#JustinsTrafficJam

[Anonymous]

Where on Seminary Road is the diet?

[Anonymous]

It was a bad idea but I have little sympathy for those residents stuck sitting in traffic.

You all love happily voted in these liberals with all there idealistic and privileged lifestyles and now want to whine. The City was too busy changing the name of Columbus Day to worry about nonsense like traffic in the City. And beside, everyone should be ditching their cars, walking more because they are shopping local so all those bike lines are absolutely needed. Without them, how will residents prove how liberal they are

[Anonymous]

Agreed with PP,

You voted these people in!! Now deal with their liberal ideas!
Wait, your gonna move somewhere else now and vote for these same types of people again....

[Anonymous]

What a nutty and ignorant thread.

The city hasn't even finished implementing the road diet or tweaking the traffic signals to make all of this work.

The road wasn't reduced from 4 to 2 lanes. In most stretches of the road it has always effectively been 1 lane moving in each direction because of cars queued up to make left turns and there is now a dedicated left turn lane so once everyone figures out the new traffic pattern it is likely to be a wash.

Yes in some sections of the road between intersections you won't be driving as fast because traffic will be confined to one lane.

But around the intersections the roads carrying capacity will be about the same as before.

The carrying capacity of a road is determined not by the top speed but by the average speed and the average speed isn't likely to budge much and during the AM and PM rush hour it has always been a bit low and the rest of the day Seminary has way more capacity than needed.

And I love the comments about no one seeing bikers on a project that is not even completed yet - did you expect some magical pied bicycle piper was going to lead all the cyclists out onto the road on the first cold week of the year? It will take time before people are aware the bike lanes are even there and change their habits to use them.

This type of road diet is actually pretty common and has worked well elsewhere including in our region and it works because it really doesn't reduce the roads carrying capacity very much.

But expecting anxious drivers around here who can't zoom around as quickly as they want to in their imported SUV's to be patient is obviously too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a nutty and ignorant thread.

The city hasn't even finished implementing the road diet or tweaking the traffic signals to make all of this work.

The road wasn't reduced from 4 to 2 lanes. In most stretches of the road it has always effectively been 1 lane moving in each direction because of cars queued up to make left turns and there is now a dedicated left turn lane so once everyone figures out the new traffic pattern it is likely to be a wash.

Yes in some sections of the road between intersections you won't be driving as fast because traffic will be confined to one lane.

But around the intersections the roads carrying capacity will be about the same as before.

The carrying capacity of a road is determined not by the top speed but by the average speed and the average speed isn't likely to budge much and during the AM and PM rush hour it has always been a bit low and the rest of the day Seminary has way more capacity than needed.

And I love the comments about no one seeing bikers on a project that is not even completed yet - did you expect some magical pied bicycle piper was going to lead all the cyclists out onto the road on the first cold week of the year? It will take time before people are aware the bike lanes are even there and change their habits to use them.

This type of road diet is actually pretty common and has worked well elsewhere including in our region and it works because it really doesn't reduce the roads carrying capacity very much.

But expecting anxious drivers around here who can't zoom around as quickly as they want to in their imported SUV's to be patient is obviously too much.

I am pretty sure the bikers that you are waiting for are the same much ones that ride on King St bike lanes. So that would be 3 or 4 at most - on the weekends only of course

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a nutty and ignorant thread.

The city hasn't even finished implementing the road diet or tweaking the traffic signals to make all of this work.

The road wasn't reduced from 4 to 2 lanes. In most stretches of the road it has always effectively been 1 lane moving in each direction because of cars queued up to make left turns and there is now a dedicated left turn lane so once everyone figures out the new traffic pattern it is likely to be a wash.

Yes in some sections of the road between intersections you won't be driving as fast because traffic will be confined to one lane.

But around the intersections the roads carrying capacity will be about the same as before.

The carrying capacity of a road is determined not by the top speed but by the average speed and the average speed isn't likely to budge much and during the AM and PM rush hour it has always been a bit low and the rest of the day Seminary has way more capacity than needed.

And I love the comments about no one seeing bikers on a project that is not even completed yet - did you expect some magical pied bicycle piper was going to lead all the cyclists out onto the road on the first cold week of the year? It will take time before people are aware the bike lanes are even there and change their habits to use them.

This type of road diet is actually pretty common and has worked well elsewhere including in our region and it works because it really doesn't reduce the roads carrying capacity very much.

But expecting anxious drivers around here who can't zoom around as quickly as they want to in their imported SUV's to be patient is obviously too much.

Hmmmm. This looks eerily familiar to the response i received from Justin Wilson about the bike lanes. You either work for the City of Alexandria or the bike lobby.

I do wish the magical pied bicycle piper would lead all the cyclists into the bike lanes on either King Street or Seminary Road. I would bring out my lawn chair so that I could see a bicyclist in a bike lane on either street.

Since you are so well informed on the subject, can you explain why the city correctly provided three left turn lanes from Seminary Road onto Beauregard St. to accommodate the increased traffic to Mark Center but did not realize that when that traffic made a right turn back onto Seminary Road, it should not be shuttled into a single lane after crossing Rt 395?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a nutty and ignorant thread.

The city hasn't even finished implementing the road diet or tweaking the traffic signals to make all of this work.

The road wasn't reduced from 4 to 2 lanes. In most stretches of the road it has always effectively been 1 lane moving in each direction because of cars queued up to make left turns and there is now a dedicated left turn lane so once everyone figures out the new traffic pattern it is likely to be a wash.

Yes in some sections of the road between intersections you won't be driving as fast because traffic will be confined to one lane.

But around the intersections the roads carrying capacity will be about the same as before.

The carrying capacity of a road is determined not by the top speed but by the average speed and the average speed isn't likely to budge much and during the AM and PM rush hour it has always been a bit low and the rest of the day Seminary has way more capacity than needed.

And I love the comments about no one seeing bikers on a project that is not even completed yet - did you expect some magical pied bicycle piper was going to lead all the cyclists out onto the road on the first cold week of the year? It will take time before people are aware the bike lanes are even there and change their habits to use them.

This type of road diet is actually pretty common and has worked well elsewhere including in our region and it works because it really doesn't reduce the roads carrying capacity very much.

But expecting anxious drivers around here who can't zoom around as quickly as they want to in their imported SUV's to be patient is obviously too much.

This is some PR shenanigans. If you go east on Seminary towards Quaker, to turn left into Quaker it’s one lane for straight and left turn combined, then a random bike lane that ends right there and then a designated right turn lane to go south into Quaker. There USED to be a left turn lane, but now it’s one lane for both turning and going straight. It’s a nightmare. So if you want to go straight but a car ahead of you wants to turn left to go north on Quaker you have to wait for that car to be able to turn. And what results is a large back of up traffic trying to go straight on Seminary/ Janney’s. What urban planner planned that?! This is how cars have to wait several light cycles to get through that intersection.

And since sooo many bikers wanted this random bike lane where are they? Yes I do expect to see them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a nutty and ignorant thread.

The city hasn't even finished implementing the road diet or tweaking the traffic signals to make all of this work.

The road wasn't reduced from 4 to 2 lanes. In most stretches of the road it has always effectively been 1 lane moving in each direction because of cars queued up to make left turns and there is now a dedicated left turn lane so once everyone figures out the new traffic pattern it is likely to be a wash.

Yes in some sections of the road between intersections you won't be driving as fast because traffic will be confined to one lane.

But around the intersections the roads carrying capacity will be about the same as before.

The carrying capacity of a road is determined not by the top speed but by the average speed and the average speed isn't likely to budge much and during the AM and PM rush hour it has always been a bit low and the rest of the day Seminary has way more capacity than needed.

And I love the comments about no one seeing bikers on a project that is not even completed yet - did you expect some magical pied bicycle piper was going to lead all the cyclists out onto the road on the first cold week of the year? It will take time before people are aware the bike lanes are even there and change their habits to use them.

This type of road diet is actually pretty common and has worked well elsewhere including in our region and it works because it really doesn't reduce the roads carrying capacity very much.

But expecting anxious drivers around here who can't zoom around as quickly as they want to in their imported SUV's to be patient is obviously too much.

This is some PR shenanigans. If you go east on Seminary towards Quaker, to turn left into Quaker it’s one lane for straight and left turn combined, then a random bike lane that ends right there and then a designated right turn lane to go south into Quaker. There USED to be a left turn lane, but now it’s one lane for both turning and going straight. It’s a nightmare. So if you want to go straight but a car ahead of you wants to turn left to go north on Quaker you have to wait for that car to be able to turn. And what results is a large back of up traffic trying to go straight on Seminary/ Janney’s. What urban planner planned that?! This is how cars have to wait several light cycles to get through that intersection.

And since sooo many bikers wanted this random bike lane where are they? Yes I do expect to see them.

You will never seen bikers on Seminary Rd. At best you may see an occasional runner or a witless nanny pushing a stroller in the bike lanes as I have seen on King St. A similar things happens on KinSt with one lane being straight and right turn at Kenwood Ave. right turners could nice clear the lane by turning right into Kenwood. Most mornings I have to wait at least one light cycle to go right on Kenwood.

As another poster noted only one of the bike lobbyists lives off Seminary. They live in condos or rental buildings away from Seminary and King but the mayor and council bowed to their wishes.

[Anonymous]

The term “road diet” is such PR BS.

“Road Chokehold” is more appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a nutty and ignorant thread.

The city hasn't even finished implementing the road diet or tweaking the traffic signals to make all of this work.

The road wasn't reduced from 4 to 2 lanes. In most stretches of the road it has always effectively been 1 lane moving in each direction because of cars queued up to make left turns and there is now a dedicated left turn lane so once everyone figures out the new traffic pattern it is likely to be a wash.

Yes in some sections of the road between intersections you won't be driving as fast because traffic will be confined to one lane. Yes, afterall 1 or 3 mph is not as fast as 25 to 30 mph.

But around the intersections the roads carrying capacity will be about the same as before. “About the same” is subjective nonsense. Care to share some data, Professor?

The carrying capacity of a road is determined not by the top speed but by the average speed and the average speed isn't likely to budge much and during the AM and PM rush hour it has always been a bit low and the rest of the day Seminary has way more capacity than needed. Again, data, Professor?

And I love the comments about no one seeing bikers on a project that is not even completed yet - did you expect some magical pied bicycle piper was going to lead all the cyclists out onto the road on the first cold week of the year? It will take time before people are aware the bike lanes are even there and change their habits to use them. Ah, so I see there’s some social engineering afoot here as well. You essentially just admitted that there is not enough current demand for the bike lanes, but once they’re constructed, the city expects residents and commuters to happily ditch their cars and pick up a bicycle. This is wishful baloney.

This type of road diet is actually pretty common and has worked well elsewhere including in our region and it works because it really doesn't reduce the roads carrying capacity very much. Care to cite some examples, Professor?

But expecting anxious drivers around here who can't zoom around as quickly as they want to in their imported SUV's to be patient is obviously too much. Ouch! What an insult! How long did it take to dream that zinger up???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The term “road diet” is such PR BS.

“Road Chokehold” is more appropriate.

I agree. I prefer "safer streets for everyone."

[Anonymous]

I ride the lanes on King Street. Yes only on weekends, because its not on my way to work. Whenever I ride there is see others riding in them. I also regularly see runners using them. I also see more people walking on the sidewalk than I used to, probably because the added buffer makes walkers feel safer. I also find it more pleasant to drive on than it used to be. And I know people who do use it on weekdays.

[Anonymous]

As for Seminary I've looked at the data on the City website, I've looked at google traffic, I have heard what opponents say about traffic on the road, I have heard what supporters say, and I have heard from a "neutral".

Without going into detail, not all the above sources say the same thing. I would like to wait for a discussion using objective data.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As for Seminary I've looked at the data on the City website, I've looked at google traffic, I have heard what opponents say about traffic on the road, I have heard what supporters say, and I have heard from a "neutral".

Without going into detail, not all the above sources say the same thing. I would like to wait for a discussion using objective data.

Fascinating.

[Anonymous]

The data is actually pretty clear. That segment of Seminary experiences traffic volumes that made it an inappropriate candidate for a "road diet". It only will get worse with the temporary relocation of the elementary school, and you have to take into account annual growth (assumed by the City to be 2%/year). I'm not aware of any hard numbers on bicycle usage, but I'd be shocked if average daily traffic - measured the same way as is done for car traffic and taking into account bad weather months) ever exceeds 50/day.