Readers Sometimes Come To A Full Stop

The poll last week was about the St. Louis rolling stop:

Q: When coming to a stop sign or red light I:

1. sometimes do a full stop, other times I don’t, just depends 72 [41.14%]
   
2. come to a full & complete stop at every stop sign/red light 62 [35.43%]
   
3. only do a complete stop if I see a cop or a camera. 18 [10.29%]
   
4. Stop means roll, right? 10 [5.71%]
   
5. I don’t drive a car 9 [5.14%]
   
6. Other answer… 4 [2.29%]

I’d like to think I always come to a full stop, but i know I don’t always.  Here are the four other answers:

1. Cant compare the two.
2. treat as yield, use discretion, be responsible
3. stop signs and red lights are totlly different. This poll is dumb
4. I do a rolling stop if 3 black punks are on the corner waiting to rob me if i st

Hmm, “stop signs and red lights are totlly [sic] different. This poll is dumb”  Are they totally different? From the Missouri Driver Guide:

Both require a full/complete stop. The rules about proceeding after coming to a stop are different, but otherwise they are very similar.

– Steve Patterson

A Month Without Transit

Last summer I decided to begin using transit for the bulk of my transportation needs.  I was doing well July 2010 through January 2011.

But then the snow & ice came in February.  It must have started in late January because I couldn’t get out to even buy a February pass.   Sure, I could have ordered it online but I decided I’d wait and see what happened.  We had that one nice week but I didn’t have a pass.  I could have bo0ught individual tickets but I find myself more willing to use transit when I can just swipe the pass rather than pull out money and not lose a transfer.

I went to the sales office at the SE corner of the convention center yesterday and bought a pass for March.  It feels better having the pass in my wallet, especially with rising gas prices. Now is the time to give transit a try, don’t wait until July when gas prices may exceed highs from July 2008.

– Steve Patterson

Weekly Poll: Do You The St. Louis Rolling Stop?

In the news last week:

Roberta Haynes, 62, was reportedly walking her dog when she was hit. Police say the driver ran a stop sign and then fled the scene on foot. (KMOV: Woman in critical condition after hit-and-run crash near Tower Grove Park)

Which leads me to the poll question this week: When coming to a stop sign or red light I? The poll is in the upper right corner of the main page.

– Steve Patterson

Delmar Loop Lacks Proper Bike Parking

I’m a huge fan of on-street parking for automobiles, the stationary cars provide a nice barrier between passing cars and pedestrians. But in addition to providing parking for cars in the public right-of-way we should also provide parking for bicycles.  The person who cycles for transportation purposes (vs recreational rides) will find a way to secure their bikes, but often in less than ideal conditions.

A parking meter is a poor bike rack because it is too easy for a thief to lift the bike over the top.  Also meters do a lousy job of supporting the frame. Sign posts can work but often thieves will pull up the post to steal the bike.  Yesterday a friend came over to my loft and he brought his bike up rather than risk theft on the street due to a lack of bike racks.

The Delmar Loop is one of our best areas but the lack of bike parking is noticeable. It has only been 4-5 years since the stretch of Delmar East of Skinker was narrowed from four to two travel lanes to allow widened sidewalks.  There is plenty of room for bike racks, they just weren’t  a priority.

– Steve Patterson

Readers: City Meets Snow Removal Expectations

Last week readers weighed in on the topic of snow removal:

Q: How good of a job does the City of St. Louis do at snow removal?

1. About what I expect 68 37.57%
2. I expect better 60 33.15%
3. Better than I’d expect 31 17.13%
4. Other answer… 18 9.94%
5. No opinion 4 2.21%

A close second was the expectation of a better job. The other answers were numerous:

1. We specifically bought an AWD drive car because we live IN the city.
2. I am betting that “I expect better” wins.
3. Snow removal is an unecessary expense.
4. what about sidewalks
5. I would like better, but realize it is not realistic due to budget realities.
6. It’s sporadic, sometimes good, sometimes bad. unpredictable.
7. pathetic, northern states do much, much better
8. Worst ever for a city with annual snow.
9. They do a great Job!
10. Great!
11. Snow in STL is so infrequent; the city spends to much time and energy on it.
12. the lack of plowing side streets is a reason to live in inner suburb.
13. I’d LIKE better
14. Depends how good your Alderperson is
15. About what I expect, but I expect a terrible job.
16. Embarrasingly awful
17. If you want side streets plowed, you need to pay more in taxes.
18. Laughable

Clearly readers have different expectations causing a wide variety of answers. Wondering if the ice & sleet this week has changed any opinions?

– Steve Patterson