Yet another Hit-and-Run killed one of our neighbors last night
We were devastated to learn of yet another Buffalonian out walking who was killed by a driver who left the scene this week on Elmwood Avenue in North Buffalo.
You’re likely familiar with that section of Elmwood, where it opens up into five lanes and is very oppressive to anyone who would dare to ride their bike in the road, or walk on the sidewalk.
It’s built for high-speed, despite a low speed limit, and it has very few crosswalks with a signal for anyone on foot to use.
With those factors in place, someone being hit and killed there was inevitable. GObike can’t stop all of these hit-and-runs – local elected officials and the police need to put greater emphasis and attention on this disgraceful, growing trend. What GObike can do is contribute to the design and implementation of safer streets to prevent these crashes in the first place. The kinds of designs that narrow roads and introduce traffic flow changes that force drivers to slow down and pay attention.
Buffalo Bike Master Plan identified Elmwood as ready for change
Throughout 2014 and 2015, GObike worked with NYSDOT, NYSERDA and the City of Buffalo to engage city residents about the Buffalo Bike Master Plan. In Partnership with the City of Buffalo, it was released to the public in January 2016, with a pledge from Mayor Brown to build out 10 miles of bike lanes per year. Those goals have not been met, and that is glaringly so on Elmwood Avenue in North Buffalo.
Considering the oversized road, and Elmwood’s connection to Kenmore Ave, Hertel Ave, Amherst St, the Jessie Kregal Pathway along Scajaquada Creek, and the Elmwood Cycle Track that goes south from Scajaquada Creek to Forest Ave, this a major missed opportunity.
Considering the death of someone walking on Elmwood this week, earlier implementation of safer infrastructure may have saved this unidentified man’s life.
What could Elmwood Look Like in the Future?
Niagara Street used to look similar to what Elmwood looks like today. After a protected cycle track was added, curbs were extended for pedestrians to utilize, drive lanes were decreased, not only was there an uptick in people walking and biking, but economic development followed as slower-moving traffic was more likely to support adjacent businesses.
Elmwood Ave in North Buffalo could see similar changes, but the rail bridge just north of Great Arrow Drive complicates things. For that reason, two protected bike lanes on either side of the road would qualify, rather than a united cycle track. The bridge would require the removal of a center turn lane, which is fine because there is nowhere to turn to. This kind of lane shift also forces drivers to slow and pay attention.
Delaware Avenue also used to look like Elmwood does here, with four drive lanes. It became two drive lanes, one turn lane, and two bike lanes. We worked with NYSERDA to analyze the before and after of Delaware between Mohawk and North Street when that section was redone. Four drive lanes down to two actually allowed MORE traffic to move through with efficiency than before. So the argument that there is too much traffic on that section of Elmwood to qualify for a road diet is weak. The improvements to bike and walking infrastructure may also remove more cars from the road after it becomes easier and safer to bike or walk. Before you think that someone who drives that stretch of Elmwood likely doesn’t live close enough to opt out of driving, know that a whopping 30% of all car trips in Erie County are one mile or less in length. So every time we make infrastructure improvements, it allows more people to opt out of driving and into more sustainable modes of travel, especially for all of their close-to-home trips.
Finally, if the unidentified man out walking Wednesday night only had three lanes of traffic to cross instead of five, and the cars on the road were moving at slower speeds, would he still be alive? We’d like to think so. That is why with Elmwood, and with all proposed safety improvements across our region, we continue to ask for urgency in getting them done. Each project can save a life. So why not build it all out NOW.
You can view the entire Buffalo Bike Master Plan and see what other streets are due for upgrades here. Then call your Common Council representative and demand the plan’s implementation today.
Thank you for considering our thoughts on Elmwood Avenue. We wish the friends and family of the man killed Wednesday peace in this difficult time.