Tiny Helmets Big Bikes
Check us out!
  • Home
  • Us
  • Blog: We Ride
  • FAQ
  • Our Fleet
  • Adventures
  • Getting Started
  • Contact Us

Transportation "planning" downtown

3/31/2013

11 Comments

 
My commute used to be lovely. After dropping off my little ones and scamming food from my mother, I rode down the quiet Midtown streets with decent bike lanes. When I got to the downtown area, I rode through a parking lot and then through the Amtrak station and into Old Town. It's a wonderful ride, at least it was until they recently decided to make some changes. 

In preparation for this new "arena" that seems to be so important to Sacramento's well-being, they've started gutting, building, and paving through my ride to Old Town. Also as part of this big retrofit, Amtrak is doing a remodel. 
Picture
Along with this mess, Amtrak decided to close off the only opening within blocks to Old Town, one that we've been using for years. I can understand that they don't want bikes riding on the station platform, knocking over pedestrians. However, this route is all road except for the last 100 feet or so when it becomes a road that leads to the parking lot. 

They've put up signs (thankfully small signs that are easily missed) banning bikes and non-Amtrak personnel. Truthfully, I continue to ride through, yielding to everyone and the Amtrak shuttles (because they moved the tracks so far from the station that many people can't walk the distance). 

The downtown streets don't offer much alternative. 
Picture
Even with the new bike lanes, there are no other options than this horrible sharrow situation. I street loses its bike lane right in front of the jail and is replaced by a "sharrow"--a painted symbol showing where a biker is supposed to ride in the traffic lane. Check the placement for this sharrow below. Unless you can ride through parked cars, the sharrows aren't going to do any good. To make matters worse, the freeway onramps in the next block force the rider to merge four lanes of heavy traffic to get to the only street that takes you to Old Town. 
Picture
So unless one feels like riding the long way around on the American River Parkway, take to the sidewalk, or ride out of your way, these are your only options. They're also talking about closing off the ARP entrance to Old Town. There's nothing mentioned about repaving the deteriorating trail or continuing the section to the J st. bridge so you don't have to get off the trail and ride the cobblestones of Old Town. 

It seems to me like there is a lot of construction going on without much thought to bicyclists trying to get through downtown. If there is a brighter picture to be had at the end of this, I'd love to know about it. At the moment, it looks like it'll be a year of extra hassle followed by an increase of traffic. I'm not looking forward to this mess of an arena and the headaches it's going to cause--people driving in to shows and games from the nearby towns, clogging up downtown. Do we really need more people in cars after having a few beers while watching the Kings? There is so much money being spent and all the profits are poised to go into a couple rich guys' pockets. Why can't we focus on "thinking small" and dealing with Sacramento's issues before glossing over everything and spending money we don't have? 

Stockton built an arena downtown, too. It made them go bankrupt.

I'm going to add to my original post--AJ is right about needing proper infill and getting some goon infrastructure going in that wasteland area by the train station. I am not aware of the details behind the construction only that my transportation options have become severely limited without driving. The I street option above is too scary for most people, K street is impractical with the light rail tracks and platforms and the mall in the way, and R street is out of the way for people coming from the Midtown area. Whether the arena is the main focus or not, safe routes for biking should have been established before closing one of the major Old Town entrances. That was obviously not  on the planners' minds when they started developing this area.

Second, I still don't feel that the arena is going to add anything but more congestion, drivers, and debt. I hope I am wrong.
11 Comments
AJ
3/31/2013 03:04:47 pm

The construction has absolutely nothing to do with an arena and everything to do with adding infrastructure to one of the country's largest urban infill sites to allow it to develop.

Reply
Tim
3/31/2013 03:30:43 pm

Arena or not, the construction has consistently reduced pedestrian and bike access, often cutting routes off entirely. The "bike lanes" on I street are a cruel joke that wasted resources. The "planners" have failed to plan for a safe way for pedestrians and cyclists to get to and from Old Sacramento.

Reply
Elle Bustamante
3/31/2013 03:31:52 pm

It'll be interesting to see how it all goes. Do you know if they have any plans to fix the bike routes through this area?

Reply
AJ
3/31/2013 03:52:43 pm

Sounds like you both should become acquainted with the City's bike planner and express your thoughts and concerns directly with the city council.

Dale
3/31/2013 04:57:05 pm

I go through/around these barriers regularly and it is much harder now as Elle describes. This work is part of the rail yard re-development with or without the new arena and the handling of bike commuters and pedestrians was not well planned for, if it was even thought of. I talked to some of the workers the day the main parking lot/alley was cut off and they admitted they hadn't realized what new barriers were going up but they did realize it would affect many on a daily basis which is true. This will apparently be the case for the next year. I haven't had a chance to talk to Ed Cox, city bike coordinator about it yet, but plan to do so soon.

Dale

Reply
kate
4/1/2013 01:55:44 am

AJ - I'd love some specific contact/ information on how to get involved. I often find the cities inner workings daunting.
I also have a very difficult time getting through Old Sac and downtown. I am usually coming from the other direction - NATO as area so lately I've been opting for K street which is also has many problems including bike lanes over light rail tracks and through loading platforms. The only "good" way is R street but getting there from the ARP is only possible coming through the dirt section by the museum, so if they close that I'm no longer going to be able to ride to Old Sac. :(

Reply
AJ
4/1/2013 04:25:51 pm

Kate I'd start with your local Councilmember's office, which for you would be Angelique Ashby in Natomas I believe. She has staff who's job it is to connect with residents and help them get involved or at least take in ideas/complaints/concerns. A call over to the downtown Councilmember Steve Hansen might be appropriate as well given that the work is occurring in his area. You don't get to vote for/against him though, so I'd start with Angelique.

Reply
Jessie link
4/1/2013 05:25:55 am

hope you can all continue to commute safely.

Reply
Michelle B. link
4/3/2013 07:04:32 am

I have ridden from East Sacramento over to Old Sac once and I have to say, it was rather daunting. I ultimately walked my bike through the mall to get over to Old Sac and took to the wide sidewalk to get back to the downtown area. I can't imagine riding by all of the freeway entrances with passengers either!

Reply
KYouell link
4/7/2013 05:11:43 am

I know I've been biking for 2 years now and only in the glorious People's Republic of Portland, but I think I would take the lane on L and J Streets. Be a nice, big, slow bike in the slow lane. Perhaps get a small sign for the back of the bike (thinking like a banner but smaller) with the statute that says you have the right to the lane? Goodness, it all sounds hard and dangerous.

Reply
KYouell
4/7/2013 05:18:34 am

I was thinking the text in this one: http://brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/baufl-bicycles-allowed-full-lane.jpg

But looking more like this one:
http://bicycledriving.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/mayusefulllane.gif

A comment on the website where I saw the 2nd one said that their research showed that the word "may" was a problem for drivers; it gave them the impression that they could decide if what the person on the bike was doing was appropriate. Still seems to me that a white sign with black letters is better for the back of a bike.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    This is us. We're fun. 

    Picture

    Archives

    April 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

    Categories

    All
    30 Day Challenge
    365 Days Of Biking
    Adventure Cycling
    Amtrak
    Big Brother
    Big Brother
    Bike Camping
    Bike Camping
    Bike Friday
    Bikes!
    Bikes!
    Bionx
    Breakfast Club
    Breezer
    Bullitt
    Car Freedom
    Car Freedom
    Carrying Kids
    Carrying Kids
    Carrying Loads
    Carrying Loads
    Cycle Truck
    Cyclofemme
    Daily Errands
    Diy
    Family Rides
    Family Rides
    Hauladay
    Isla Bike
    Kidical Mass
    Little Brother
    Little Brother
    May Is Bike Month
    Mobic
    Overnights
    Positivity
    Practical Cycle
    Sacramento River Parkway
    Safe Routes To School
    Safety
    School Commute
    Solo Kids
    Strider Bike
    Sun Shade
    The League
    Tour De Whine
    Weather
    Whimsical Cycle
    Yuba Mundo
    Yuba Mundo

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.