The always-excellent West Side Action is two parts into a 5-part series on Bronson Avenue. Bronson was designated as an arterial in the 1970s as part of the Centretown plan, and bears the brunt of north-south automobile traffic in a wide swath of Centretown, from Kent/Lyon in the east to Booth in the west. Factors like noise, dust, narrow sidewalks, and limited pedestrian crossings make Bronson a real barrier for foot and cycle traffic, separating Chinatown from points east and discouraging development along Bronson itself.
Bronson is slated for reconstruction in 2011, and, astonishingly, the City presented a plan to the neighbourhood that would see engineers actually widen the roadbed, facilitating even greater traffic speed along the road.
Here’s West Side Action’s Eric Darwin on the issue:
The problem with the City’s current approach is that it assumes Bronson is a four lane street. And that it is congested. And therefore, the solution is to widen it.
I don’t think Bronson IS a four lane street, and there is a whole pile of traffic engineering literature to support my view. Bronson only LOOKS like it has four through lanes. In fact, what it has is a right turn lane, a left turn lane, and through traffic that alternates from lane to lane to get through. Because the street looks wide, it encourages faster movement. The pace is set by the fastest car, which is the guy who passes on the right and changes lanes frequently. All this lane changing makes for fender benders. Cars find it hard to get on or off the street, because of the two lanes of opposing traffic to cut across. Pedestrians and transit users find it really unsafe to try to cross the street. It is not a pleasant street to live along or have a business on.
If you are not familiar with Bronson at rush hour, the video above helps illustrate what Eric means about traffic behaviour. It is one green light cycle of the northbound lane at Somerset and Bronson, and in that one change alone you can clearly see examples of lane-changing and drivers putting their foot down to accelerate along what they are trained to believe is a four-lane arterial. It is shot from the perspective of a pedestrian wishing to cross Bronson at Somerset, which is not a enjoyable place to be. Eric goes on:
Consider this analogy: Bronson is a patient with clogged arteries. The City’s doctor (engineer) sees the constricted artery, and suggests we pump the patient with more fat and gunk since not all of it is getting through. Surely a more reasonable approach is to put the patient (Bronson) on a diet, so that the artery can handle the appropriate amount of traffic safely and without killing the residents, businesses, and adjacent communities.
With a gorgeous landmark feature soon to added to the Chinatown streetscape — the stunning royal arch, also covered in detail by Eric at the Chinatown Arch site, and sure to become a tourist destination from the moment it is unveiled — the time is right to evaluate Bronson in light of what can be done to make the western sector of Centretown more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. But if the present plans for Bronson go unchallenged, the City will moving to cut Chinatown off, even as it is poised for a rebirth.
7 comments
Crazy. Until a few weeks ago, I lived one block away from Bronson & Somerset, and would go out of my way to avoid having to walk down the street at all as every time I did, I felt as if I were risking my life.
As a pedestrian on those narrow sidewalks up against giant trucks and speeding cars, it was hard not to wonder how safe it actually was – less than an elbow away from the side mirrors on cars as they sped by at 60km/h or more. Terrifying! I can’t imagine what it would be like as pedestrians if that street gets wider – and for those that LIVE on Bronson….yikes.
I’m amazed that van at the 35 second mark didn’t get nailed by that truck!
I’m not on Bronson a lot, but all the criticisms are definitely valid. It’s too bad that there isn’t more retail development along the street, though, as I think rebuilding the street more in the style of Elgin (parking along the sides, two through lanes, and only occasional turning lanes) would do a lot to improve the situation. Unfortunately, I don’t think Bronson would have any need for much on-street parking.
I couldn’t agree more with all the opinions…I’m a land use planner, I live just off Bronson and walk a chunk of it at least twice a day…
It goes against logic, but I love Bronson…I feel a sad pity for it…like an old beat up street dog…I also try to stay away from it like an old beat street dog…I’ve developed my own scheme for burying it from just north of the Bronson Bridge through to the escarpment…A dream yes, but it has to start somewhere. If through traffic on Bronson gets buried in my life time with connections to Carling and the Queensway I would be a happy planner…Surface traffic would be reserved for local traffic (of course).
Crossing Bronson at Gladstone is a nightmare – I am honestly terrified crossing it with my stroller. I have seen so many cars speed through on red lights, I am stunned that there aren’t more accidents. Widening this road has to be one of the dumbest ideas ever – with clearly no thought for pedestrians or cyclists.
Dear planners – try being a pedestrian and a cyclist before even putting pen to paper (or CAD as it may be). GET OUT OF YOUR CAR. Sorry. Rant!
Widening Bronson is applying a 1950s-style planning solution to a current day problem. Widening busy roads in urban areas DOES NOT WORK. There are reams of planners and non-planners alike around the world who can tell you that. The many studies and the anecdotal evidence all refute widening roads to alleviate traffic. This isn’t the 401 – it’s an inner city street. If Ottawa wants to be a smart, liveable city than it has to act like one.
I totally agree with Matt on the fact that widening urban streets does not solve in any way the traffic problem: it just push it forward.
I cross Bronson everyday walking/biking and it is a risky operation every single time I do it. I wish Bronson was more pedastrian friendly and had a more urban feel to it.
As David proposed, having more shops on Bronson is not a bad idea, but I think it belongs more to Gladstone in that area.
Before their next meeting every single member of the Bronson Technical Advisory Committee should be required to read and digest this site: http://www.completestreets.org