36 replies to this topic

[Fort Worthology]

Fort Worth South has announced that Magnolia will be getting a makeover starting this summer. Rotted benches will be replaced, weeds and dead trees removed, new trees planted, new Near Southside banners installed, all damaged sidewalks will be repaired, and new trash cans installed.

In a bigger step, Fort Worth South is working with the city and business owners on a comprehensive re-striping of Magnolia which would see traffic lanes narrowed and dedicated, separate bicycle lanes added to the street. This would be a big step for the city, and Magnolia would have the honor of being the first place in Fort Worth with actual bike lanes striped on the street. More to come on this initiative.

[360texas]

Hmm don't think Magnolia would be the first street in Fort Worth to get bike lanes. Use Google Earth (or go visit) McCart and Columbus Trail. Notice the bike lane white markers on the North side of the Columbus Trail East-West street. I first noticed the bike lane.. 3 or 4 years ago.

Google Earth
32 37 40.67 N __ 97 22 14.06 W __ 791' MSL elevation

[Fort Worthology]

Doesn't look like bike lanes to me on Google Earth. More like "sharrows," which are all over the Near Southside as well. I'm talking about fully separate bike lanes, fully striped and marked off from vehicular traffic. Could be hard to see on Google Earth, though. Regardless, these would definitely be the first bike lanes in the central city.

[McHand]

^^^The lanes in question are dedicated bike lanes. I believe they actually say "bikes only" or something like that. You're right though, Magnolia will have the first in the central city.
That is exiting news, BTW.

[Jim Wilson]

FW currently has a few Bike Lanes (signs & stripe on roadway), two examples are:
Columbus (I believe Byron de Sousa [TBC] helped acquire these,
Westward section of Bellaire (continuing into Benbrook [Federal $$ I understand).

There are limited numbers of Bike Routes with the standard Green & White State/Federal signs,
these do not have stripes providing specific section/shoulder for cyclists.
(One example of these- Pine off Trinity Trails south to Vickery)

There are 45+ miles of Bike Routes mostly north & south of downtown,
they have "share-arrows" and a FW specific sign. These routes make for some good
rides, but in my opinion, the signs fail to call out the routes like the TxDOT standards.
(as I understand, the FW specific signs won't be used again)

A map of the 45+ miles of routes, to include the Trinity Trails as well as
Pine's Bike Route to Vickery and Cobb Trail south to Berry can be found at:
http://www.lmrabicyc...Rte Map_001.jpg
(map can be zoomed into for better viewing)


Magnolia as I understand will be re-painted to include a dedicated Bike Lane (like Columbus example),
as far as I know, a "road diet" will be performed- pavement dedicated to motorists will be replaced
with pavement dedicated to cyclists (dedicated Bike Lane).
Now that's a first in FW I bet.

Magnolia will continue to move towards a more ped/bicycle friendly neighborhood.

[pallen]

This is good news. Its nice to see continued investment here. I saw something is happening at the old BJ Keefers the other day.

[Fort Worthology]

My thoughts on last night's meeting about the proposal - was very glad to see supporters greatly outnumbered opponents:

http://fortwortholog...riping-meeting/

[pallen]

Thanks for posting the summary. I wish we could have been at the meeting.

I would think if people are in a hurry to get somewhere in their car, they could just take Rosedale. My wife and I get out on our bikes frequently and usually avoid Magnolia, especially if its a busy time of day, because of the risk from traffic. I cant see anyone deciding not to go to Paris Coffee Shop because of one less lane for their car. Its easier to get there from Hemphil anyway. On, the other hand, we might be more inclined to stop by for Saturday morning breakfast if we could get there easily on our bikes. (Its kind of silly to get the car out and everything just to go 4 blocks)

Now, if we could just get a small grocery store on Magnolia...

[McHand]

Thanks for posting the summary. I wish we could have been at the meeting.

I would think if people are in a hurry to get somewhere in their car, they could just take Rosedale. My wife and I get out on our bikes frequently and usually avoid Magnolia, especially if its a busy time of day, because of the risk from traffic. I cant see anyone deciding not to go to Paris Coffee Shop because of one less lane for their car. Its easier to get there from Hemphil anyway. On, the other hand, we might be more inclined to stop by for Saturday morning breakfast if we could get there easily on our bikes. (Its kind of silly to get the car out and everything just to go 4 blocks)

Now, if we could just get a small grocery store on Magnolia...

You make many good points. How many times have you driven past Paris and the parking lot is full? I have a lot. I wonder how much business they loose because no one can park. Furthermore, the old guy probably doesn't see bikes on Magnolia (I assume he means his end) because it's scary to bike on Hemphill and sometimes on Magnolia...people don't slow down.
I'm glad there was a lot of support for bike lanes.

[Fort Worthology]

You make many good points. How many times have you driven past Paris and the parking lot is full? I have a lot. I wonder how much business they loose because no one can park. Furthermore, the old guy probably doesn't see bikes on Magnolia (I assume he means his end) because it's scary to bike on Hemphill and sometimes on Magnolia...people don't slow down.
I'm glad there was a lot of support for bike lanes.

Heck, on the subject of Paris Coffee Shop - how much business do they lose/miss because of their awful hours? Closing at, what, 2:00 PM weekdays and 11:00 AM Saturdays? I can't imagine the loss of a couple of traffic lanes (without any real bumps in congestion) will hurt their business in any noticeable way.

[Fort Worthology]

After the second meeting last night, the Complete Streets road diet for Magnolia to convert it to two travel lanes, a turn lane, and dedicated bike lanes, is a go.

http://fortwortholog...-striping-a-go/

Fort Worth South is giving the resolution to Councilmember Burns. Once TIF funding is finalized in the first part of the new year, the re-striping will happen in the spring. So now residents, visitors, and businesses on Magnolia have a slower, safer, more pedestrian-and-bike-friendly Magnolia to look forward to.

[Templeofheaven]

I may not be completely up to date on this, but weren't Magnolia Ave and retail fairly recently renovated? Around 2006?

[Fort Worthology]

I may not be completely up to date on this, but weren't Magnolia Ave and retail fairly recently renovated? Around 2006?

Well, I believe the current nice brick sidewalks and such date from the 1980s - it was one of the earliest makeovers in town. There hasn't been a really big makeover done to the street for a while now - just the ongoing restoration of buildings along it.

Magnolia's been getting just a little worn out of late though, with some buckling sidewalk bricks, worn out benches, and a few dead trees and the like. In the last year, Fort Worth South, Inc. has launched an improvement project to straighten out the rough spots and give the street a refreshment. Thus far, they've been replacing the old benches with nice, pretty new ones, removing the dead trees, and instaling those nifty Near Southside banners and signs along the street. The next phase of the Magnolia makeover will see the repair of those buckling sidewalk bricks and installation of new trees (I believe) and the re-striping of Magnolia to the new two lanes/turn lane/bike lanes configuration.

The TIF funding should be in place by January and the re-striping will occur in the spring.

[Fort Worthology]

Another phase of the Magnolia makeover has been revealed to me: lighting of the trees along Magnolia from 8th Avenue to Hemphill each night with super-efficient LED light nets.



(Photo is of prototype installation in front of Fort Worth South, Inc.'s Mistletoe Boulevard headquarters - the Magnolia lights would be as dense but would not extend down the tree's trunks, to keep the lights safe from mischief.)

http://fortwortholog...agnolia-avenue/

If all goes well, the hope is to have the lights up for the next Arts Goggle in March. The plan calls for them to be lit year-round.

[Fort Worthology]

The Magnolia re-striping to reduce traffic lanes and add bike lanes has been approved for funding by TIF #4.

http://fortwortholog...pproved-by-tif/

Now all that's left is to get the paint on the pavement. The goal is to have the re-striping finished by Arts Goggle on March 27th.

Here's a map showing the planned Magnolia re-striping along with the Near Southside's development standards list of streets recommended for dedicated bike lanes. Once the Magnolia phase is complete and, I imagine, proves to be popular, I wouldn't be surprised to see these others start to happen, one by one:

[FoUTASportscaster]

In relation to the map above, where will the station be on the SW2NE line in this neighborhood?

[Fort Worthology]

In relation to the map above, where will the station be on the SW2NE line in this neighborhood?

See the blue line for the recommended route on Cooper and 12th Avenue, at far left? The Near Southside SW2NE station will be there, where the tracks come close to the streets.

[Keller Pirate]

How is the SW portion of the SW2NE rail line coming? The last meeting I went to almost a year ago they hadn't identified a source of funding for the SW portion of the line. The other day I saw it on a wish list for stimulus money.

[FoUTASportscaster]

See the blue line for the recommended route on Cooper and 12th Avenue, at far left? The Near Southside SW2NE station will be there, where the tracks come close to the streets.

I thought the SW portion of the line was going to use the ROW between 11th and 9th avenue and just hug the western limits of the Baylor All Saints Medical Center?

Regardless, it is refreshing to see a Commuter Station that will be bicycle friendly.

Maybe you can answer this too, AG, since you seem to be in the know. Why do several of these lanes dead-end? I know that they can just keep going, and it isn't a bike cul-de-sac, but there is something to be said for dedicated ROW. Seems to me it would be nice as the cyclist I am to use Rosedale between 12th & 8th, Main between Pennsylvania & Magnolia and 8th between Cooper & Allen to name a few.

[Fort Worthology]

Have to remember about a lot of these - they feed into tiny local streets which are not difficult to use by bike as it is. On South Main, I think some of the reason why it stops at Pennsylvania is political - for a variety of reasons. Some of the hospitals are worried about narrowing too much of Main, due to ambulance traffic (which I think is a non-issue, but the misconception still exists). Vandervoort's Dairy is south of Pennsylvania and they'd probably freak over anything that hurts their truck traffic too much. Also don't forget that South Main is technically a state highway, as ridiculous as that is. There's probably a variety of reasons on that street. Also, Pennsylvania is roughly the south end of the South Main Village urban village.

As for Rosedale, a lot of that has to do with the planned re-narrowing of the street that will undo the damage that TxDOT did when they converted Rosedale to a six-lane divided freeway. Between 8th & South Main Rosedale will drop back again to a four-lane street with on-street parking. East and West of those boundaries, not much changes.

[Fort Worthology]

Magnolia re-striping underway:

http://fortwortholog...uration-begins/

[Fort Worthology]

Here's an update:

http://fortwortholog...iping-progress/

We have bike lanes! No bike icons in them yet and I can't say for sure if they're as finished down near Hemphill. The only obvious part I saw that was unfinished was from around Fairmount to 8th - there's unrelated utility work in the way.

Photos:

[John T Roberts]

They sure are moving fast with this project. It's good to see this happening along the street.

[ALotech]

This re-stiping has created more head-ache for most drivers. I have to use Magnolia St several times a day in my commute between All Saints and JPS. I haven't seen enough bike riders to justify the expence of the change especially if the 3 foot law passes. Now I have no option to pass a slow moving bus, people looking for a resturant and it pretty much took away my ablility to make a right turn on red at Hemphill and 8th Ave. I have never had a problem with a biker before the change. In the last couple of weeks, I have almost hit two who decided to make a left turn from the bike lane in front of me.

[Fort Worthology]

The re-striping has made things much better for us cyclists and for pedestrians. Cars are moving slower, it's easier to cross the street, and it's more pleasant going to outdoor seating in restaurants with the cars moving slower and a bit more removed. And riding my bike now I haven't had any incidents of near-accidents like I did on the old Magnolia. Much, much, much better.

"There aren't enough cyclists to justify it" is an example of the classic older way of thinking in this area - well, there aren't enough cyclists, so let's not put in any infrastructure - which means there won't ever be enough cyclists because there isn't any infrastructure. It's a "chicken or egg" sort of thing. All changes take time but I have already noticed an uptick in cycling on Magnolia. And as it draws more cyclists, we'll have a higher number of riders than we would have without it. And when I'm driving I haven't had a single problem.

Cyclists should properly merge to the left and use the left turn lane - that's an education issue. And that can be fixed. Drivers should perhaps have a little patience and realize that Magnolia is not an arterial - it's a neighborhood main street and is supposed to be a slower, more accommodating environment for users of *all* modes of transportation. It should not be a speedy and free-flowing street.

I've had a lot of people come up and tell me how much better they find the new Magnolia because of the slower cars and less threatening atmosphere.

[FoUTASportscaster]

This re-stiping has created more head-ache for most drivers.

There is so much wrong with this statement. I have a friendly suggestion. Get out of your car and enjoy life in this area. It is very walkable and now, very bikable.

[Electricron]

The re-striping has made things much better for us cyclists and for pedestrians. Cars are moving slower, it's easier to cross the street, and it's more pleasant going to outdoor seating in restaurants with the cars moving slower and a bit more removed. And riding my bike now I haven't had any incidents of near-accidents like I did on the old Magnolia. Much, much, much better.

"There aren't enough cyclists to justify it" is an example of the classic older way of thinking in this area - well, there aren't enough cyclists, so let's not put in any infrastructure - which means there won't ever be enough cyclists because there isn't any infrastructure. It's a "chicken or egg" sort of thing. All changes take time but I have already noticed an uptick in cycling on Magnolia. And as it draws more cyclists, we'll have a higher number of riders than we would have without it. And when I'm driving I haven't had a single problem.

Cyclists should properly merge to the left and use the left turn lane - that's an education issue. And that can be fixed. Drivers should perhaps have a little patience and realize that Magnolia is not an arterial - it's a neighborhood main street and is supposed to be a slower, more accommodating environment for users of *all* modes of transportation. It should not be a speedy and free-flowing street.

I've had a lot of people come up and tell me how much better they find the new Magnolia because of the slower cars and less threatening atmosphere.

Looking at Magnolia new layout, where do you think the streetcar tracks should go?
I would put them in the main traffic lanes, but that'll make it difficult for access challenged riders not having a curb.

[McHand]

Maybe the streetcar can go up and down Hemphill and Magnolia can be for pedestrians and cyclists primarily. How many blocks are between Hemphill and 8th Avenue? It seems like it wouldn't be long enough to justify the sc right on Magnolia, IMHO.

[angie013]

Maybe the streetcar can go up and down Hemphill and Magnolia can be for pedestrians and cyclists primarily. How many blocks are between Hemphill and 8th Avenue? It seems like it wouldn't be long enough to justify the sc right on Magnolia, IMHO.

That's a great alternative. It can't be that far between 8th and Hemphill. A mile or less I think?

[Electricron]

Maybe the streetcar can go up and down Hemphill and Magnolia can be for pedestrians and cyclists primarily. How many blocks are between Hemphill and 8th Avenue? It seems like it wouldn't be long enough to justify the sc right on Magnolia, IMHO.

That's a great alternative. It can't be that far between 8th and Hemphill. A mile or less I think?

Between 8th and Hemphill is 0.71 mile, or 14 short blocks.
Between 8th and Main, where the streetcar will be running, is 1.04 miles, or 21 short blocks.

The preferred rule-of-thumb distance to train stations or streetcar stops where 90% are willing to walk is 0.25 mile. The streetcar will have to run on Magnolia as planned just to connect the hospital district together, never mind connecting the hospital district to downtown Fort Worth.

[Electricron]

I drove down Magnolia yesterday after a visit with one of my doctors.
Did you know there's a bike path down the alley just a half block north?
The bike lane pavement markers are located in the lane at the start of each block.

I would prefer the bike lane being next to the curve, with parked cars acting as a buffer from auto traffic. But the way the pedestrian islands were built at the street corners prevent that. While the parallel parking spots are wide enough so as to prevent opening car doors from infringing upon the bike lane, it does require the cars to actually park close to the curb. Yesterday, about one in five cars weren't park close to the curb, and upon opening their doors would have cause a bike crash if a bike was passing.

I'm not so sure I like poorly designed bike lanes like Magnolia's. They look cool, but give bikers a false sense of security and are more of a hazard than not having them at all.

Much safer bike lanes follow the design below, mainly because they completely separate vehicles from bike lanes except at intersections. The design below leaves lots of options on how to separate bike lanes from parked cars and sidewalks. Bollards, raise curves, fences, potted plants and trees, painted buffer zones on the pavement, etc.


An interesting video by bikers from New York, who have experienced poorly design and unsafe bike lanes.



Having some sort of a physical barrier is needed to have safe bike lanes as this video clearly shows.

[Fort Worthology]

As somebody who does use the bike lanes, I've never felt endangered by parked cars - you need to pay attention and keep your eyes peeled for opening doors, but then you should always have your eyes peeled. I feel much better just having to watch out for being doored than riding in the lane with the previously speeding traffic.

That's actually an almost more important aspect of the re-striping - the traffic on Magnolia is noticeably slower now. Makes it much more pleasant both to cycle and to walk around and enjoy the businesses there without four lanes of speeding cars.

It'd be nice to have fully protected bike lanes, but that wasn't in the budget. I very strongly disagree that the present bike lanes are worse than not having them at all. I have talked to quite a few people who bike on Magnolia now that were afraid to in the past.

(And the "alley to the north" is the Oleander Walk project, which is a fine thing but there is no reason not to have full transportation infrastructure on a neighborhood main street/destination like Magnolia IMHO. Magnolia has take another step towards becoming the slower neighborhood main street that it ought to be - and that residents and new businesses want it to be - rather than a higher-speed corridor like it was sometimes used for in the past.)

[Fort Worthology]

For the curious, we recently interviewed Mike Brennan, head urban planner at Fort Worth South, Inc. on our podcast, and one of the topics we talked about was the Magnolia makeover.

http://fortwortholog...th-inc-planner/

As an update, the tree lights were delayed but they are happening - should be up before the end of the year, perhaps in the fall.

[Electricron]

Interesting interview. What I found most interesting was accommodating delivery trucks, and apparently allowing them to park or idle in the bike lane. Sort of defeats the purpose of having a dedicated bike lane in the first place when the lane isn't really dedicated for bikes only. I got the impression Mike Brennan was more interested in redeveloping the Southside neighborhood (meaning real estate profits) than bike safety.

Another youtube video titled "Dude, where's my bike lane?"


Luckily, Magnolia isn't as busy a street as the one in the video. But the principle should still apply. On Magnolia, that principle doesn't.
Quotes from the youtube video
Biker to cop: "I guess they could give tickets to people that are blocking the lane."
Cop to biker: "No, we won't actually."

[Jim Wilson]

The LMRA Bicycle Club frequents Paul's Donut Shop
and of course many of us visit Panther City Bicycle too,
we also have numerous members who live nearby.

Regardless of the method, Lane inside or out of parking, this is
#1 a big improvement over just a route (and huge over no facilities at all)
#2 Speaks LARGE about accepting bicycles and all forms of transport in Near Southside.

A couple of questions
Do cyclists (novice through expert) feel safer- yes.
Are motor vehicle drivers more aware of cyclists than before- yes.
So...
A greater feeling of accomadation/safety leads to more cyclists
which leads to greater awareness,
which leads to even greater safety.

There are always other (even better) ways to do things,
this one may/may not have been best (I like it),
but this still is a HUGE step forward and a great message to those visiting this area.

Thanks, as a cyclist and club member
I really appreciate the efforts made here.
Jim Wilson

[Electricron]

A couple of questions
Do cyclists (novice through expert) feel safer- yes.
Are motor vehicle drivers more aware of cyclists than before- yes.
So...
A greater feeling of accomadation/safety leads to more cyclists which leads to greater awareness,
which leads to even greater safety.

Thanks, as a cyclist and club member I really appreciate the efforts made here.
Jim Wilson

Another video showing just how safe a painted line in a street really is.
http://www.youtube.c...player_embedded

p.s. You really don't have to be able to read French to get my point!

[pallen]

A couple of questions
Do cyclists (novice through expert) feel safer- yes.
Are motor vehicle drivers more aware of cyclists than before- yes.
So...
A greater feeling of accomadation/safety leads to more cyclists which leads to greater awareness,
which leads to even greater safety.

Thanks, as a cyclist and club member I really appreciate the efforts made here.
Jim Wilson

Another video showing just how safe a painted line in a street really is.
http://www.youtube.c...player_embedded

p.s. You really don't have to be able to read French to get my point!

I see the point, but here are my observations from that vid
1. Magnolia doesnt have anywhere close to that kind of density - is that Paris?
2. Even the areas where the bike lanes were on the sidewalk side of parking, the problems were there - maybe even worse with danger to pedestrians.
3. When people ignore the traffic control structures, it makes things more dangerous.

We've been riding on magnolia off and on over the last few months. It definately is an improvement and has made drivers more aware of cyclists. I also drive down magnolia on my way to work everyday and havent really noticed that auto traffic has been impeded. The poor timing of the stop lights are more of an issue than lane stripping.