"Safe Streets" Campaign
"Safe Streets" Campaign |
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Michigan Ave. / Oakland Dr. / Lovell St. / South St. Proposed Intersection
The Complete Streets Coalition started as the Kalamazoo Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition in July 2013 promoting the “Safe Streets” campaign.
After meetings with MDOT and the City for several months, MDOT agreed to fund a charette for the target area we identified on Michigan Ave. where Oakland Dr., Lovell St., South St., and Academy St. all intersect, along with Michigan Ave. through downtown east to the Kalamazoo River. While working on that issue it became clear that a more comprehensive approach was needed to ensure Kalamazoo streets be made “Safe, Convenient and Accessible for All Users”. The group of citizens working on this issue decided to change the name to reflect the comprehensive approach needed. Shortly after the group’s name change KATS came out with a draft Complete Streets Policy for the region. The Complete Streets Coalition mission is to: • Inform and encourage Kalamazoo County residents, businesses and community groups to attend MDOT's Stadium Drive/W. Michigan Ave. design charette, and • To support and comment on the Kalamazoo Area Transportation Study’s (KATS) Complete Streets Policy. |
The Kalamazoo Bicycle Pedestrian Coalition is a membership organization working to promote and improve bicycling and walking conditions in Kalamazoo. We work as an advocacy group in partnership with citizens, businesses, community groups, government agencies, and elected officials to create communities where people can meet their daily transportation needs safely on a bicycle or by walking.
Mission
Our group creates healthy, sustainable communities by making bicycling and walking safe, convenient and accessible.
Vision
Bicycling and walking transforms communities by reinventing transportation and offering options to the universal challenges facing health, livability and the environment
The Kalamazoo Bicycle Pedestrian Coalition announces its campaign to reconfigure the Michigan Ave. gateway corridor, which includes the intersections at Oakland, South, Academy and Lovell.
Walking and bicycling in Kalamazoo should be just as convenient and safe as driving. But it’s not. To fix the problem we need Kalamazoo’s main streets made safe for all modes of travel.
Proposed Improvements:
• Protected and raised bike lanes on Michigan Ave. from the athletic fields at Western to the intersection with W. Main,
• A two way bike lane on Lovell St. from downtown to the top of the hill at K College,
• An eastbound bike lane on South St. from Michigan Ave. to downtown,
• Raised pedestrian crossings on each leg of the intersections where Michigan crosses Lovell, South, Academy and the Oakland-Lovell intersection.
Fourteen years ago, the City’s bicycle/pedestrian master plan stated that this corridor doesn’t work for bicyclists and pedestrians.
There are several compelling reasons to do this now:
• To grow our local economy,
• To attract new businesses,
• To allow walkers, bikers and disabled people safe access,
• To promote a healthy lifestyle
Our system of trails in the area is great but trying to navigate from one system to another is difficult and unsafe on our main streets.
- Click HERE to see larger images of the proposed corridor
- Click HERE for information on the MDOT charrette; the place to have your voice heard on this Michigan Ave. Cooridor Paln
Mission
Our group creates healthy, sustainable communities by making bicycling and walking safe, convenient and accessible.
Vision
Bicycling and walking transforms communities by reinventing transportation and offering options to the universal challenges facing health, livability and the environment
The Kalamazoo Bicycle Pedestrian Coalition announces its campaign to reconfigure the Michigan Ave. gateway corridor, which includes the intersections at Oakland, South, Academy and Lovell.
Walking and bicycling in Kalamazoo should be just as convenient and safe as driving. But it’s not. To fix the problem we need Kalamazoo’s main streets made safe for all modes of travel.
Proposed Improvements:
• Protected and raised bike lanes on Michigan Ave. from the athletic fields at Western to the intersection with W. Main,
• A two way bike lane on Lovell St. from downtown to the top of the hill at K College,
• An eastbound bike lane on South St. from Michigan Ave. to downtown,
• Raised pedestrian crossings on each leg of the intersections where Michigan crosses Lovell, South, Academy and the Oakland-Lovell intersection.
Fourteen years ago, the City’s bicycle/pedestrian master plan stated that this corridor doesn’t work for bicyclists and pedestrians.
There are several compelling reasons to do this now:
• To grow our local economy,
• To attract new businesses,
• To allow walkers, bikers and disabled people safe access,
• To promote a healthy lifestyle
Our system of trails in the area is great but trying to navigate from one system to another is difficult and unsafe on our main streets.
- Click HERE to see larger images of the proposed corridor
- Click HERE for information on the MDOT charrette; the place to have your voice heard on this Michigan Ave. Cooridor Paln
Traffic "Calming" Devices
Traffic Calming is an elusive concept that has many different names and varying definitions. The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) defines traffic calming as:
“The combination of mainly physical measures that reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver behavior and improve conditions for non-motorized street users.” Traffic calming can be used as an alternative to traffic control devices such as stop signs and speed limit signs which require enforcement by police officers and do not alter the way that drivers behave. Traffic calming measures are designed to be a self-enforced method for drivers and are intended to make them feel like they have to go slower.
Traffic Calming is an elusive concept that has many different names and varying definitions. The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) defines traffic calming as:
“The combination of mainly physical measures that reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver behavior and improve conditions for non-motorized street users.” Traffic calming can be used as an alternative to traffic control devices such as stop signs and speed limit signs which require enforcement by police officers and do not alter the way that drivers behave. Traffic calming measures are designed to be a self-enforced method for drivers and are intended to make them feel like they have to go slower.