When heading west in the 7th Street bike lane from Indiana to Dunn, tree branches obstruct the view of the stop sign that is on the south side of the path.
Heading east on 7th towards Dunn, there seem to be trees or tree branches blocking every stop sign from full visibility. This seems dangerous to have the one intersection with stop signs in that area have obstructions of being able to see the stop signs as a vehicle driver.
Why do City vehicles park in the bike lane instead of the street? Many times while riding my bike on 7th street this year, I have had to ride around City vehicles parked in and blocking the 7Line because the driver was watering trees or something. Firstly, it's much easier for a car to drive around a truck than for a cyclist going up a steep hill and more vulnerable than drivers to have to ride into oncoming traffic or try to squeeze around an enormous truck. Secondly, this sends the signal that the City prioritizes drivers over cyclists. I should hope that's not actually the case, but it feels like it. Why not park in the car lane? Either side would be by the trees that are in the median between the 7Line and the car lanes, and it wouldn't impact the safety of the City workers. But it does impact the safety of people on bikes, who are already at more risk of injury from crashes.
Drain grate has hole
There is a large put next to the sidewalk at 7th and Grant that has been there for over a week. It used to have caution tape around it, but that has since disappeared, too. I just don’t want anyone to fall in! Thanks!
Several green sidewalk/streetlights are out
The stop signs at this intersection are rather confusing because Indiana Avenue is a two-lane one-way street. It can be difficult to determine who has the right of way quickly enough to avoid interrupting the flow of traffic. Also, I have seen drivers ignore the stop signs on Indiana on several occasions. I think this intersection needs a stoplight.
At 8:35 this morning, a Centerpoint Energy truck was idling in the bike lane, blocking both lanes so I had to drive in the street, even though there's that big electric sign not far from that spot that says No Parking in the Bike Lane. There was a dude in the front seat reading an ipad or something.
I noticed that the "ONE WAY" sign on 7th Street to the east of Lincoln is behind a tree. The sign is in the median of the bike lane curb on 7th, and it is pointing an arrow to the north, presumably to tell traffic headed east on 7th that Lincoln is a one way. A small street tree is planted directly in front of the sign, obstructing its view.
7th street is a nightmare for drivers and bicyclists alike. The new configuration with medians and curbs came at a very high cost financially, and personal and property safety. Bicyclists must cross traffic and can't be seen; motorists have ongoing (even those who know the streets) problems navigating the extended curbs and the narrow streets. This is an ongoing problem area.