pages: TransportationCommission/2013-01-23.pdf, 5
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TransportationCommission | 2013-01-23 | 5 | Mary Andersen, President of Clipper Cove, stated 204 families reside in Clipper Cove. She had many residents explain to her that they never try to exit off of Channing Way onto Robert Davey Jr. Drive. The residents always drive to Oyster Pond Road, which brings more traffic into Clipper Cove because they are afraid to exit at Channing Way. She has experienced this situation herself because there have been too many close calls. She commented on the visibility issue and the proposal to sneak up to the bike lane. She referred to Figure 2 (the little red car) of the staff report and that the car represented her car recently. She sneaked up to the bike lane and suddenly coming from her right a car approached at high speed to make the turn onto Channing Way. The vehicle did not expect a car to be where she was and nearly clipped the front end of her car. To advise drivers to sneak up and wait at the edge of the bike lane is an invitation for trouble. She recalled when she took her vehicle license test, she did something very similar to the previous incident where she stopped at the crosswalk and sneaked forward. The examiner cited her for making an illegal rolling stop. She questioned the legality of the procedure listed in the staff report. Thus, she recommended that the Commission adopt the stop signs. If they cannot then extend the bike lane lines and cut the concealing bushes on the left side of the street. Jim Strehlow, Alameda resident and local employee, explained he was glad to see that not every stop sign is being erected at residents' requests. He was glad to see analysis conducted before implementation. Commissioner Vargas stated he biked over to the intersection and tried to see what the sight distance limitation was. Sergeant Ron Simmons, Alameda Police Traffic Section Supervisor, responded to Ms. Andersen's inquiries and explained that although vehicles are supposed to stop at the first line before the crosswalk, vehicles are allowed to creep up through the crosswalks and into the bike lanes if visibility is an issue and they are legally allowed to creep forward safely into the intersection. When Ms. Andersen occupied that portion of the roadway and if she did so safely, she had a legal right to be there. In addition, when that vehicle was coming down and turning left and if they were to hit Ms. Andersen they would be found at fault. The rules also would apply for bicycles as well and the bicycle has to yield to the vehicle in that case. Commissioner Bertken explained that he was glad the question was brought up because there are a number of intersections around town where the cross traffic is heavy and there is no way to cross the intersection safely without moving your car forward a bit. Commissioner Vargas asked Sergeant Simmons if reports were filed about near collisions around that intersection. Sergeant Simmons replied he received many field calls so he does not know. Cindy Lum initiated the appeal request and felt a lot of near collisions are not reported. She reviewed reports in the last three years at the Police Department, and she could not find anything. When she gathered signatures and talked to neighbors she again felt collisions were not reported. She observed that vehicles passing the Speed Trailer do not travel under 34 mph, and she has taken pictures of some vehicles go as far as 45 mph. She felt physical observations need to be Transportation Commission Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 14 | TransportationCommission/2013-01-23.pdf |