Dear Janet and Highland Park Neighbors, When members of the Highland Park Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety Committee saw your message outlining concerns about the Euclid Ave Neighborway, we hoped hearing from some of your neighbors who are advocates for the project might be useful. First, we want to say that we really appreciate that you took time to document your concerns. While we feel strongly that the neighborway is a good development for Euclid Ave, as a resident, you have an important perspective. We thought it best to address your concerns point by point at least from our perspective and understanding so far. 1. I am concerned that residents/homeowners on N. Euclid (I am one) were not asked for our thoughts prior to the city making these neighborway plans for N. Euclid. I only learned of these plans as a result of the HPCC meeting, and the neighborway plans appeared already set at that time. The good news is there is still plenty of time for feedback about these proposals. We understand completely how frustrating it feels to be blindsided with changes that directly affect you - we have definitely all been there. So please voice your concerns, but we ask you also take the time to review the resources in this message - especially the upcoming public meeting and online survey feedback form - to be sure your concerns remain after reading more about the project and examples in other places. 2. The N. Euclid neighborway plans are likely to change the character of the street. A lot of us who live on N. Euclid have put and continue to put a lot of time and money into making our homes and yards into well-kept, lovely, somewhat serene places. The changes that are being planned will make N. Euclid a much more trafficked street than it currently is. The traffic will be of a different sort, i.e., bikes and pedestrians, but it will likely be very increased traffic of bikes and pedestrians. A significant increase in traffic changes the nature of the living experience. There will likely be more noise and activity in general. If I had wanted to live on a trafficked street, I would have bought a house on Highland or Negley. The intent of the neighborways is exactly the opposite of what you describe; in other places neighborways have proven to improve street life and create a vibrant, yet human scale of transport and interaction. We are excited and optimistic the same will be true on Euclid Ave. Our hope is that the changes are positive, both for bicyclists and pedestrians who would now have a safe, low-motorist passage through the neighborhood, and for those who live on the street, who will likely see fewer cars zooming through because of the traffic circles and other landscaping changes. That said, we understand why you would have these concerns. We encourage you to read the fact sheet, view the videos, and see the sample photos attached. 3A. I believe in the health and climate-change positive effects of bike riding. However, bicyclists and pedestrians don’t always co-exist well. Bicycles can be dangerous, in some ways more dangerous than cars because you often can't hear a bicycle when it comes near you. That means you may not even be aware that a bicycle is approaching when you start to cross a street so it would be much easier for a bike to hit you. The goal of the traffic circles in the neighborway are the same for traffic circles for cars - to slow down traffic and encourage travel at a safe speed. In most cases neighborhood traffic circles work better than stop signs to help slow traffic and keep a calmer neighborhood atmosphere. Most bicyclists have bells on their bikes. This could be factored into the design and communications - maybe even a sign about ringing a bell or watching for pedestrians. While we understand this point, we still maintain that a street full of pedestrians and bicycles moving at a maximum of 10 mph is vastly safer than cars moving up to 35 mph on residential streets. 3B. Unfortunately many bike riders either don’t know or don’t care about the rules of safe road sharing. Tuesday when I went out to grocery shop, I was driving my car and waiting for the light to change at East Liberty Blvd when a bicyclist approached the intersection as the light changed. He was in the wrong lane on the Blvd (which is a divided street) and going in the wrong direction. The light had fully changed, but he continued going straight across the intersection. If I were not a watchful driver and if I had started up immediately when my light turned green, there would likely have been a fatal accident. While many bikers are great about biking carefully and lawfully, I have seen many who are not. I am extra careful when I drive by someone on a bicycle because I am never sure what a bicyclist is going to do. The vast majority of bicyclists using Euclid Ave are likely to be your very neighbors themselves - people who live in the neighborhood, use the route for commuting and pleasure, and who share your goals of safe streets for everyone. That said, it is true that at times a few bicyclists give the rest of us a bad name. Thank you for being a watchful motorist. If all motorists were like you, there would be far fewer injuries of all kinds on our streets: pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists alike. Interestingly, studies show that bicyclists on the whole are actually more law-abiding (albeit slightly) than motorists. See here if you’re interested in the study. 4. The renderings for the traffic circles planned for N. Euclid show trees in the circles, making them look attractive. However, the early HPCC information about the city’s plans said that this neighborway was being tried out, implying that it could be changed back if it didn’t work out. Now you can’t readily change back a treed traffic circle (and I am VERY against cutting down any trees given how helpful they are in fighting climate change) so I didn’t really understand how they could say this was simply a trial. I would like to know if it would really be possible to change this project back if a lot of us think it isn’t working well. Good question. It’s a good one to bring it to the public meeting. 5. I don’t think it makes sense to start or do a non-essential project like this neighborway during the extremely challenging times in which we are currently living. The funds were earmarked for projects like this in the past capital budget which was formed back in 2018. As you may know, it is extremely difficult or even impossible to move funds between departments. Projects are extremely slow to develop and can often take years. Further, while it is true the City will be facing a deficit, we don’t believe it is a zero-sum game - that is, we can and should move forward on projects that increase the safety of our streets and beautify our neighborhoods, even (or perhaps especially) in challenging times. Janet, while we don’t expect you to change your mind and agree with us overnight, we hope that you will take this response as a good faith effort to hear and respond to your concern. Further, please be assured there are ample opportunities for you to provide your feedback and voice your concerns. Thank you for writing and please let us know if you’d like to talk further. I’ve pasted some resources below, including the links referenced above. We’d be happy to even get together on Zoom if you have further questions. With thanks, Your Neighbors at the Highland Park/East Liberty Bike/Ped Committee. Public meeting: https://www.facebook.com/events/565153150870071/ Feedback form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdK_hPOgHUbkmkoZtrnbued09VH2WErgKVu... Info on neighborways: https://pittsburghpa.gov/domi/neighborways Video of neighborways in action: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLDrGfXyxfnZOtIlbT2tj9g Traffic circles briefing: NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CIRCLES Briefing: In an effort to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities and create a more livable city, the City of Pittsburgh employs several “traffic calming” tactics in order to slow down vehicle speeds. Whether you drive, walk, roll, or play, traffic calming will make your street safer, and improve your transportation options. One proven method that the City plans to expand the use of is “Neighborhood Traffic Circles” aka Mini Roundabouts. This type of intersection has the added benefits of traffic calming and are intended for minor intersections on residential streets with low volumes. They are different from roundabouts in that they are smaller, less expensive, and can be retrofitted into most existing stop-controlled intersections. Essentially, Neighborhood Traffic Circles are created when an obstruction is placed in the middle of the intersection requiring drivers to simply slow down and circulate around, always travelling to the right. Oncoming traffic is expected to yield to vehicles already in the intersection. They may be installed using simple markings, bollards, or raised islands, but are best applied in conjunction with plantings that beautify the street and the surrounding neighborhood. After the Neighborhood Traffic Circle has been installed for four to twelve months, the City will remove existing stop signs at the intersection so that motor vehicles and bike traffic can travel slowly,often continuously through the intersection. Neighborhood Traffic Circles have the added benefits of reducing emissions from motor vehicles as well as cut through traffic on a street. There are several existing Neighborhood Traffic Circles in Pittsburgh, most notably at the intersection of Homewood Ave and Reynolds St in Point Breeze. Neighborhood traffic circles will not be as large as the one on Reynolds st. which is more of a roundabout and less of a neighborhood traffic circle For more information, see: https://pittsburghpa.gov/domi/traffic-calming https://nacto.org/publication/urban-street-design-guide/intersections/minor-... City Bike(+) Plan Neighborhood Traffic Circles in Boston (left) and Baltimore (right) 🚴🏼♀️
On Jun 11, 2020, at 12:27 PM, janet jai <jai@vision-and-values.com> wrote:
I spoke with Deb Gross (thanks very much for your time, Deb) and then tried to follow up with DOMI (Department of Mobility and Infrastructure) re my concerns about the N. Euclid neighborway. DOMI is out of their office (understandable) and their mailbox was full (very unhelpful) so I am putting my concerns out here:
1. I am concerned that residents/homeowners on N. Euclid (I am one) were not asked for our thoughts prior to the city making these neighborway plans for N. Euclid. I only learned of these plans as a result of the HPCC meeting, and the neighborway plans appeared already set at that time.
2. The N. Euclid neighborway plans are likely to change the character of the street. A lot of us who live on N. Euclid have put and continue to put a lot of time and money into making our homes and yards into well-kept, lovely, somewhat serene places. The changes that are being planned will make N. Euclid a much more trafficked street than it currently is. The traffic will be of a different sort, i.e., bikes and pedestrians, but it will likely be very increased traffic of bikes and pedestrians. A significant increase in traffic changes the nature of the living experience. There will likely be more noise and activity in general. If I had wanted to live on a trafficked street, I would have bought a house on Highland or Negley.
3A. I believe in the health and climate-change positive effects of bike riding. However, bicyclists and pedestrians don’t always co-exist well. Bicycles can be dangerous, in some ways more dangerous than cars because you often can't hear a bicycle when it comes near you. That means you may not even be aware that a bicycle is approaching when you start to cross a street so it would be much easier for a bike to hit you.
3B. Unfortunately many bike riders either don’t know or don’t care about the rules of safe road sharing. Tuesday when I went out to grocery shop, I was driving my car and waiting for the light to change at East Liberty Blvd when a bicyclist approached the intersection as the light changed. He was in the wrong lane on the Blvd (which is a divided street) and going in the wrong direction. The light had fully changed, but he continued going straight across the intersection. If I were not a watchful driver and if I had started up immediately when my light turned green, there would likely have been a fatal accident. While many bikers are great about biking carefully and lawfully, I have seen many who are not. I am extra careful when I drive by someone on a bicycle because I am never sure what a bicyclist is going to do.
4. The renderings for the traffic circles planned for N. Euciid show trees in the circles, making them look attractive. However, the early HPCC information about the city’s plans said that this neighborway was being tried out, implying that it could be changed back if it didn’t work out. Now you can’t readily change back a treed traffic circle (and I am VERY against cutting down any trees given how helpful they are in fighting climate change) so I didn’t really understand how they could say this was simply a trial. I would like to know if it would really be possible to change this project back if a lot of us think it isn’t working well.
5. I don’t think it makes sense to start or do a non-essential project like this neighborway during the extremely challenging times in which we are currently living.
I had written up some of these concerns in the early DOMI project survey soon after I learned about the city’s plans, although I will probably do the survey again since it appears a bit different. In the meantime, if someone knows how to be sure those at DOMI get to read this e-mail, please feel free to forward it directly. Thank you.
Yours for health and a lovely neighborhood, janet jai, MLA www.vision-and-values.com
