A bit of a rant, but my municipality is building a “community square” in their downtown, but I noticed that there are no safe ways to get there by bike (or e-scooter, since we partake in a shared e-mobility program).
I emailed my city to voice my concern, and they said to contact the Region, who manages the main North/South road that brings you to the footsteps of this planned square.
They said that since there were no plans in the Regional cycling plan to add infrastructure to that particular road, we should just ride with mixed traffic.
For context… this road is one-way, and four lanes. Two (one on each side) is taken up by street parking, despite us having quite a few parking lots and a large parking garage close by.
Example (and yes, the black car on the far right is illegally parking… there’s another car behind them illegally parking, too… ):
I asked if they could at least remove one parking lane to make a bi-direction bike lane that would connect two (East/west) bike lanes, and they said not a chance.
To expand, removing one parking lane would only “take away” 12 spots. 12 spots for sitting vehicles that take up two blocks, is more important than providing a safe passage for vulnerable residents to get to a public, outdoor community space??
This is pretty unbelievable, since our local businesses are all hurting downtown, and it only seems alive when we block off vehicle traffic during special events.
Seems insane how we bend over backwards for cars.
Rant over.
Rant completely justified! They are on the wrong side of history and you are on the right side.
I emailed my city to voice my concern
This is what good citizens do, at least to kick things off (and what I, for example, have been too lazy to do). We all depend on people like you. So don’t be discouraged, keep at it. In the end you will win and that lane will be converted.
This is what good citizens do, at least to kick things off (and what I, for example, have been too lazy to do). We all depend on people like you. So don’t be discouraged, keep at it. In the end you will win and that lane will be converted.
I appreciate that. Being a cyclist over the last few years really helps to connect me to my community. It’s hard to describe unless you’re a cyclist. :)
But I have made it a point to get involved more with our local and regional transportation and trail plans. You see the world from a completely different lens when accessibility and safety become your priorities.
This is pretty unbelievable, since our local businesses are all hurting downtown, and it only seems alive when we block off vehicle traffic during special events.
Promise you these businesses would be the ones protesting if they tried to remove 12 parking spaces to replace them with a bike lane.
But yeah, I love an “activated pedestrian square” with no means of access other than driving.
For sure, they always do, until they realize the massive benefits that not having parked cars out front can bring.
Come to Minneapolis. We have:
- 16 miles of on-street protected bikeways.
- 98 miles of bike lanes and 101 miles of off-street bikeways and trails.
- something like 40 miles of converted light rail, completely off-road, crisscrossing the southwest area
If you like to bicycle, The Cities is one of these best places in the continental US. Also, if you live in the city, there are 20 miles of completely enclosed foot traffic - overpasses, through-building, and tunnels - allowing you to get almost anywhere downtown without ever going outside. Which is important, because in the winter it’s been known to get down to -50°F.
Great street setup to get doored :)
