Minneapolis is in development of a 10-year transportation plan called “Access Minneapolis.” For those who ride, this is a time to take notice and participate in the discussions. This plan will have great impact on the future alignment of the downtown street system and identifies priorities that will have an impact on the rest of the city. To sum it up the bicycles are not fairing well. This process began in late 2005. I am late to the table (kind of slacking on this plan), so I have to do some research before I can give my assessment on the plan. It is time to do your research too or we could see bicycle lanes down the middle of Hennepin Avenue in between free flowing traffic. I will prepare my assessment and some action steps in the next two weeks.
One of the biggest internal dilemmas at motorman is how to balance advocating between the right for bicycles to use all public rights-of-way and the necessity for the construction of bicycle facilities separated from general traffic. Today I learned from a thread on MplsBikeLove where Mn Rando Guy shared the video below that NYC’s Transportation Alternatives is pushing for separated facilities. After watching this video I began to think about my true position on this issue, and I am 100-percent behind a bicycle policy that is both for separate facilities and for equal bicycle rights. Here is why.
First, I fully support separate facilities for bicyclists. This support comes from a basic belief that if the only other vehicles you have to deal with on your journey have the same risks as you then everyone acts on a mutually beneficial plane. Think about it, if you are out on a self-propelled 20-pound-vehicle with two pounds of foam and plastic holding down your head would you rather be with others propelling themselves or someone pushing a pedal onto the floor of a 2,000-pound-vehicle that might or might not be downloading a ring tone and regardless he or she is most likely seeing you as an illegitimate user of the street.
If I can find a separate facility I use it, as I previously wrote on this site. In addition to avoiding the run-in with the Hummer, separate facilities increase the likelihood of new riders. If a novice bicyclist has never ridden on a street with other traffic is he or she likely that the ride in the perceived uncontrolled environment of the street or on a controlled environment of a lake or parkway loop. Our American upbringing tells use that cars rule the road so stay out of their way! Therefore, as we add separate bicycle facilities into our transportation system we gain more riders, because these new riders need a safe controlled environment in which to ride.
Second, I do not, and will not, relinquish my right to ride on the road. We are all vehicles on the road and need to respect each other. I have the right to travel on all streets and will do so. Unlike access to the street, driving is a privilege. As a privilege, it is incumbent on all of us to stand up to selfish acts that many of us perform on our roadway every hour of every day. I have not yet found the inscription on my driver’s license that gives me permission to put my interests in front of others. State law allow me protections to be on the roadway and I think it is time for those in motor vehicles to suck it up, act your age, and get over it. We belong – so BACK OFF and let us ride!
Overall I will fight for increasing people riding bicycles when they can, to where they want to go, and at the time they want to go. I can only see fulfilling this position by fighting for separate and for equal as the platform for bicycle advocacy.
Cold winter weather returned to Minneapolis today! On my ride into work my thermometer on the bicycle computer registered no temp since it was colder than its lower bound. I love this weather because this is what it is supposed to be like in Minnesota in January. For those who rode today you probably had a number of odd glances from colleagues when you arrived at work, but as I read posted on MplsBikeLove, with the need to clear snow off ones car and worry about the battery dieing and trying to find a parking space close and sitting still inside a cold car. “Why do people go through the trouble of driving in the winter?” See you out there.
Last Friday the motorhome hosted the first formal discussion to create an independent bicycle advocacy organization for the Minneapolis area. From this discussion we determined most importantly that we need a more formal advocacy organization that is effective and that we need more voices in the discussion. To facilitate these two determinations you have the opportunity to follow the developments through three different online sources (trying all three IS triple the fun!). In addition to the online resources and if you want to see this organization succeed, then you should participate in the next event. Here in the Minneapolis area we have a great bicycle community and it is now the time to harness this energy to ensure that Minneapolis is the best environment for bicycling in North America!
So you want to be a voyeur in this bicycle advocacy thing? Well there are three online venues that will hold most, if not all; of the information you will need to keep tabs on the Minneapolis area bicycle advocacy organization discussions. These are:
But if you want to show your face and tell it like it is to the rest of us, then we have options. The next event for theses discussion will be in late January or early February depending on the location chosen. We will shoot for a Friday night starting at 7 p.m. The location is yet-to-be-determined, after discussing it with motorwife, we do not believe we can accommodate the growing numbers that we expect at the next event. To make sure you know the date and location for this event join the mailing list. You could watch the other two sites and that will due, but you will not get the instant gratification that comes from receiving an email with the details.
Staff from Minneapolis Public Works met with the North Minneapolis Bicycle Taskforce (NMBT) to discuss the plan to improve the Northside bicycle facilities. It will begin as soon as possible with the correction signage and lane markings then engagement with property owners that have expressed a hardship. The lane correction will connecting lane markings that are intermittent, adding no parking signs in area that need them, and to restore the eastern half of Plymouth to ‘Share the Road’ and move the lane on the bridge over I-94 away from the gutter pan. I welcome these actions as an intermediate step towards what I hope to occur next year. As I posted previously, there needs to be more protected passage for riders with emerging skill. Fortunately, this plan will address three-out-of-the-four issues I have with the Northside lanes. Make your voice heard
Public Works staff informed us that the rationale behind the changes in parking restrictions on these lanes is a direct result from complaining property owners. To no fault of the City staff, this is how many issues receive attention. These squeaky wheels received grease until a more comprehensive approach could occur.
As the NMBT works with the City and the community to discuss the importance of the bike program and as some begin to receive tickets for disobeying parking restrictions additional complaints will come into City Hall. It is very important for this (and for all bike facilities) that you make sure that elected officials understand that these facilities are used and need to remain. We have the highest percentage of people that bike to work in the country. It is my expectation that within the year we have the highest percentage of bike commuters that is also the most vocal.
