The board of Friends of Albemarle wants to share some insight about the experiences of pedestrians and cyclists using the intersection of Albemarle Rd. and Crafts St. ever since the flex posts were installed in the vicinity of this intersection.
We have found and heard from others that the flex posts currently in place are tremendously useful for people trying to cross the street on foot, or biking through the intersection. We are enthusiastic about the placement of all the flex posts. It is now far safer to walk across the intersection. Our more vulnerable park users are much better able to be seen by drivers, and everyone can access the park much more safely than before.
We recognize that limiting the exit flow from two to one lanes slows down traffic on Albemarle, but we have found that to be a great benefit to the people using the park. It seems that Albemarle field continues to have the same amount of recreational usage as any other summer.
Albemarle Road is not a place we think drivers should expect to travel down quickly. People are now changing their behavior by dropping off on Watertown Street or making other choices rather than driving down Albemarle, and we think that’s a positive change for the area.
In the future, we would favor a more permanent installation to manage traffic flow, rather than flex posts, which are vulnerable to snow and crashes. Also, we would advocate for a speed bump on the hill on Crafts that drivers use heading East through the intersection because it often creates a dynamic of increased speed.
Cedar Pruitt, Jacqueline Freeman, Megan Anapolle
Board members, Friends of Albemarle
