In response to the Red Deer Advocate July 26, article on bike lanes, the following are my concerns and comments on the north and south bike and vehicle commutes using Spruce Drive.
My first concern addresses vehicle traffic travelling north from 32nd Street onto Spruce Drive and cycle traffic meeting the designated bike lanes now provided down the hill. The distance from 32nd Street to 37th Street is a short portion of Spruce Drive that experiences a heavy flow of vehicle traffic, which for five short blocks is two lanes each way.
At 37th Street Spruce Drive funnels traffic into one lane down the hill.
Cyclists coming off 37th Street to connect with the bike lane, north, have to watch and listen for vehicles behind them on 37th street, and vehicles that have merged from two lanes into one on Spruce Drive. There are many vehicles which travel well over the posted speed limit.
Vehicles and cyclists coming from the east on 37th Street do have a stop sign at Spruce Drive but I have witnessed both cyclists and vehicle drivers ignore the sign in order to blend into the northbound Spruce Drive traffic. Cyclists and drivers who do not come to a complete stop, combined with vehicles merging into one lane from two, creates an unsafe environment.
Safety concerns for the southbound cyclist pedalling up the Spruce Drive hill to 37th street are: not being seen by drivers because there are two curves, first left then right, the latter being partially blind as vehicles crest the hill. The blind curve blocks the sight line to see the cyclist waiting at the “bike box” on the west service road of Spruce Drive at 37th. An additional danger poses itself at the top of the hill, where the south lane splits into two lanes.
Again, I have witnessed several vehicles directly behind me, effectively in the left lane, dart quickly into the now available right lane. This poses a dangerous situation when a cyclist is required to cross the intersection.
I drive my vehicle north on Spruce Drive and return south to home, I travel the residential speed limit and am frustrated with drivers who disrespect the posted speed limit and use Spruce Drive as a goasfastasyacan strip of pavement.
Diane McDonell
Red Deer