New "sharrows on steroids" are being tested In the Allston neighborhood of Boston. Are the markings - parallel dashed lines bracketing a bicycle icon - a legitimate improvement on the controversial practice or "an underwhelming innovation"?
"A new set of street markings on Allston’s Brighton Avenue aren’t simply an errant set of dashes installed by city staff with extra paint — they’re part of a national experiment to test innovative bike facilities," writes Martine Powers.
Wanting to boost the bike-friendliness of Brighton Avenue, but without the ability to remove a travel lane or parking, Boston bike czar Nicole Freedman and her staff took inspiration from Peter Furth, civil engineering professor and bike infrastructure expert at Northeastern University, who developed the idea [PDF] for the beefed-up sharrows.
"Some may view the addition of dashed lines to the sides of sharrow icons an underwhelming innovation," notes Powers. "But Freedman said she believes drivers will intuitively see the dashed lines as an indication that they should use the left-hand lane if traffic is free-flowing, leaving a wide berth for cyclists in the right-hand lane it’s not rush hour gridlock."
FULL STORY: New ‘sharrows on steroids’ debut on Allston’s Brighton Ave.
$1.2 Billion in Federal Funding Sought for Boston-Area Road Project
The city of Boston and Massachusetts Department of Transportation have applied to a $5 billion federal grant program aimed at ‘unusually large and complex projects.’
Op-Ed: Postponing Transit in Allston Will Cost Boston
As the state plans a major renovation to the Massachusetts Turnpike, whether an Allston transit hub is built or delayed may determine how effectively the surrounding neighborhood develops.
What a 'Bicycle Stress Map' Reveals About the Streets of Montgomery County
A new map quantifies the stress levels for bike riders on the streets of Montgomery County, Maryland.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?
Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.
Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.
LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions