Move over cars, more ‘road diets’ are heading our way

QFor those who do not understand the lingo in your article on traffic on Lincoln Avenue in Willow Glen, what is a ‘road diet’? — Ken Amunrud, San Jose

AThis may be the most popular phrase in engineering school. It’s narrowing a street to slow traffic, add bike lanes and make it more pedestrian friendly. Lincoln Avenue has gone from four through lanes to two with a center left-turn-only lane. Pruneridge Avenue, Hedding Street and Branham Lane in the South Bay and Valencia Street in San Francisco and Telegraph Avenue in Oakland are among dozens of streets where this has also been done. And plenty more are coming.

QThere are arrows that show the direction of travel on streets, but on triangles, the triangle is turned around. Why? When I first saw this, I thought I was going the wrong direction. — Geo Matabe, San Jose

AThese are called “shark’s teeth” and are used to mark the line you should be waiting behind if you’re waiting for traffic to pass or pedestrians to cross. They are an attention grabber and help reduce crashes.

QThe new bicycle path between El Camino Real and Homestead Road appears ready for use except the fence is not complete. When will the bike path open? — Grassl, Gary Brainin and others

AThe fencing fabric is in, and any day the trail will open. The entire project between El Camino and just south of Homestead is scheduled to be completed by the end of August.

QI’m disabled and use a service dog. It is terrifying when someone on a bike comes whizzing past us on the sidewalk. As well trained as my dog is, she is still an animal and can be startled.

Should she get hit by a bike, she’d likely be seriously injured and I’d be in big trouble without her. Not to mention that if someone on a bike hits a 60-pound Labrador, I suspect they are going to go flying off the bike and be badly hurt as well. — Ann B., San Jose

AI hope bicyclists speeding on sidewalks heed your concerns.

QHere’s a favorite bumper sticker of mine: “Get out of my way, I’m headed to a bingo game!” spotted on a big old Oldsmobile driven by a little old lady with cotton-ball hair flying down Highway 237. When I see someone speeding and weaving through traffic, I like to think maybe they’re late for the bingo game. — Mark Glanville, San Jose

ABingo! A big Olds and cotton-ball hair means she should be easy to spot.