Reverse Angle Parking in Downtown?
The future of transportation lies in the realization that different modes of transport are equally important. Currently, the automobile is the wheel that rules us all. A cleaner, more humane and sustainable future need not eliminate the automobile completely. We must change our culture, subsidies, and laws to emphasize mobility egalitarianism; pedestrians, bicyclists, train riders, auto drivers, Segway riders, NEV drivers, skateboarders and hovercraft drivers must treat each other equally, and be treated equally by their government, no matter the size or speed of their particular mode of movement.
We’ve discussed the need for more holistic transportation planning in the past, but we’ve never given a current policy example of this brave, new world. While the bruhaha over the 5th Street redesign continues to divide us, perhaps a pilot project on 2nd Street can bring us together. In case you missed it, I’ve been anxiously awaiting improvements on 2nd Street… and now, it’s all happening!
Since the street is really too narrow to accommodate a dedicated bike lane without a net loss in parking, I’d given up on expecting any improvements in bicycle integration. Pedestrians are getting some help with traffic calming, and bikes will also benefit from the repaving.
But then, I opened a mysteriously titled email, “Re: considering reverse parking on Second Street” forwarded to me by newly minted Mayor Pro Tem Joe Krovoza. The recipient email list was a veritable who’s who of bicycle lovers and downtown leaders. The subject matter set my public policy loving heart beating double time,
Here is a nice solution that’s good for cars and good for bikes; if we add more parking for businesses, let’s do something for bikes re flow and safety; cars see each other better, and bikes too with reverse angle parking; traffic flow less interrupted when cars return to street; backing in is no different that parallel parking in terms of people having to back in and watch for/disturb other cars and bikes; and it’s going well other places…
Yes, it's that easy! But the improved safety (and truck access) comes when you're ready to depart.
Ok, are we all on the same page here? Close your eyes and imagine driving east on 2nd Street, you pass 1st Northern Bank on your right, cross over D Street, and then have a sudden hankering for a Mocha from Mishka’s Cafe… you approach the orange awning… a parking spot is open on your right, you turn your signal on… pass right by the spot, look behind you to find no bicycles or cars in sight… put the car in reverse (look again!)… and back into an angled spot right in front of Mishka’s. Now, your trunk is at the sidewalk and when you’re ready to pull out and leave… everyone can see everyone, cars & bicyclists alike! No more backing into the void, hoping against hope that you don’t run over that dude who’s always riding his bike with a massive dog on a leash.
So, today, more email traffic from the powers that be…
Would the DDBA and DB! be willing to do a short fire drill this week to explore whether reverse diagonal parking on Second Street could be viewed by both groups as a net positive for all? IF so, there might be a window of opportunity to alter the diagonal parking on Second between B and F in the ARRA-funded project that’s just beginning its initial phase related to the sewer lines. The pros of reverse diagonal are being increasingly recognized in other jurisdictions, but whether they could work on Second would take some solid and good faith discussion this week and next. Safety for cars and bikes, easy of parking and loading for drivers, and better traffic flow are the clear benefits. Possible negatives are the overhang of the rears of cars or potentially exhaust near outdoor dining. For each of these issues we need to check with how other places have address them, and whether they would need to be addressed in the specific context of Second Street.
There probably wouldn't be enough room for a dedicated bike lane, but this give you an idea of how reverse angle parking would look from the bicyclist's perspective.
Would I be willing? Hey, you betcha! I can’t speak for anybody else, but as a neighbor, I say bring it on. I’m not afraid of change… especially change that’s not necessarily permanent!
A little due diligence with a Google search for “reverse angle parking” and what do you know? The good folks at the Landscape Architecture Dept. at UC Davis are in the number one spot with a very professional report (pdf) from 2005 that cites a number of cities across the country that have had great success with reverse angle parking. Then, 77,000 more pages with info on the ins and outs of this fancy new style of parking. Ins and outs… get it? See what I did there?
So, what do you think? Should we give it the old Davis try? Plenty of studies and examples already exist out there, philosophical and practical… can we nimbly take advantage of the current 2nd Street situation to work towards mobility egalitarianism?
Backing skills are problematic, given the sad state of current driver education instruction in this country. If you can aim it (going forward) you “pass”. Expect many “fender benders”. That said, please implement it. It makes too much sense to not do it – a reason to suspect it will never be done.
How necessary is this? How many bicyclists have been hit by cars backing out of parking spaces on city streets in the past two years? Also, it seems that both parking styles require the driver to remember to look behind them when backing up. How many of these accidents happen because the driver just wasn’t looking?
I think it’s a fresh and worthy idea. As a resident downtown, I too have been waiting for a fabulous redevelopment, and how cool if includes a new improved form of parking on the street. It’s a street section that I drive, walk, or bike at least 2-3 times a day, so I definately have a vested interest in improved traffic flow and safety. I hope we in Davis can give it the old college try. It’s not an experiment that need be permanent. I can’t see many cons at this early stage to forging forward in the progressive way that we Davisites are so known for. Besides, is it really such a radical idea? I would
totally dig reversing into a spot. Easy breezy for me the driver, safer and
better for traffic flow. No more backing out into traffic–lovely.
Another advantage over regular parallel parking is eliminating the risk of swinging car doors into the bike lane. Last year, I parked in front of Zia’s and reached down to grab an overdue Blockbuster vid that had fallen onto the floor of the passenger side. It was only a matter of seconds later, but by the time I went to get out of the car, a bicyclist came by and I clipped her as I opened my door. It was frightening for us both despite no injuries or damage. And thank goodness she wasn’t one of those dudes with a massive dog.
This is actually a really bad idea for bicyclists.
1. Rows of drivers pulling out from parking onto the right side of bicyclists, with traffic passing by on their left? Suppose a honda is parked next to a Dodge Ram pickup. How would the honda see past to know when to push the nose of their car into the bike lane?
2. Cars stopping, then reversing back into a bike lane, with bikers avoiding them by diving right, into the pathway of a reversing vehicle, or left, into the outward swinging nose of the car? At least now when they reverse, they are reversing straight! As a biker you can dive right or left. Then they pull forward, and see where they are going.
Angled parking is the absolute worst for biking, period. Reverse angled would make it even worse. Best thing is lose all angled parking, period- at least until everybody is driving the same length car.
This makes sense to me. I like it!