Brookline/Dedham/Nahanton

This intersection is even more dangerous for bikes than it was before it was re-done. In both directions there are rumble strips on the right shoulder. That, combined with an island, narrows the traffic lane to the point that there is no place for bikes to go when cars squeeze by. There is no signage to indicate that bikes MUST use full lane/do not pass bikes when turning in these 2 choke points.

NACTO guidance on rumble strips is:

“These are typically reserved for high-speed streets, as they are neither safe nor comfortable for bicyclists or wheelchair users to cross, and are not as effective at restricting incursions as other treatments.”

AARP says (AARP Rumble Strips Article)

" Rumble strips pose serious dangers for cyclists riding along roadways. They are practically impossible to ride over on a bicycle. At best rumble strips are uncomfortable for cyclists but at worst they can cause cyclists to lose control of their bike and fall. "

Cars routinely honk and pass even though there isn’t room to do so safely. Even the most experienced riders who are accustomed to taking the lane find this configuration Very Dangerous. If a bike hits the rumble strip because of a passing car and crashes, they will be run over. It is not right that this intersection is designed to force bikes to play “chicken” with cars.

There is also no signage to warn cyclists and drivers that the bike lane/striped shoulder stops abruptly. It is particularly dangerous for people going through this intersection for the first time since the traffic can be very heavy. This intersection is a key route on the way to Needham/Dover which is a favorite route for fitness cyclists (see screenshot below from Strava).

It’s not just dangerous the first time, and traffic doesn’t have to be particularly heavy; moderate traffic is enough to throw you off. I only today - a Sunday afternoon - got the hang of it, when I was looking for what to write into this forum re: that location (since I needed to drive to VFW Pkwy). So first you of course have accomplished, when a driver is driving west on Dedham: Before you get to Nahanton Rd, you have one lane. Immediately after Nahanton, that is, after the triangle after Nahanton, you have to (immediately figure out that you have to get) immediately into the right lane if you want to continue down Dedham. (If you don’t, it’s a disaster.) Some drivers do, some drivers don’t. The driver right in front of me didn’t, and then at Brookline made a sharp left turn into the front car in the left turn only lane.

Not sure how I’d manage if there were cyclists there at the same time.

Honestly, it felt more like white-water rafting than driving.

Additionally, Oak Hill Park residents (see Oak Hill Neighborhood Organization website) report problems with Carlson Road, too. See (Jan. 2020) where driver reports: “he (the driver) was traveling East on Dedham St when he realized he was in the wrong lane .He then tried to pull into the right lane when he collided with veh # 1”.