whoa.
2010-04-01 15:45:06
15
I called 311 and learned some helpful information
I called 311 this morning to report broken glass all over the road by my house.
After entering the report, I talked to the operator for a while about cycling in the city. He let me in on some inside info. There are current plans to convert Fifth to two-way traffic, while Forbes will be closed to bicycle-only traffic.
He seemed pretty legit, working for 311 and all. I absolutely believe him, and look forward to this change.
Viva velo!
2010-04-01 15:42:11
April fools?
That would be amazing for Oakland, but I will believe it when I see it.
2010-04-01 15:46:26
Lemme see if I have this straight. Forbes is bikes only, or bikes and buses? No cars/trucks at all?
And Fifth, two-way, how many lanes for which directions? What becomes of the bus lane?
Who's behind this? Are we at the pipe dream stage, or is there something concrete in the works? Any proper traffic analyses involved?
What about on-street parking on Fifth?
What about public comment periods?
OTMA? Port Authority? Police and fire depts? Bike-Pgh? Handicapped-access groups? Snow clearing plans for Forbes if this happens?
And when might any of this occur?
None of the above should be construed as being against it. Just that there would need to be A LOT of questions asked and answered.
This cannot just be decreed and dropped in place.
2010-04-01 15:57:27
2010-04-01 16:31:24
I heard about this, too. It's going to be like the new Times Square pedestrian-oriented arrangement: http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/26/the-crossroads-of-the-world-goes-car-free/
2010-04-01 16:40:00
I think 311 April Fools'ed you.
2010-04-01 17:32:43
And anyway, it *is* April 1.
Is there an echo in here?
2010-04-01 17:57:02
I hope that's an April Fool's. And I hope you're fooling me, Joe, when you say that you support the idea of banning bikes from Forbes.
2010-04-01 19:54:18
Closing off Forbes to just pedestrians and bikes would be a mammoth undertaking to redirect all the cars and transit routes. What about the numerous streets that run between Forbes and Fifth? What about the existing parking garages south of Forbes?
I know generally people here are pro-bike anti-car, but unfortunately for those concerned, still a vast majority of people in the city drive cars, and many of them EXCLUSIVELY.
Sir, I think this obviously has April Fools all over it...
2010-04-01 22:47:23
I'm surprised you guys are all taking this so seriously.
2010-04-01 23:35:56
LOL, hey Joe, we could use some good news for the city am I right?
*keeps fingers crossed for Google Fiber and knocks on wood*
2010-04-01 23:42:28
I get the feeling that when some people here read "closed to bicycle-only traffic" they saw "open to bicycles only". I think those are two different things. I'm fine with the latter, though it is obviously impossible. The former is not impossible 
2010-04-02 00:08:20
lol @ everyone
2010-04-02 02:15:56
Wow. Message Board gets punk'd. Bravo, Joe.
2010-04-03 18:39:04