|
Council may discuss county's rules which
discourage paved road shoulders Tuesday
posted 04/09/07
If time permits, the county council may discuss the county's Scenic Roads Manual. The manual as it relates to shoulders states: If a roadway requires substantial widening and paving, extending the pavement across the full width of the shoulders should be avoided. The pavement should only extend across the width of the traveling surface with the shoulders providing a visual contrast. This delineation will help reduce the visual impact of a roadway's increased size and provide a more appropriate transition to the roadside. Also, it will add to traveling safety by clearly defining the limits of the traveling surface.
Providing paved shoulders for bicyclist was mentioned during an impromptu discussion the council had about bicycle riding in the islands last month. Councilmember Howie Rosenfeld suggested the council discuss the county's Scenic Roads Policy which discourages paved shoulders as soon as the council has some free time. The council expects to have some time on Tuesday, April 10.
The policy also state: Appropriate materials for achieving shoulder contrast in rural areas are:
- Gravel or crushed stone shoulders offer good contrast to the bituminous pavement and do not require a great amount of maintenance.
- Turf shoulders offer excellent contrast to a bituminous pavement and are quite fitting for the rural landscape. Grasses used to establish turf shoulders must be able to endure the effects of salt and compaction (salt comes from snow and ice removal).
- Natural vegetation which may establish itself on the shoulders will fulfill the requirement of contrast and also provide natural variety in keeping with the character of our environment.
The entire Scenic Roads Manual is available ONLINE
Council to discuss bikes on county roads April 10
posted 03/27/07
San Juan County Council will invite county Risk Manager Dave Zeretzke and Public Works staff to discuss safety issues regarding bicyclists on county roads at their April 10 meeting in the county Courthouse. The issue was brought up during an informal discussion at their March 20 meeting.
Knapp: Don't invite people to bike here
posted 03/21/2007
Combine the San Juan Islands Visitor Bureau's (SJIVB) advertising campaigns encouraging bicyclists to visit the San Juans and the narrow county roads and you have a liability problem for the county, according to San Juan County Councilmember Gene Knapp. "It personally troubles me that we invite people around the country to bike here," he said at the March 20, 2007 council meeting. "Aren't we funding them (SJIVB). That makes the tie for liability if it ever comes along."
Councilmember Alan Lichter said, "We could hold back some of the funds for shoulders."
Councilmember Bob Myhr noted the popular Tour de Lopez is scheduled for April 28. More than 750 bicylists are expected at the event. Myhr said, "I have trouble seeing discouraging people from coming here. Maybe we can do a better job of educating people behind the wheel."
Councilmember Howie Rosenfeld said, "I don't know what it is. So many people that live here are in a hurry. I don't know what the 30 second gain is going to do for them. They are too aggressive. I don't know what we can do to educate them.
Myhr said, "Maybe it could be part of the visioning we can do for the future," Myhr said. How we see the county in the future. One thing we could do is vision a little bit. Where do high power automobiles, horseback riders...fit in....Islands belong to a lot of people not just the people that live here. We become a little bit self centered sometimes."
Knapp suggested the problem with liability could be solved if the SJVIB just didn't advertise the islands as a place for bicycling.
Rosenfeld said, "What if they didn't say it but just showed a picture."
Knapp told him the implication would still be there. He suggested, "If people want to come here and bike fine, but we don't invite them."
Lichter said, "I agree. We certainly would share liability." He suggested the council Chair Bob Myhr contact the Visitor Bureau.
Knapp said, "Wasn't a teenager killed a year or two ago?"
Councilmember Rich Peterson said the accident involved a drunken driver. The accident Knapp was referring to was the Sept. 13, 2003 crash which took Ryan Lobue's life. The 18-year old was riding a motorized bicycle up Bailer Hill Road when he was struck by a car driven by an intoxicated driver. There was no shoulder on the narrow road.
During the discussion Tuesday, the council briefly mentioned the lack of shoulders on the roads. Earlier this year Public Works Director Jon Shannon suggested the council may want to revisit the county's road standards. Previous county commissioners have deliberately ruled out paved shoulders as part of the islands' road system favoring aesthetics. The policy for shoulders calls for a different surface than the paved road.
As of this date, the county council has not asked staff to consider or research any changes to the policy.
| 
