is not true, at least not at this scale. I think it is safe to argue that more economic activity is going on at 5-points and St. Johns Ave, both two lane streets. I only wish the project included other areas like Golfair/Norwood.

[tufsu1]

As noted above, some communities view 4-lane roads as a sign of prosperity and economic potential.  In those places, it can be an uphill battle showing what is really possible with a safer, context-oriented road design.

[mtraininjax]

The road diet include construction? I-95 seems to have new holes in it daily.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

As noted above, some communities view 4-lane roads as a sign of prosperity and economic potential.  In those places, it can be an uphill battle showing what is really possible with a safer, context-oriented road design.

True, but with that section cutting right through EWC's campus, you would hope that some of the more....  'progressive' (read-younger) types attending the college would show up in force to counter the status-quo way of thinking (read - elderly people that have nothing better to do than show up at these types of meetings).

I think Edgewood from Mayflower to Lenox would be a great candidate for this as well.

[thelakelander]

Edgewood would be an excellent corridor. However, to accommodate bike facilities, you'd probably be better off switching to reverse diagonal parking through Murray Hill.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Edgewood would be an excellent corridor. However, to accommodate bike facilities, you'd probably be better off switching to reverse diagonal parking through Murray Hill.

Slow your roll a bit, Lake.  Too many new concepts; too many old people still driving. 

I still haven't been backed into with the way it is, so I'm good.  Let's just add the bike lanes for starters. 

[thelakelander]

Haha. Let's simplify things!  

How about going with parallel parking and adding a median with a cycle track in the middle of it? 

[NaldoAveKnight]

Lake - that's awesome.  +1 for bike lines in the center.

Just got back from Washington state.  The pedestrians there just walk out into the street and don't even look for traffic.  The cars stop.  It's a cultural thing.  In Florida I always look twice before crossing a road and even then my head is on a swivel as I scurry across as fast as I can.  A complete separation from traffic is the only thing that's going to be successful in Florida.  I've had friends get hit by cars while on bikes. 

There was 3 years in the 90s where a bike was my primary mode of transportation.  Luckily I was never injured, however, there were many close calls.  Now that I'm older there's no way I would ride on a road where the only thing separating me from a car/truck/bus is a strip of paint.

[jaxnyc79]

Lake - that's awesome.  +1 for bike lines in the center.

Just got back from Washington state.  The pedestrians there just walk out into the street and don't even look for traffic.  The cars stop.  It's a cultural thing.  In Florida I always look twice before crossing a road and even then my head is on a swivel as I scurry across as fast as I can.  A complete separation from traffic is the only thing that's going to be successful in Florida.  I've had friends get hit by cars while on bikes. 

There was 3 years in the 90s where a bike was my primary mode of transportation.  Luckily I was never injured, however, there were many close calls.  Now that I'm older there's no way I would ride on a road where the only thing separating me from a car/truck/bus is a strip of paint.

Amen to that.  In Florida, cyclists need a total barrier from car traffic.  I don't even know if it's worth the expense creating bike lanes on these roads where the cars are going 45 to 60mph and all that separates the cyclists is a strip of paint.  Either create a "car parking" barrier between car traffic and cyclists, slow down traffic on roads designated as "bike compatible", or put a cycle track in the median (not seen this in practice before but really love the picture posted above).  Is a cycle track seriously being considered?

[exnewsman]

Edgewood would be an excellent corridor. However, to accommodate bike facilities, you'd probably be better off switching to reverse diagonal parking through Murray Hill.

That would be entertaining to watch.

[simms3]

Too many big trucks/SUVs in Jax for such a scheme.  Honestly.  My mother apparently just bought a full size SUV, and while what she bought can tow 6600 lbs, it's actually small compared to some of things I see around the city/state.  This is what we're talking about.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Now that I'm older there's no way I would ride on a road where the only thing separating me from a car/truck/bus is a strip of paint.

I guess you don't want to ride either of my routes?

Short route - from  Edgewood to Ortega Rd via US-17 and back through Riveside/5 pts.

Long route - Edgewood to Collins via US-17 and back via Blanding.

I do either one of these maybe twice a week 8 months out of the year and have yet to have even a close call.  Knock on wood?  I would love an outside line, but it's not really necessary.  Stay visible and stay consistent.

I feel safer on these wider highways, even with the speed difference, than I do riding on some of the slower, neighborhood streets because drivers 'feel' safer with that extra margin of a third lane.  I've had more close calls on Park and St. Johns than I've ever had on Blanding and 17.

[fieldafm]

Edgewood would be an excellent corridor. However, to accommodate bike facilities, you'd probably be better off switching to reverse diagonal parking through Murray Hill.

That would be entertaining to watch.

Back in angled parking (although unfamiliar in these parts) has been proven to reduce accidents.

[Amirjax1978]

Am I missing something? I thought Jacksonville already went thru road diet. San Marco and Hendricks. Also some roads in riverside too. So kind of late with this.