Archives For Pedestrians

Providence Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Agenda
January 23, 2013, 4:30 PM, 444 Westminster Street, First Floor

Note: Meeting is Wednesday instead of Monday due to the Martin Luther King Day holiday. Also, meetings start at 4:30pm now rather than 4 o’clock.

  1. 4:30 – Nate Urso, Providence Department of Public Works: Crosswalks, Street Repaving, Policy, and Safety (Nate will also give a brief update on the status of the Road Bond repaving in general)
  2. 4:55 – Dave Everett: Bike Plan Update and BPAC input on potential road bond bicycle improvements (Melrose, Prairie, Potters, Olney) and review of typical sections. Also plans for draft report and stakeholder meeting in Feb.
  3. 5:05 – Public comment.
  4. 5:20 – Discussion/letter re DOT bikeway plans (master list for bike plan)
  5. 5:25 – Jef Nickerson: S. Main St. merchant issues re pedestrian access/movement relative to I-Way parcels
  6. 5:30 – Jenn Steinfeld/Jef Nickerson: BPAC communications update/protocol for receiving input
  7. 5:40 – Bridge detours update
  8. 5:45 – Zip Car spaces and potential bike lane conflicts
  9. 5:55 – Rescheduling BPAC meetings now scheduled for May 20, August 19, November 18, December 16

Full disclosure: I am a member of this Commission.

A reader submits photos and commentary on common snow removal issues along North Main. Just a little extra effort would save hundreds of people from huge inconvenience and safety concerns.

Here are some snowy sidewalk pics that illustrate the not-my-job mindset. I am glad the long sidewalk along North Burial Ground on North Main Street has been getting plowed lately, although when the snow is deep enough to bog down their little tractor, they simply fuggedaboutit. But how hard would it be to drive that little tractor a few yards farther along and clear the traffic island at Cemetary Street?

NBG_Cem

On a side note, this intersection is a fine example of inappropriate high-speed design. Oh yeah, there is a stop sign, but most drivers scoot right on through and merge into N. Main at full speed, with heads turned left to check approaching traffic as if they were at a highway on-ramp instead of a crosswalk. Also, note how the sidewalk on the traffic island is where the plow driver who clears the lawyer’s lot dumps snow.

NBG_branch

I guess it a dead-serious matter of turf and good fences between Parks Dept and Public Works, (or RIDOT? Or the Feds? N Main is US 1, you know) that keeps the Parks Dept. tractor from plowing all the way to Branch Ave. It might take 90 seconds and cause huge paperwork and budget issues.

Snowy sidewalks

Jef Nickerson —  January 16, 2013 — 5 Comments

Yes, yes, the law says you have 8 hours until after the first light after it stops snowing to clear your sidewalk, blah, blah, blah… But, there is the law, and then there is sensibility and being a good neighbor.

2013-0116-snow01

Of course, I had no doubt, even though they are not open, and not required to do so, per usual, Angelo’s sidewalk is clear. It always is, it is like the sunrise, you know it will happen. This is an example of being a good neighbor and a good business person. This simple act creates amazing goodwill from me for Angelo’s.

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Up the block, The Old Canteen has been really good with the few snowfalls we’ve had this winter. That plow pulling out of the lot, the driver of that plow is the one who shoveled the sidewalk, I watched him finish up, put his shovel in his truck, and leave. Old Canteen obviously has an arrangement for both their parking lot and their sidewalks to be clear; satisfying the needs of their customers in cars and on foot obviously makes good business sense.

Continue Reading…

garibaldi-snow

Unfortunately, privatizing Garibaldi Park did not translate into the adjacent sidewalk being cleared of snow. As when the City was responsible for its maintenance, I had to walk in the street this morning.

Also, per usual, Lamar continues to fail to clear the snow from the bus stop here (and elsewhere I’m sure).


Update: Better late than never, as of Wednesday morning, the sidewalk is clear.

2013-0102-garibaldi-sidewalk

Regular Meeting • 4:00 PM, December 17, 2012
Doorley Building, 444 Westminster Street, 1st Floor • Providence, RI

  1. 4:00: Bike Providence Public Workshop Recap
  2. 4:20: Bike Providence and Beyond: Education Strategies for Drivers, Riders and Everyone Else
  3. 4:40: Public Comment
  4. 5:00: BPAC Communications Strategy
  5. 5:15: Updates (Snow Removal, Letters, etc.)
  6. 5:25: Schedule 2013 Meetings
  7. 5:30: Adjourn

See also: Bike Providence website for documents from last week’s public meeting.

Full disclosure: I am a member of this Commission.

Regular Meeting • 4:00 PM, November 19, 2012
Doorley Building, 444 Westminster Street, 1st Floor • Providence, RI

Note: Location is different than last month.

  1. Snow Removal/Safety Issues and Regulations and Enforcement (Guest: Peter Gaynor, Providence Emergency Management Agency)
  2. Bike Providence Plan Update (Bill DeSantis, VHB)
  3. Announcement of/outreach for December 13, 2012 Bike Providence Public Workshop
  4. Local Bicycle Regulation Amendments
  5. Allens Avenue Update/BPAC Letter to DOT (Matthew Moritz)
  6. Businesses and Bike Lanes – Letter from BPAC (Jenn Steinfeld)
  7. Issue Updates/Public Comment

Full disclosure: I am a member of this Commission.

smiller nyc bike detour


This is what I’m talking about when I say we need to make sure proper passage is afforded for pedestrians (and bikes) at construction zones.

Providence Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission
October 22, 2012, 4:00 PM
Providence Chamber of Commerce Board Room
30 Exchange Terrace, Providence, RI

Note new location

  • 4:00: Review of bicycle regulations
  • 4:20: Discussion of snow removal issues and solutions
  • 4:35: Discussion of Complete Street issues related to the proposed Road Bond
  • 4:45: Bike parking: developing a citywide strategy to increase parking infrastructure [Guest James Baumgartner]
  • 4:55: Allens Ave bike lane sweeping and parking enforcement [Guests from JWU]
  • 5:05: Enforcement issues related to: Intersection blocking and Crosswalk encroachment Enforcement of No Parking in Bike Lanes/Crosswalks Tickets/Citation criteria for bicycle/automotive incidents [Police invited]
  • 5:20: Open forum
  • 5:30: Adjourn

Full disclosure: I am a member of this Commission.

olneyville 001

Update: This project was done by the City without the involvement of RIDOT, which makes the entire situation worse actually.

Urban Design by RIDOT! Was the City complicit? I’m almost at a loss for words about the thoughtlessness in locating a new traffic signal control box within a public plaza in Olneyville Square. If this happened in Wayland Square instead, there would be protest demonstrations. The photos speak for themselves regarding alignment and adjacencies to building frontages and the information kiosk. How many 10′s of thousands or dollars did they spend on this piece of junk? Is this urban design by traffic engineers? This is as bad as when they place signal arm pole bases in the center of sidewalks so that people have to walk in the street. There should be a law against this. Or better yet the Design Review Commission should review all RIDOT installations within the City. Since Olneyville is a less affluent neighborhood, I suppose we should expect this new control box to sit where it is for the next 40 or 50 years. I guess the consolation is that there are new fake old streetlights.

olneyville 002

The next meeting of the Providence Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission will be Monday, October 22, 2012 at 04:00pm at the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce board room, 30 Exchange Terrace, Providence, RI 02903

The Agenda is not finalized yet.