|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Bike policy U-turn: Street to paths and back to streets
If the city of Cincinnati's bike-lane policy was an actual bike
lane, it might be a lot of fun to ride, but there would be so many twists and U-turns, riders might get a little dizzy. The city's bike policy was one thing, then it was about to become another, now it is back to the original. The city's bike program, up until about a week ago, emphasized a regional effort to enhance and improve bicycle/pedestrian transportation. There was a specific emphasis on: "bicycle lanes, sharrows, bike racks, parking, signage, railroad crossings, traffic improvements." A "sharrow" is a shared-lane marking on the street. In his proposed 2015 budget, the city administration changed the language of that policy. It still talked about improving bicycle/pedestrian transportation, but it placed an emphasis on off-road trails. Paths and trails are different things. For the most part, a "path" is on a city street. For many, it would be a means of transportation from one place to the next. Like going to work, or visiting a friend, or shopping. A "trail" is different. For the most part, it is off-road, perhaps along a river or through woods. Bike people like trails, they are just not used so much as transportation. They are largely for recreation and exercise. There is a perception that Mayor John Cranley prefers to paths. That perception is correct. "He does prefer off-road paths to on-road lanes, and believes the majority of the public does also," Spokesperson Kevin Osborne said. But Osborne added: "It should be noted, however, that there is not a ban on lanes. The Mayor just prefers City Council vote explicitly on each project, rather than having a huge swath implemented administratively. "Also, based on community support, the Mayor supports the completion of two bike lanes: Woolper Avenue in Clifton, and Kellogg Avenue in Mount Washington. Sometime soon, the Mayor will introduce legislation to complete both." City Council member Chris Seelbach thought that the administration's proposal was a bad idea. So he brought a motion to revert the bike policy back to the original. Then he got four others members to sign that motion. Those council members a Yvette Simpson, David Mann, Wendell Young and P.G. Sittenfeld. So, with those five votes, the city bike plan will not change. CONNECT[35]TWEET[36]LINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE Read or Share this story: http://cin.ci/1gXke9E --- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: --- |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Bike policy U-turn: Street to paths and back to streets
On Saturday, May 24, 2014 8:37:57 AM UTC-7, Garrison Hilliard wrote:
http://cin.ci/1gXke9E (Heh. When I follow that link I get a popup ad for Honda cars. When I close the popup there is an ad for Mercedes Benz cars flanking the article text.) There's been a law on the books here for a long, long time that requires any new road construction to include bicycle facilities as feasible (something like that). It results in zany situations like a few hundred feet of bike lane that begins and ends at the reconstructed part of a road that otherwise goes on for miles with no bike lanes. Philosophically opposed critics like to point to these incomplete things as "proof" that facilities are no good (and worse). But to me it's a good sign. It's funny, but not silly. Eventually there will be more (and more) bike facilities, which ISTM necessarily means less emphasis on the kind of infrastructure priorities of the past which only care about cars and trucks and - along with everything else wrought by the car culture - has gotten us to this very deep car dependent hole we're in. The only way out is incremental; and as the situation there in Cinci makes apparent, it won't be steady, and there will be backsliding. But it will all be cumulative, and we will wind up in a different place. The question is: Will that place look more like those where bicycling is a natural part of the good life? Or will it look more like those places where bicycling is a stopgap compromise grimly endured by people aspiring to the car culture version - a false and broken promise. Cranley obviously doesn't get it at all. But they have Major League baseball - woo-hoo! ;-) |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Bike policy U-turn: Street to paths and back to streets
http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/bikes/linkservid/ED07932C-0DF6-B386-0861EBEC5ADBCC3F/showMeta/0/ There seems to be some sensibility in Cincinnati after all. I was sure there must be. (Better go check on Portland now; what with that identity crisis they may be having... ) |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Bike policy U-turn: Street to paths and back to streets
On 25/05/2014 06:23, Dan O wrote:
http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/bikes/linkservid/ED07932C-0DF6-B386-0861EBEC5ADBCC3F/showMeta/0/ There seems to be some sensibility in Cincinnati after all. I was sure there must be. Sense or sensibility? |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Bike policy U-turn: Street to paths and back to streets
On Sunday, May 25, 2014 7:21:02 AM UTC-7, Clive George wrote:
On 25/05/2014 06:23, Dan O wrote: http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/bikes/linkservid/ED07932C-0DF6-B386-0861EBEC5ADBCC3F/showMeta/0/ There seems to be some sensibility in Cincinnati after all. I was sure there must be. Sense or sensibility? I dunno; maybe it's perspective. "... in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, canals, railroads, streetcars and inclines provided a more diverse set of options. Street systems still played a lead role, but even streets were more multi-modal in purpose and use." "Cincinnati, not unlike most American cities, has lost much of its multi-modal infrastructure . As a result, the arterial roads and major highways that criss-cross the city and the region dominate the landscape and limit transportation choices; the trips taken on this system include predominantly single- occupant autotrips and commercial truck use." |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Sustainable (Complete) Streets film: Transforming NYC Streets | Mike Vandeman | Mountain Biking | 0 | October 29th 08 02:44 AM |
Sustainable (Complete) Streets film: Transforming NYC Streets | Mike Vandeman | Social Issues | 0 | October 29th 08 02:44 AM |
laid back street vid. 4min 10mb | tomsey | Unicycling | 32 | November 29th 05 12:14 AM |
Regular bike vs shock fork front bike on city streets ? | [email protected] | Techniques | 7 | August 16th 05 03:25 AM |