Post in Bike/Walk Boulevards - Transportation

I went to Monday's meeting on the Highland Parkway Bike/Walk Boulevard, and I
withdraw all my previous objections.

1) This is a federal grant specifically for Bike/Walk Boulevards.  This
eliminates my objection that the money could be better spent elsewhere.  No
boulevard, no money.

2) The actual improvements are perfectly benign: some bicycle symbols painted
on the street, different street signs, and some sidewalks put it. (I didn't
believe this last one, but I bicycled to the meeting on Edgecumbe Road and
Highland Parkway, and, sure enough, some blocks don't have sidewalks.  How did
this happen?  Why weren't they put in when the homes were built?  Didn't people
walk in those days?)  Highland Parkway/Edgecumbe Road are good bike routes now,
and they might be marginally improved by this project. Oh, and the speed limit
will drop from 30 to 25.  I've never though 30 mph was appropriate for city
streets.

3) I was mistaken to think that this project was supposed to link into the
wretched "bike path" that parallels I-35E.  In fact, the idea is to put bike
lanes on Jefferson from Lexington Parkway east, to link up past West 7th via
Cliff Street and some other streets to the High Bridge.  I'd be perfectly
comfortable riding on Jefferson now, but if bike lanes encourage riders, fine.
Anyway, that part of the project lies fallow now, as it didn't get funding.  In
any case the resulting road is a bit hilly but perfectly rideable, and it's
hard to avoid the hill that tops out between Lexington and Snelling.

4) Most of the people who spoke at the meeting lived on Highland Parkway, and
most of them were against the project.  One major complaint, repeated several
times, was that cars drive too fast on Highland Parkway.  Another repeated,
heart-felt complaint was that bicyclists go too slow (except, of course, when
they run stop signs).  Was it the late George Carlin who observed that everyone
who drives slower than you is an idiot, and everyone who drives faster is a
maniac? Many speakers felt that it was dangerous to mix cars and bicycles, and
seemed unaware that bicyclists a) have a right to use any city streets,[1] and
b) pay for city streets like everyone else, with our property taxes. No one
voiced objections to the free sidewalks. There were generalized concerns about
the effect of the proposed boulevard on property values and crime.

5) Several participants spoke of the glories of bicycle riding, one cardiac
surgeon pointing out that the cost of the boulevard was only 10 coronary
procedures and another pointing out the need for more routes for Highland
residents to get to work.  I gave her a copy of the Twin Cities Bike Map. It's
an old copy, but the roads haven't changed much this side of town.

Apparently there will be more meetings on this issue, and it will probably end
up before the City Council in January.

[1] Maybe not.  Is Ayd Mill Road a city street?  No bikes are allowed on that.

Delano DuGarm
Highland Park