question about Dearborn Bike Lane

Sorry if this has been asked before but is there a reason why the lights are so poorly times on it so I have to stop almost every block? I realize the lights have to tie into the broader loop lighting scheme but I wonder if the City has thought about synchronizing the lights better so bikers can make it a few blocks through without stopping. Kinda defeats the speed benefits of biking if I have to stop every few hundred feet.

J

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Permalink Reply by Alex Z on November 1, 2013 at 1:48am

I assume by "speed benefit" you mean as compared to walking. I find I usually can go two blocks without stopping, sometimes more. Rarely do I hit two reds in a row. It's still much faster than walking. The trick is not to treat Dearborn as a speedway; there are other streets you can use if that's what you want.

Permalink Reply by Night Owl on November 1, 2013 at 2:12am

Lights in the Loop are timed to the benefit of pedestrians, not on-street users.  Probably as it should be. 

Permalink Reply by Davo on November 1, 2013 at 3:59am

My guess is that you are probably traveling faster than cars and pedestrians. So there is your speed benefit.

Permalink Reply by Josh L. on November 1, 2013 at 7:36am

Why would lights be timed for pedestrians?  I am not referring to length of red/green but block 1 green and then block 2 green to facilitate cars not stopping which wastes gas and causes more pollution.  Normally I can follow the car timing..it seems to be off here.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on November 1, 2013 at 7:40am

Pure speculation on my part, but if cars are able to go from one end to the other without stopping isn't there a risk that we will have the Dearborn Speedway?

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on November 1, 2013 at 8:14am

You have apparently never seen the guy driving the Maserati north on Franklin/Orleans about 4:30 most afternoons. He (I'd be real surprised if the driver wasn't a "he") already treats the street like it's a speedway.


Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:

Pure speculation on my part, but if cars are able to go from one end to the other without stopping isn't there a risk that we will have the Dearborn Speedway?

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on November 1, 2013 at 8:32am

If lights are timed for a certain speed driving faster means you'll hit more red lights.  There were a few miles of Broadway Avenue in Denver that were timed for 25 mph and it made getting from school to downtown very stress-free.

Permalink Reply by Josh L. on November 1, 2013 at 10:33am


That's interesting..that would surprise me. I thought lights are all about traffic flow as there are typically traffic but not pedestrian bottlenecks.  I am sure bikers aren't considered at all. 


Cameron 7.5 mi said:

I believe the east/west streets are timed so that pedestrians keep hitting a walk light. Follow the train station exodus and see how many times the mob has to stop.


jolondon30 said:

Why would lights be timed for pedestrians?  I am not referring to length of red/green but block 1 green and then block 2 green to facilitate cars not stopping which wastes gas and causes more pollution.  Normally I can follow the car timing..it seems to be off here.

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