Norbeck Road needs shoulders and a bike path

No shoulders = no room for error on Norbeck Road

I had a chance to take pictures of traffic on Norbeck Road, especially on the dangerous blind curve near Barn Ridge Lane.  It is apparent to any driver, bicyclist, or pedestrian that Norbeck Road is not safe for anyone, including cars.  There are no shoulders or safety zones to allow cars room to swerve or pull off the road in the event of an emergency.  

I received reports from residents that there are many vehicular accidents on this blind curve due to poor sightlines.  There is very little room for error here and that often results in mangled guardrails.  One resident claimed that the Maryland Highway Administration (SHA) has to replace the guardrail every other week.  That's demonstrates the severity of the siutation on this stretch of Norbeck Road.

More importantly, our most vulnerable road users, pedestrians and bicyclists are forced to run and pedal to the max on this stretch just to get through as fast as possible before possibly getting hit by a vehicle.  As a result, drivers must slam on their breaks or swerve around a jogger or bicyclist in the road.  That could cause rear-end collisions or oncoming vehicle collisions.  There is simply not enough room for both vehicles, pedestrian,s and bicyclists to co-exist on this stretch of Norbeck Road.  This is a tragedy waiting to happen. 

But you can make your voice heard by contacting Jeremy Beck, project engineer, at Maryland State Highway Administration.  Urge Mr. Beck and SHA to address the dangerous conditions on Norbeck Road.

Tell Mr. Beck and SHA that not only should Norbeck Road be widened with ample shoulders and curbs to manage water runoff, but it should also have bike lanes and/or a pedestrian/bike path to separate vehicular traffic from foot traffic and bike traffic. 

Implementing these simple roadway features would improve transportation safety and proide room to pull over in case drivers run out of gas, blow a tire, strike an animal, expierience mechanical difficulties, or drift out of their lanes.  Furthermore, pedestrians and bicyclists would be able to pass through this segment of Norbeck Road with a modicum of safety.   

It would also make this blind curve on Norbeck Road near Barnridge Lane less accident-prone and less scary for everyone.  What do you think?

Check out the gallery of pictures showing the dangerous conditions on Norbeck Road after the jump:

Imagine rounding this curve to find a jogger or bicyclist in the road because there are no shoulders?