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http://saveashland.com/contact.html

I can't believe they put a person on a bicycle on the front page.  Maybe I'm alone here, but I love the thought of the BRT bringing a more pedestrian friendly Ashland Ave.  I don't see how businesses wouldn't benefit from this other than the issues of delivery trucks; but I think they are working with that. 

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I thought some of the MAB suggestions were pretty good. Putting stops every 1/4 mile and front boarding only/rear exit only to name a few. It would make sense to me to try this out before totally overhauling the system at a huge cost. BRT or the MAB would be a vast improvement to the system that is there now.

The problem with the Ashland BRT is that it has been badly thought out and has been crippled by the City's inability to properly deal with its streets due to the Parking Meter lease.     This is another neither fish nor fowl half-assed project which will make neither group happy and could ultimately be used as a weapon against properly designed BRT.  The real solution, like that in Bilbao Spain, is a single track light rail system with designated passing points and station access....

The folks who came up with the plan have extensive knowledge of how BRT has worked in other cities-- the thought that these folks (or is it really just one individual posing as a "group") are going to be able to  make useful and practical recommendations of a nature that fundamentally changes the way BRT functions is kind of ridiculous IMO-- but I believe the intent in offering these suggestions was only to try to bolster the appearance that they (s/he) have concrete, practical reasons for opposing the project, and not just come off as obstructionistic (i.e. to hide the fact that s/he is 100% about obstructionism.)

I am not a fan of the BRT proposal but it's been kind of scary to see just how strong people's opinions about it have been when they clearly haven't taken the time to develop a basic understanding of what's being proposed.

This is a great illustration of why we need a system where we elect or appoint smart people to decide what's best for the huddled masses.



Davo said:

I thought some of the MAB suggestions were pretty good. Putting stops every 1/4 mile and front boarding only/rear exit only to name a few. It would make sense to me to try this out before totally overhauling the system at a huge cost. BRT or the MAB would be a vast improvement to the system that is there now.

We've been following the bus rapid issue closely over at Streetsblog Chicago, so you can check out some of our posts if you want to read about the topic from a pro-transit perspective: http://chi.streetsblog.org/?s=bus+rapid+transit

I like the idea of thinning out the stops in their "MAB" plan. The local buses and stops should be eliminated once BRT goes in so that the one traffic lane has a chance of moving a hair faster than a snail's pace. (I also think the parking should be removed and changed to a bike lane, but that's dreaming, ha ha.)

I'm not sure how anyone who actually rode a bus and saw how hard it is for a lot of transit users to get around could think that eliminating every other stop was a good idea.  The MAB proposal is anti-transit and pro-personal vehicle from start to finish.  

I still skeptical at this point when it comes to BRT on Ashland. Are there other successful examples of urban 4-lane arterial roads that were converted to BRT? 

Anyone?

Kelvin Mulcky said:

Are there other successful examples of urban 4-lane arterial roads that were converted to BRT? 

I hate people assuming that cyclists can't be opposed or skeptical of BRT. I'm a cyclist and I am not a fan of the BRT plan. BRT is not the right solution for Ashland. It restricts the flow of traffic and makes Ashland a hazard to cyclists as well as the local neighborhood. An underground subway is the right solution for Ashland. Plus dedicated and protected bike lanes on the street.

I understand it's much more expensive, but I'd rather see the system built slowly over time than to build this cheap "plastic" solution in a rush.

Even though I don't agree with their all their motives, I think the businesses along Ashland are right when they say Chicago isn't [fill in mediocre city with BRT-like system].

"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood." - Daniel Burnham

Reading this article might be a good place for you to start, Kelvin:

http://chi.streetsblog.org/2013/11/01/the-ctas-ashland-bus-rapid-tr...



Kelvin Mulcky said:

Anyone?

Kelvin Mulcky said:

Are there other successful examples of urban 4-lane arterial roads that were converted to BRT? 

Who's doing that?

Tom Dworzanski said:

I hate people assuming that cyclists can't be opposed or skeptical of BRT.

Yea, I've read that. I was hoping for more.

The Healthline in Cleveland is the only cited similar example and runs through a lightly developed area (with much less traffic and businesses) to a healthcare and university campus. It was Cleveland's cheapo verison of light rail, basically like a metra line; taking people from the burbs to dense destination.  It also doesn't have a local busline on the same route like the Ashland BRT proposal. 

Edit: The Healthline is also half the length and also has a ridership of less than half of the current Ashland bus. I'm not sure if that makes a difference or not...

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