Finally rode the full GLX trail legally, and let’s stipulate from the start that it’s wonderful, too narrow, and will get used to death. A few other down-in-the-weeeds thoughts (1/x)
I’ve called in the MUTCD marshals, indictments drop Monday
Every one of the street-grade crossings is god’s way of telling us that they oughta be underpasses.
But this School St one, where eastbound trail users are turned away from oncoming School st drivers, is a really defective design that will get someone hurt or worse.
For a trail that was delayed opening to remediate accessibility issues, has anyone noted that the big ole viaduct over the train tracks doesn’t have the ADA required level landings every 100’ for respite? Seem like a pretty glaring accessibility biff.
Finally, what’s the deal with the solid yellow line running the entire length? Is the implication that we’re not supposed to pass anyone anywhere?
@bikepedantic I think it’s implicit acknowledgment that the trail is too narrow. 😂
@bikepedantic the T doesn't do the MUTCD.
@andr_w that’s what they all say til they spend a week in solitary
@bikepedantic might be a respite from everything they're dealing with tbh
@bikepedantic is that 3% or 5%? It feels like 5 but 3 doesn’t require landings.
@Ofsevit yeah the requirement only for 5% grade, but atmo that viaduct is definitely a constant 5%
@bikepedantic I think it’s “more than” 5% and I’d bet the plan for that is 4.9%. As to what the contractor built …
@Ofsevit it’s not, it’s 5%. I worked on a trail project where we had to do a lot of extra work to get into compliance
@bikepedantic I thought trails were exempt from the ADA landings?
@mrpresident1776 no, only wilderness hiking trails are exempt
@bikepedantic I remember complaints about this spot when it was still just a design in a public meeting. Engineers claimed they couldn’t put the curb cut in the more obvious place because of something about the bridge. Seems like there must be other creative solutions though.
@ef4 irresponsible not to raise the crossing and put a stop condition on the car lane. Facing riders away from the crossing is gonna get them sued
@ef4 @bikepedantic ...I wonder if they "can't" put the curb cut on the bridge because it would mean "modifying part of the bridge" (even if it's just the curb) and that would incur a more complicated review. 🤔 It seems stupid but that's the best I can guess.
@bikepedantic the woman in front of me nearly took a digger navigating this crossing earlier today. Extremely perplexing design
@bikepedantic horrific design. it's only a matter of time when a driver hits someone as they turn into the gas station.
@bikepedantic It was a mistake to hire that British planner.
@bikepedantic wot in tarnation
@bikepedantic it's for consistency: whenever the path goes through a parking lot you stay left, just like in Davis (but hey good news we're turning that parking lot into just a park soon). https://voice.somervillema.gov/somerville-junction
@bikepedantic@transportation.social they seem to have fixed it, thank god
@tris the floopy one is at the other end of the lot
@bikepedantic@transportation.social oh, noo :( i thought i remembered this one being flipped too on opening day
@bikepedantic Just looking at this picture, I feel like this would benefit immensely from some shade trees planted in that grass strip.
Trailside bike cage for East Somerville green line station is pretty cool