In the wake of the I35W Bridge disaster, numerous bikeways and bridges are also to be impacted indefinitely. While cycling is encouraged, both now and ongoing as a way to ease congestion, certain routes are not open options.
The City of Minneapolis has announced the closure of the following roads and bridges that impact cyclists:
WEST RIVER PARKWAY
Closed between 13th Ave S to 1st St S
Local access only between 11th Ave and 13th Ave S
Local access between 4th St and 1st St S
2nd STREET SE
Closed between 8th Ave SE to 11th Ave SE
Local access between 3rd Ave SE and 8th Ave SE
Local access only on 11th Ave SE between University Ave and 2nd St SE
STONE ARCH BRIDGE
Closed until further notice
BRIDGE #9 – DINKYTOWN BICYCLE CONNECTION
Closed until further notice
July 23, 2007
by julie Comments Off on More Worrying About the Wrong Things
The Star-Tribune writes about suburban bicycle efforts. MNDOT officials are quoted advocating for both wide shoulders and some segregated facilities, noting the difficulties of weaving them into well-established urban and suburban areas.
Meanwhile, the interviewed cyclist uses quiet streets, but she and the article lament dedicated bikelanes and trails for ‘less experienced’ riders. Meanwhile, this paragraph stands out:
“It just scares me to death seeing kids go down Interlachen [Boulevard] on their bikes; it’s so narrow,” she said, talking on her cell phone from her car. “Oh … I just passed one of my daughter’s friends. She’s going the wrong way on the road on her bike, talking on her cell phone. It’s not a real bright thing to do.”
Let’s examine what’s wrong with this paragraph, shall we? She’s driving while using her cell phone (automatic inattentive driving penalty), and the friend is riding the wrong way on a bicycle, also on a cell phone.
Arguably, kids have always done what they will, regardless of ‘dedicated’ bikeways. This isn’t an argument for bikeways. It’s an argument for teaching them what to do, and do properly, on a roadway. And being surrounded by adults on cell phones at every instant — including while driving — is not a good modeling behavior.
Luckily, the article isn’t all aggravating. Edina cyclists put a stop to a bicycle ‘trail’ that would have crossed 60 driveways (!) in 2 miles. Cities are bringing 4-lane roads to 3 lanes, and leaving wide shoulders, even if they aren’t striped as ‘bike lanes’ because some aren’t a full 5 feet wide (federal requirement), but only top out at 4 feet (perfectly adequate). They cite traffic calming, as well as cycling-friendliness, as motivators.
My core objection to this article is that the cyclist who is exhibiting poor modeling behavior, and her concerns, take the center stage and the first column inches. The rest of the article is far more balanced and educational, and speaks to Minnesota’s attempts to follow good traffic planning principles that view roadway use by cyclists as a goal.
July 14, 2007
by julie Comments Off on Google Maps Hack for Bicyclists
There’s a Google Maps hack designed specifically for routing bike rides and sharing the maps called Map My Ride. I fiddled with it for a short version of Great Googly Moogly (a 21-mile version I run late-season), and it’s pretty interesting. It allows for pretty easy routing and allows the addition of waypoint notes.
There’s a way to print a map with a cue sheet. They’re really literal with waypoints on the cue.
Even though Google Maps recognizes some trails (for instance, the Gateway State Trail), I’m finding this to work slightly better when you can create an all-road route, just because of the literalness of the cue.
Here’s the printer-friendly link, just to show the example: Googly! Note this will create a print prompt from your browser. Just say no, and you can see it anyway. For whatever reason, this view claims to be powered by Yahoo Maps.
Hm. I think I shall have to play with this a bit more. I’m baffled as to why the draw view is Google Maps and the print view is Yahoo Maps, and there’s some other oddities. On the other hand, it’s open-platform, unlike Delorme map softwares, which are Windows-only. As a Mac/Linux user, I have to prefer a web app.
July 11, 2007
by julie Comments Off on WaPo Profiles MN’s Own Oberstar
Oberstar is presently working to provide bicycle storage at airports — something quite common in some European and Asian nations, but far less common in the United States. He’s also looking to provide better bicycle access into airports.
I’m waiting for someone to claim Homeland Security concerns. I know they do that already with storage lockers in most transit points, but on-airport parking still exists for cars. It’s a lot easier to do mischief with a 2,000 pound auto than it is with even a crummy commuter fixie.
July 9, 2007
by julie Comments Off on Rally for Old Cedar Bridge Funding: July 14
Recently, I wrote of the need for funding to replace the Old Cedar Avenue bridge, a critical bicycle commuting connector for the south metro. It was closed after it was declared unsafe in 2002. Prior to that, cyclists had done some impromptu repairs with plywood and used the bridge at their own risk — and it was probably unsafe well before 2002.
Minnesota State Representative Ann Lenczewski is staging a rally to support just such a goal on July 14, at noon. This weekend time offers good potential for attendance for many people — after all, bicycle commuters who want the bridge back are probably working at noon on weekdays!
The rally will be on the Bloomington side of the bridge, which is near Cedar Avenue and Old Shakopee Road. It’s a nice ride from many parts of the metro, and it would be good to see cyclists in attendance with their bicycles.
