US 441 south of Gainesville has the unusual distinction of having seen three fatalities to cyclists over the last decade. In all of these cases, an impaired driver drifted onto the shoulder and struck the cyclist. In the overall scheme of things, this is a very rare type of accident, but this particular stretch of road has gone way over on the odds.
As a result, the Florida Department of Transportation is proposing to widen the shoulders from Williston Road south to CR 234 (Micanopy Bypass) to seven feet, and install a one foot rumble strip in the first foot. This would leave a six foot travel lane for bicyclists, adequate for a double pace line. It would take about three years for this project to work its way through the budget and planning process before implementation.
Following are comments from GCC members on this proposal:
I live on the south side of Paynes Prairie in the Edgecliff subdivision. I bike 3 to 4 days per week to and from Shands. I originally biked to work between 1981 and 1983 when there was no shoulder whatsoever. In 1983, my daughter was born and my days of rding ended until 1994 when I started riding again.
I believe that the proposed 7 foot strip is a "life-saving" idea that is long overdue. Upon hearing that a cyclist died on 441 several weeks ago, my co-workers thought I might have been killed!
Let's focus on providing a safe environment that encourages exercise and reduces pollution. If Alachua County were to build a loop and hook up with the Hawthorne Trail, etc. it is possible that the County could develop itself into a "riding-haven" that could draw tourists and support the development of even more safe rides.
I can only say that it is an excellent idea that is long overdue! I was thinking just the other day about what should be done to make that stretch of road safer for bikers. It has killed and maimed too many people already. I'm very pleased that the DOT has taken notice and is preparing to do something about it...the sooner the better...
I think that bike lanes would be a great idea, and we should push as hard as we can for them... An equally important issue is to address the excessive rates of speed on 441. DOT raised the speed limits there a couple years ago which has made bike travel even more dangerous. The road goes through one of the largest and most important state parks---people want to rubber neck as they drive through---people have accidents---bikes have accidents, etc. Given the documented high number of accidents on that stretch of road (both those that involve bikes, and those that do not involve bikes), there is no justification for high speed limits. Lower the speed limits!...
...Certainly it is apparent that the number of cyclists killed along this stretch of road is out of proportion. Perhaps motorists are mesmerized by the beauty of the prairie.....I am pleased to hear that the DOT is responding and willing to take positive steps to hopefully prevent further such tragedy. I think it is an excellent idea to widen the cycling lane and install rumble strips to alert motorists.
Paving a wider shoulder down 441 is a good idea. Better yet, why not have the DOT pave the dike system (already in place) from the Hawthorne trail head ranger station across the prairie to the southern rim trail. Cyclists would completely bypass 441 and still reach all those great southern side routes.
Paving the dike system would be a great addition to the paved trail system for bike and multi-use non-motorized traffic. I think that it would encounter quite a lot of pressure from environmentally concerned people. Right or wrong, the trail would involve bringing a lot of new asphalt into an environmentally fragile area. I just think that it might meet with some opposition. That added to the objection that the project would be a totally new paving project (ie. not just 'widening' 441) but creating a whole new paved area. I am thinking here of heavy equipment access, etc. Do we think that Paynes Prarie could swallow a bulldozer whole? Do we want to find out?...
I would be in favor of this proposal. Further, I would suggest adding similar wide shoulder along the portion of 441 from SR 121 north of Gainesville to SR 235/241 in Alachua. This is a nasty and potentially dangerous stretch of roadway as well.
Cool idea (pave dike), but cyclists will still ride on 441 and so the problem of them getting killed by careless drivers will still be a problem. I would definitely like the idea of the trail being extended across the dikes from the G-H trail for myself though.
Of course this is assuming that the cyclists will not have to pay a fee to cross the prairie.
I think that is a great idea. What about Williston Road as well between 13th St and 75? No bike lane at all and it's a truck route besides.
I think in the mean time they should lower the speed limit to 55 mph on 441.
I'm not sure that widening the road is the answer. Those people didn't die because the road isn't wide enough. The died because there is no penalty for running over a cyclist/pedestrian. "I didn't see the cyclist officer" seems to work pretty good for getting out of a manslaughter charge. Law enforcement officers sure write you a speeding ticket regardless of whether or not you saw the limit sign.
The rumble strip is a good idea. It might give you half a chance to dive in with the gators or wake up that stupid bastard before he kills you.
I guess it'll take two years to actually do the construction. You know it'll be safe for cyclist during this time because they just won't ride there. Cross your fingers for the construction workers.