Comments on: How is Hawthorne/Madison construction treating you? http://bikeportland.org/2010/07/26/how-is-hawthornemadison-reconstruction-treating-you-36939 Portland Oregon bicycle news, events, culture, travel and opinion. Mon, 28 May 2012 20:52:37 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Chris Eykamp http://bikeportland.org/2010/07/26/how-is-hawthornemadison-reconstruction-treating-you-36939#comment-1605894 Chris Eykamp Wed, 04 Aug 2010 22:29:45 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=36939#comment-1605894 I have long thought that this stretch of Hawthorne would be perfect for a cycletrack. It is a very popular cycling street, and with its downhill slope, riders often travel fast. The parking adjacent to the bike lane is heavily used, frequently by patrons of the bars along the street, creating a constant hazard of being doored. In fact, I often avoid cycling this part of Hawthorne, taking a longer way around, because I feel it is too dangerous in certain traffic conditions. A cycletrack would significantly reduce these hazards. > > It seems space is available: the Hawthorne Bridge has only two lanes, and Hawthorne again becomes two lanes after 11th, and there are not a lot of vehicles feeding into Hawthrone that would justify that short stretch having a third lane. The only significant potential source of vehicles is Grand itself, and the way the street is configured, there are only a very limited number of potential turners during the times when Hawthorne traffic would fill two travel lanes. I have long thought that this stretch of Hawthorne would be perfect for a cycletrack. It is a very popular cycling street, and with its downhill slope, riders often travel fast. The parking adjacent to the bike lane is heavily used, frequently by patrons of the bars along the street, creating a constant hazard of being doored. In fact, I often avoid cycling this part of Hawthorne, taking a longer way around, because I feel it is too dangerous in certain traffic conditions. A cycletrack would significantly reduce these hazards.
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> It seems space is available: the Hawthorne Bridge has only two lanes, and Hawthorne again becomes two lanes after 11th, and there are not a lot of vehicles feeding into Hawthrone that would justify that short stretch having a third lane. The only significant potential source of vehicles is Grand itself, and the way the street is configured, there are only a very limited number of potential turners during the times when Hawthorne traffic would fill two travel lanes.

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]]> By: Ed http://bikeportland.org/2010/07/26/how-is-hawthornemadison-reconstruction-treating-you-36939#comment-1604714 Ed Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:11:25 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=36939#comment-1604714 We need to work on signage/education. I got some serious road rage when I merged over to the center lane prior to a red light at Grand. The driver whipped around me, cut me off, and then yelled at me to use the bike lane. I pointed out that the bike lane ended but he kept yelling at me that "the bike lane is over there". When car lanes end on the freeway due to construction there are signs far back letting you know everyone know they need to merge. We need something similar on these high traffic bike routes. We need to work on signage/education. I got some serious road rage when I merged over to the center lane prior to a red light at Grand.

The driver whipped around me, cut me off, and then yelled at me to use the bike lane. I pointed out that the bike lane ended but he kept yelling at me that "the bike lane is over there".

When car lanes end on the freeway due to construction there are signs far back letting you know everyone know they need to merge. We need something similar on these high traffic bike routes.

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]]> By: emily http://bikeportland.org/2010/07/26/how-is-hawthornemadison-reconstruction-treating-you-36939#comment-1602621 emily Sun, 01 Aug 2010 01:36:08 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=36939#comment-1602621 I understand that Hawthorne needed construction, but understanding the necessity of this construction does not make it suddenly more pleasant to bike over grooved pavement on skinny road bike tires, have buses/car tires shoot gravel and construction dust in your face and eyes, and have to completely reroute my trusty morning commute so that I feel safer on my bike. Early morning commutes suck, and they suck even more when there's gravel in your mouth. Since PBOT gave little to no warning on this project, I biked onto this construction zone completely unprepared for the mess that was now my early morning commute. I know there are alternate routes to take, but I don't think much thought was directed toward how this construction would affect bicyclists, no "suggested bike detour routes" for non-masochists, absolutely no cleanup of gravel, confusing signs and unmarked lanes. Also, really abrupt edges that are unmarked, almost threw me off my bike. I'm sure someone will just respond to my comment pointing out what a hypocrite I am, but everyone's a hypocrite in some fashion. It's simply an annoying situation that I think could have been handled better. I didn't see any "bike merging" signs until at least the second week of construction, after I had found alternate routes. I understand that Hawthorne needed construction, but understanding the necessity of this construction does not make it suddenly more pleasant to bike over grooved pavement on skinny road bike tires, have buses/car tires shoot gravel and construction dust in your face and eyes, and have to completely reroute my trusty morning commute so that I feel safer on my bike. Early morning commutes suck, and they suck even more when there's gravel in your mouth. Since PBOT gave little to no warning on this project, I biked onto this construction zone completely unprepared for the mess that was now my early morning commute. I know there are alternate routes to take, but I don't think much thought was directed toward how this construction would affect bicyclists, no "suggested bike detour routes" for non-masochists, absolutely no cleanup of gravel, confusing signs and unmarked lanes. Also, really abrupt edges that are unmarked, almost threw me off my bike. I'm sure someone will just respond to my comment pointing out what a hypocrite I am, but everyone's a hypocrite in some fashion. It's simply an annoying situation that I think could have been handled better. I didn't see any "bike merging" signs until at least the second week of construction, after I had found alternate routes.

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]]> By: Wil http://bikeportland.org/2010/07/26/how-is-hawthornemadison-reconstruction-treating-you-36939#comment-1601142 Wil Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:44:01 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=36939#comment-1601142 I've been away for a couple of weeks and was surprised to encounter this mess on my way home. Took a left onto 7th from Hawthorne at about 25MPH and went airborne sideways from the steep ramp/rise between the grades. Held it upright, but damn. The construction standards are clearly not appropriate for bikes. I've been away for a couple of weeks and was surprised to encounter this mess on my way home. Took a left onto 7th from Hawthorne at about 25MPH and went airborne sideways from the steep ramp/rise between the grades. Held it upright, but damn. The construction standards are clearly not appropriate for bikes.

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]]> By: you_are_a_traffic_calming_device http://bikeportland.org/2010/07/26/how-is-hawthornemadison-reconstruction-treating-you-36939#comment-1598779 you_are_a_traffic_calming_device Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:06:17 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=36939#comment-1598779 I guess it's worth the hassle if it means a smoother ride in the future. My kevlar-belted tires seem to do just fine on this stretch. +1 for poncho's comment (#9). love how the new buffered bike lanes look in BC. +1 for comment #16 too, that's just good judgment. I guess it's worth the hassle if it means a smoother ride in the future. My kevlar-belted tires seem to do just fine on this stretch.

+1 for poncho's comment (#9). love how the new buffered bike lanes look in BC.

+1 for comment #16 too, that's just good judgment.

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]]> By: MIndful Cyclist http://bikeportland.org/2010/07/26/how-is-hawthornemadison-reconstruction-treating-you-36939#comment-1598759 MIndful Cyclist Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:36:57 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=36939#comment-1598759 This is not one of my regular routes, but did have to deal with it while taking a jaunt down the Springwater. Plenty of signs and notice and just had to be careful. I agree with the people that recommend using Clay or Salmon. For a couple weeks, get out of the rut of taking the same way everyday and get out and see more of the city. Funny thing happened to me with the Broadway Bridge closure. I was out of town when it happened and had to figure out another way to get downtown. I decided it may be easiest just to use the Burnside bridge. What I found was that it was not only an easier and safer ride, it trimmed a couple minutes off the trip. This is not one of my regular routes, but did have to deal with it while taking a jaunt down the Springwater. Plenty of signs and notice and just had to be careful.

I agree with the people that recommend using Clay or Salmon. For a couple weeks, get out of the rut of taking the same way everyday and get out and see more of the city.

Funny thing happened to me with the Broadway Bridge closure. I was out of town when it happened and had to figure out another way to get downtown. I decided it may be easiest just to use the Burnside bridge. What I found was that it was not only an easier and safer ride, it trimmed a couple minutes off the trip.

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]]> By: BURR http://bikeportland.org/2010/07/26/how-is-hawthornemadison-reconstruction-treating-you-36939#comment-1598741 BURR Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:14:37 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=36939#comment-1598741 The two things I don't understand are (1) why don't they clean up all the loose gravel immediately after they do the grinding? and(2)why the long delay between grinding and repaving? This also happened when they repaved SE Ladd two or three years ago, and it took a lot of complaints to get PDOT to move up the paving schedule so the road wouldn't remain in the deconstructed state for a period of several months. The two things I don't understand are (1) why don't they clean up all the loose gravel immediately after they do the grinding? and(2)why the long delay between grinding and repaving?

This also happened when they repaved SE Ladd two or three years ago, and it took a lot of complaints to get PDOT to move up the paving schedule so the road wouldn't remain in the deconstructed state for a period of several months.

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]]> By: Rebecca C http://bikeportland.org/2010/07/26/how-is-hawthornemadison-reconstruction-treating-you-36939#comment-1598689 Rebecca C Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:13:40 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=36939#comment-1598689 I am an experienced cyclist who comes through Ladds on my way to PSU every day and ride 40+ miles/week. I ride a hardtail with pretty wide tires. Even with front shocks and big old tires, the transition W out of SE Ladd is gruesome right now and coming home isn't much better. I almost wiped out coming E off the Hawthorne Bridge last week and would have bought it yesterday coming off SE Ladd with a car behind me if I had not slowed to a crawl to get to Madison (which did not make the car's driver the happiest bear in the forest). I agree that taking Clay is the smarter option--especially if you don't dig having to stop every block or two to pick rocks out of your eyes. Be careful out there, folks! We've had too many cyclists injured in the past couple of years. I am an experienced cyclist who comes through Ladds on my way to PSU every day and ride 40+ miles/week. I ride a hardtail with pretty wide tires. Even with front shocks and big old tires, the transition W out of SE Ladd is gruesome right now and coming home isn't much better. I almost wiped out coming E off the Hawthorne Bridge last week and would have bought it yesterday coming off SE Ladd with a car behind me if I had not slowed to a crawl to get to Madison (which did not make the car's driver the happiest bear in the forest).

I agree that taking Clay is the smarter option--especially if you don't dig having to stop every block or two to pick rocks out of your eyes. Be careful out there, folks! We've had too many cyclists injured in the past couple of years.

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]]> By: spare_wheel http://bikeportland.org/2010/07/26/how-is-hawthornemadison-reconstruction-treating-you-36939#comment-1598672 spare_wheel Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:52:17 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=36939#comment-1598672 "Either that or take a different route." The route is like riding a gravel road. IMO, they should have detoured the route entirely. "Either that or take a different route."

The route is like riding a gravel road. IMO, they should have detoured the route entirely.

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]]> By: Paul http://bikeportland.org/2010/07/26/how-is-hawthornemadison-reconstruction-treating-you-36939#comment-1598662 Paul Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:20:57 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=36939#comment-1598662 I just discovered that SE Clinton has also been ground down and is receiving a new surface. They were laying new blacktop down last night - but its still rough and has not been cleaned up yet. I just discovered that SE Clinton has also been ground down and is receiving a new surface. They were laying new blacktop down last night - but its still rough and has not been cleaned up yet.

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