Cycle Tracks, Franklin Ave, and More
The support for a strong biking community keeps growing, and the BAC Engineering Subcommittee meetings are evident of just that. At the most recent meeting, the room was packed, so much that additional seats were needed. That in mind, there was plenty to discuss. Cycle track efficacy, altering Franklin Avenue with the help of the Native American Community Development Initiative, and adjustments to bikeway planning in the Above the Falls and RiverFIRST initiatives highlight the day. Here are a few brief updates:
Cycle tracks and Minneapolis
The BAC has been entertaining the idea of cycle tracks for some time, and whether you agree or not, cycle tracks do provide additional biking infrastructure in our prized system, and the City of Minneapolis plans to find out how cycle tracks work here, if they can. In the near future, the city council will vote on the City’s Climate Action Plan, and City staff plan on pushing the BAC’s recommendations calling for 30 miles of dedicated cycle tracks by the year 2025 and a mode-share goal of 15% by 2025. Of course, there are years of planning, piloting, and tracking that will take place, but you could see a cycle track in the next few years.
Action:The subcommittee passed a recommendation that supports the city taking the lead on this project.
Franklin Avenue between Cedar Ave and Bloomington Ave
Despite the road configuration (complete with bike lanes) on either side of this segment, this portion has yet to be changed, making an area that is already unsafe and confusing even more so. The Native American Community Development Initiative (NACDI)have a plan to not only reconfigure the road to reflect the bicycle lanes, but to utilize the large median space as a meeting and market area centered around Native American culture. With general support from Hennepin County and the NACDI, the BAC and other interest groups are trying to decipher what can be done within regulations.
Action:The committee passed a recommendation supporting this project.
Above the Falls/ RiverFIRST
Both Above the Fallsand the RiverFIRSTprojects aim to protect and enhance our communities surrounding the Mississippi River, and a main tenant of both is an interconnected network of trails and pathways that pass through parks, neighborhoods, places of interest, and places of work. Marshall Avenue was one particular segment discussed during these talks, and Hennepin County is now looking at a variety of road configurations for on-road bikeways. These will complement bike trails that are off street, and provide additional interconnectivity.
More to come as these projects are still in the development phase.
Bike-Friendly Streets Committee Notes
Minneapolis Bike Coalition
January Projects Meeting
January 28, 2013
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Bryant Square Park
First, we discussed how the Alliance for Biking and Walking (a national organization) will be here this weekend for a training on how to launch and run a successful advocacy campaign. We plan to use this time to develop a cycletrack campaign.
Possible goals for cycletracks in Minneapolis:
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help all kinds of people feel comfortable cycling -
connect Grand Rounds and other multi-use pathways to each other and to street routes -
cycletracks should be located in places where they are needed and NOT in places where they are not needed; focus on areas that are lacking in biking infrastructure -
cycletracks are needed in various neighborhoods throughout the city -
a higher percentage of trips should be made on bikes -
more cyclists on the road would lead to safety in numbers -
engage allies and partners in cycling advocacy -
redesign street to improve it not only for cyclists but for businesses and pedestrian, i.e. slower traffic, people stop in stores -
cycletracks could help with the Downtown 2025 vision
Ideas on how we could message the cycletrack campaign:
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need public education and visuals- teach people what a cycletrack is and how to use them safely -
intersections will need to be changed- major danger sites -
messaging about riding bikes all year round—currently we rely heavily on paint which is hidden in the winter -
make it clear that improved streets are not only for cyclists—also better for pedestrians, families, store owners, etc.
Next, we discussed how the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition calendar should have all kinds of cycling events on it, from bike related happy hours to alley cat races.
Third, we decided on some policy goals for 2013. These goals include:
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locking in ongoing support for Open Streets -
working on the Complete Streets policy -
Street-to-Greenway conversion policy -
pushing adoption of a citywide cycletrack and greenway network map -
working to have the City of Minneapolis adopt specific guidelines for practical and safe bike racks -
working on zoning and parking issues around the U of M.
Finally, we brainstormed questions for candidate questionnaires for the upcoming municipal, mayoral, and park board elections.
