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the design and that people would likely propose changes it had not resolved beforehand. He added that staff <br />felt the design was reasonable and appropriate. <br /> <br />Ms. Nathanson questioned whether there was a way the council could protect all the interests involved, and <br />was particularly concerned in safety issues. If what slowed traffic could be lethal for bicyclists, she was <br />concerned, and did not want to expose people to unwarranted risks. She did not share Mr. Kelly's belief that <br />motorists would necessarily respect the bicyclists, noting that on her collector street there was curves that <br />prevented motorists from seeing the bicyclists in the bicycle lane, which could lead to serious conflicts. <br /> <br />Ms. Nathanson believed that slowing traffic was not only a matter of the actual width of a street, but the <br />perceived width as well, and when vertical structures were located near the roadway it appeared to be more <br />narrow. She asked about the character of the area, and if the roadway could be made to appear narrower than <br />it was. Mr. Lyle responded that the aligmnent was designed in a way that was intended to compel people to <br />slow down by eliminating an absolute line of sight. The medians will be landscaped. He said the design was <br />an attempt to accommodate the 80-foot long trucks that used the road, but most vehicles will be average sized. <br />He did not anticipate automobiles would crowd the bicycle path. Mr. Lyle felt the potential of encroachment <br />by truck-trailers was addressed by the extra width in the path. <br /> <br />Responding to a question from Mr. Rayor, Mr. Lyle said that curbing along the path and street could be <br />examined, but there was a related maintenance issue regarding sweeping. Mr. Rayor offered as an example of <br />his suggestion 13th Avenue between Alder and Kincaid streets. Mr. Lyle indicated staff would examine that <br />technique. <br /> <br /> Ms. Taylor, seconded by Mr. Kelly, moved to approve the design as submitted along <br /> with the recommendation regarding the proposed assessments. <br /> <br /> Mr. Farr, seconded by Mr. Papd, moved to amend the motion by removing the chicanes <br /> near the intersection of Ayres Road and North Delta Highway. <br /> <br />Mr. Farr spoke in support of his motion by saying the highway was not a completely straight highway and he <br />did not think the chicanes were needed. He said that automobiles will tend to travel at the speed limit and <br />"straighten out the highway" rather than slow down. He thought bicyclists would also naturally tend to <br />"straighten the highway" and stray into the automobile lanes. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly could not support the amendment and suggested the following text as a substitute, noting it included <br />an additional sentence to the original motion: <br /> <br /> To approve the design as submitted along with the recommendation regarding the proposed <br /> assessments. However, staff should redxamine alternatives for bicycle travel in the chicane <br /> area. <br /> <br />Mr. Farr and Mr. Papd accepted Mr. Kelly's suggestion as a substitute to the amendment. <br /> <br />Mr. Farr said he assumed the reexamination of bicycle traffic would include reexamination of the necessity of <br />the chicane. Mr. Lyle said that staff would look at that but would focus on the other techniques suggested in <br />discussion first. <br /> <br /> MINUTES--Eugene City Council March 5, 2001 Page 7 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />