The West Delavan Connection

Agreed. UB has University Heights and Buff State is smack on Elmwood. Canisius is lacking its own "college nieghborhood" as it kinda sits in limbo between Univ. Heights and Elmwood. Better connectivity between Canisius and one of or both of these neighborhoods would be good for students and the neighborhoods.

Thank you, QE!!! I have been writing about this anytime streets improvement, pedestrians, or cycling has been brought up. And I've written no less than three letters to the city and even the BN "Fix It" column.

Did anyone notice the Forest Lawn fence was knocked down by what appears to have been some sort of vehicle right at the Lindwood/Delavan bus stop? Can you imagine if a rider was standing there? Maybe if the curb wasn't two feet from the fence people would be more aware that there is a fence and a cemetery behind it.

And as far as the width of the lanes go, I would disagree with how you say they drive single file. I find it to be like Colvin and Starin between Amherst an Kenmove Ave. where it is basically "make-your-own-lane" and if you aren't a big enough A-hole to take up the entire lane and you actually realize it is only one lane, then you get boxed out when it opens to the turn lanes at Delaware. Not to mention at times it's like a race track.

It always amuses me when these articles are posted. I drive this stretch practically every day and there is barely any foot traffic whatsoever. There is an existing sidewalk which does not get utilized. To narrow this stretch would make very pretty empty sidewalks on both sides. Like it or not, this is a well traveled throughfare. Can it benefit with the addition of bike lanes like Main and Delaware? Of course. There is ample room for this. Should this stretch be repaved with the curbs replaced, trees planted and the lighting improved? Most definitely. There are more realistic things that can be done to improve Delavan without a drastic reworking.

Actually, Canisius should have its own as it sits right at the intersection of Main and Jefferson).

Canisius students already use the light rail parknrides, as well as the light rail to patronize UB South Campus.

Canisius students already choose to live west of Main so they can patronize Elmwood college focused business. However, Elmwood college focused businesses are getting priced out of Elmwood and moving to Grant. This will only continue as Elmwood gets more expensive and more Buffalo State dorms are built along Grant Street.

Canisius would be smart to look towards Main and Jefferson for College focused retail experiences...and get rid of that wall on Main and Delevan.

Anyone looking for a big picture idea...consider Medaille selling to Canisius and rebuilding in the old Central Park Mall. There is plenty of room and its within walking distance to Light Rail.

All that is really needed is some paint to make a cycle-bus lane. Essentially no car driver would be inconvenienced, and it would start to get drivers used to slight restrictions to where they can go. Then we could build upon that success and get other such lanes in the city.

I cycle that stretch every working day (except for maybe 5 each year) and the only time I see any amount of traffic is during shift change at the hospital and even then there is no need for 4 lanes.

Excellent idea.

What ever happened with the continued reconstruction of Main St. The islands look great. It looks as though it has stopped at Humboldt Pkwy.? I thought it was to go to the 700 block downtown.

So, who at City Hall is giving money for 'BLUSH'????

Yes from the parkway up to the beginning of the subway exit where it goes above ground and with the exception of the block before, ; looks like a detroit landscape. The main street should be a well kept , treed with clean deweeded sidewalks. It's a shame the main thoroughfare of Buffalo shouldnlook so decrepit.

I remember One Sunset.

The only problem was that everytime I went there, I was the only person there.

The West Delavan-Delaware light could use some sensors. I pass that intersection every day going to school and ALWAYS hit the red. Even when no one was on the other side.

The more bike lanes the better!

Just got hit by a car and I'm hurting! Really hurting..... Got slammed in the back and don't know when I'll be better!! If Buffalo wants to attract and keep young people from leaving and give this city a progressive image we need bike lanes every where. Do I need to risk my life biking when I'm one less car on the road and barely denting the environment.

Bicyclist are treated like a 2nd class. Where is the incentive to use bikes?

i walk and bike this section of delevan a lot on my commute from the elmwood village to ub north campus - and have for several years - bike riding is not the safest for the reasons already mentioned, ie: cars without distinct lanes swerving in and out of each other -

my personal biggest problem, however, is the lack of sidewalk on the north side, near forest lawn cemetery - often, after waiting several minutes for the #26 bus west, i start to walk west up delevan hoping to move along the route, as opposed to sitting there - eventually i hope to catch the bus as it passes me along the way - however, walking west on delevan from main st to delaware ave is dangerous - walking in the several foot wide worn grass path as cars and trucks fly by does not make for pedestrian friendly - and if i walk on the south side of the street, i will definitely miss the bus i'm hoping to catch

another thought to consider is that if this route is improved, it also serves as a great transit connection to downtown - while you can take the late night #20 route, walk, or bike but if you are already downtown, perhaps on bike or not, and it would be very easy to hop on the train and feel safer riding home delevan via bike or bus, that would be great too

Help generate new businesses in the area by creating greater accessibility for Canisus students commuting on bike or foot is a great idea. It would nice to see the city spend money in this way rather than removing trees from sidewalks..
http://newvilleny.blogspot.com/

I used to walk from Bidwell to the metro station and it was a PITA. There are no cross walks (I think) on the north end of Delaware and the crossing lights are short. I would walk through the cemetery everytime, it was infinitely more peaceful and safer. I always thought that section of delaven was prime for mediation. Chop it down to one lane each way, add bike lanes and sidewalks, and transform it. Add cross walks at the intrablock intersections to help calm it more. It wouldn't even need and construction work, just some paint.

We need some brave renegades to stripe that strip of road under nightfall. The city is so inept that it'd like be not noticed for a while

http://www.radarredux.com/2010/08/local-activists-create-guerrilla-bike-lane/

Large part of this problem is a lack of leadership from canisius college - they live in their own bubble over there

it's inconveivable how the area in between main and delaware south of delevan is such a dump - why hasn't the college done anything about this?

...putting up a gated community around the neighborhood and isolating the students doesnt exactly lend itself well to a struggling area

That whole section is tough for peds and bikes. I would commute down Linwood to Delevan and then over to Delaware and have to sprint to get to the bike lane in the 'S' curves so as not to get slammed from behind.

Now I take the long way around and come out on Forest and go right to the bike lane, but adds 3/4 mile to my commute.

Fixing the Delavan stretch is a also great way to connect the Parkside neighborhood bicylists with the Elmwood area too. This stretch is currently so dismal-looking and hazardous, one avoids this stretch....unless you're in a car of course.

I just returned from Portland, OR and it was quite difficult to come to terms with Buffalo's lack of bike friendly streets. Portland has not only bike lanes and paths, but a culture of bicycle acceptance. I am striving towards "car free" and vow to work on this issue. We could all move to Portland or fix what is broken here.

Terrible spot to walk or run through as the sidewalk goes up and down with the roots of trees and dogs snatch at you from the porches they're tied to.

Option 1 - Annex Medaille. Canisius had the chance in the mid 90s but didn't have the cash. Medaille has since improved itself and its value has gone up. However, they just send out a magazine to every single inquiry for next fall's freshmen class that included pictures of people smoking joints, girls in lingerie, sexual testimonials from current students, and oh yeah, no information about the college.

So their value might drop again and that could become reality.

Option 2 - Lure those businesses leaving Elmwood over to Main St. Why is it that Dagwoods and a shady Chinese restaurant are all that survive consistently on Main and Delevan? Record Theatre does alright in its location. But as you get past Lafayette headed South, it's a wasteland.

As long as our ever-impressive mayor is in office, don't expect the city to do any favors for Canisius College or its students, despite all the college does for the city.

The section of Main St. between Sister's and Jewett could use some help. Not sure why business don't focus on this area, instead of continually using a building that has failed at every attempt.