City Bike Projects Update
From City News Release:
MAYOR HENRY ANNOUNCES THREE BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE PILOT PROJECTS
Bike lanes, route to be designed in-house using existing right-of-way
Fort Wayne, Ind. – At this morning’s community bicycle summit, Mayor Tom Henry announced three pilot projects that could be constructed in 2009.
Mayor Henry has instructed City staff to look into adding bike lanes to Wayne and Berry streets and Rudisill Boulevard and a northeast bike route that would use existing streets.
“All of these projects will be engineered in-house by City staff and will require an absolute minimum of right-of-way acquisition and additional pavement construction,” Mayor Henry said. “It’s really about using what we already have and adapting it for all transportation modes.”
The pilot projects will allow cyclists to use dedicated bicycle infrastructure while the City writes a bicycle transportation plan to help connect people to places using bicycles.
Wayne and Berry streets proposal:
· A 5-foot bike lane on Wayne and Berry running from South Anthony just south of the Maumee Pathway through downtown to Thieme Drive and the St. Marys Pathway of the Rivergreenway.
· Would not eliminate any lanes of traffic or parking.
· The City has secured federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding for 80 percent of the project, up to $200,000.
· The City is aiming to build this in conjunction with the Calhoun Street project in August, but the bike lanes are not contingent upon making Calhoun two-way.
Rudisill proposal:
· Bike lanes in both directions of Rudisill from Foster Park to McMillen Park.
· With the exception of the pavement between Clinton and Lafayette streets, Rudisill would go on a “road diet.” It would be reduced from two through-lanes in each direction to one through-lane each way, bike lanes on either side and a center turn lane. This change in traffic creates a win-win by improving safety for drivers and bicyclists.
· This project has been submitted for stimulus funding for repavement of Rudisill, allowing for an easy addition of bike lanes.
Reed Road proposal:
· This route would start on Reed Road, using Reed, Vance Avenue, Tennessee Avenue and residential streets to connect to the Rivergreenway at the Tennessee bridge
· This project would use existing roadway with a combination of pavement markings and signage to alert drivers and guide bicyclists. Additional signage and safety features for bicyclists will be included at high-traffic intersections.
· Roads for this route were selected because they have low to moderate traffic counts.
· The cost for this project will be less than $20,000 if done by City employees.
Other cities have found the more options for bicyclists – lanes, routes, trails – the more people use bicycles as transportation.
“From speaking with other cities, bicycle infrastructure is a case of ‘If you build they will come,’” Mayor Henry said. “More options for cyclists result in more bicycles on our roadways. Bicycles reduce congestion on our streets, improve air quality by being not low-emissions, but no-emissions and give bike riders a built-in workout. Better bicycle infrastructure is really a solution to many of our urban challenges.”
Mayor Henry’s announcement came at the City’s community bike summit. The public gathering allowed for current and future cyclists to give input to the City about how they would like to see Fort Wayne become more bicycle friendly. Nancy Tibbett, executive director of the Indiana Bicycle Coalition, also addressed participants about the League of American Bicyclists’ National Bike Summit.
In addition to the summit, bicycle and health-related vendors participated in an expo in the library’s great hall and Three Rivers Velo Sport Club offered post-summit bike rides.
“Fort Wayne seems more than ready to have more options for bicycling,” said Pam Holocher, deputy director of community development. “This summit and the survey that preceded it shows just how much interest we have in this kind of infrastructure. Mayor Henry is ready to help make Fort Wayne more bicycle friendly.”
Substitute “ball park” for bicycle infrastructure… sounds a lot like Harrison Square
Next, you are going to be telling me to ” Share the road” with bicycles. When they start paying a wheel tax, like I do with both my car, and motorcycle, then I will yield. Most people on bikes do seem to think that they do own the road. They don’t. Why can’t they be taxed like everyone else? I don’t like taxes, but we need to be ‘fair’. Hit them with a ten dollar ‘bike tax’ .
OK….I’m not going to lie…I NEVER ride my bike downtown or in general to be honest. That being said, both of the previous comments are absolutely absurd. Things are changing in our world today. Cities are going down this path, and it is only for the better. I encourage you to visit cities throughout the country where these have been implemented, and you would see the positive effects. There are mulitple benefits including increased activity and a cleaner use of transportation. If our city wants to continue progressing in the right direction, this is just one of many steps that need to be completed. There are so many positives, and to start talking about “bike taxes” is absolutely crazy.
You have to be a pretty “anti” type person to be against bike lanes. Maybe we should have a “park tax” for all those who use our parks…I mean it’s fair right? I don’t use the parks that often…why should I have to pay for it?
You don’t get it. If I have to pay for the use of the road. Anyone who uses it should. Increased activity downtown, cleaner transportation, both good things. Thing is, I am not sharing the road unless you are paying for it too. I’m just funny that way.
All taxpayers pay into roads whether they drive or not. Wheel taxes don’t cover the cost and roads certainly don’t “pay for themselves”. Roads are subsidized transportation.
Furthermore, under Indiana Code bicyclists have “all the rights and duties” of a person driving a car.
So not only do bicyclists pay taxes for the roads they use but they also have the legal right to use them.
Besides, this is car-dependent Fort Wayne we’re talking about here. If you see a bicyclist there’s a high probability of them owning a car so they are already paying for the roads.
Exactly, it is not like bicyclists are going sans car.
But hell, this is Fort Wayne. Motorcycling is considered an outdoor activity.
Scott,
Thanks for the sanity check.
Hey look, the same old tired anti-cyclist argument being shot down again by the facts.
Since we are being totally “fair” here, I don’t want any of my property taxes to go towards the public school system. I don’t have any kids, so why should I have to pay? Fair is fair, right Bruce?
Then go ahead and fight that fight. Everything that I put on the road, I have to pay a wheel tax for. Bicyclists DO NOT pay a tax on the road…Car owners, and motorcycles do. Tax payers as a whole do, but I pay that extra tax to put wheels on that road. Bikes do not.
I believe that part of the city code states that it is illegal for cyclists to ride on the sidewalk… at least I believe it to be the case for the “central business district.”
When riding a bicycle on the road destroys the the structure as much as cars/trucks do then maybe we can start to consider a wheel tax to pay for the repairs.
“Bicyclists DO NOT pay a tax on the road,” Bruce DeVore.
hmmm, I own a car and a bicycle. I’d consider myself an occasional bicyclist. I’d say I pay taxes for roads.
Maybe that is why Fort Wayne does not have sidewalks yet, we haven’t taxed walking.
Every time I put round rubber wheels on the road. have to pay a tax. Explain to me why you don’t have to.
I doubt that my motorcycle is very destructive to the city roads.
Bruce- take that up with your legislators.
If I had a dedicated bike trail from my home in Huntertown to downtown, I would gladly pay a
tax to have that transportation option.
Alec, that is a good attitude. Some of the others, just appear to have a sense of entitlement. I can’t argue with arrogance. When a big delivery truck runs them over, maybe they can explain how they have a right to be there. I give up.
Bruce –
All of us pay taxes for the roads, streets, highways, bike paths and highways. The wheel tax is just one method of collecting a portion of these funds. Governor Daniels in his Major Moves initiative leased the 80/90 Toll Road to bankroll some of the road construction projects currently happening across the state. A good portion of the stimulus package approved by Congress allocates nearly 50 billion dollars to construct and repair roads and crumbling bridges all across the US. The individual states’ DOTs will more than likely decide on how and where a bulk of this money will be spent. All American Taxpayers have a vested and financial interest in our transportation system. However, for far too long it has been tilted towards those who use automobiles. Why is this so ? Take a guess – the automakers and oil companies have spent millions of dollars over the last few decades lobbying Congress in an attempt to keep it that way.
“When a big delivery truck runs them over, maybe they can explain how they have a right to be there.”
There have been many families who have lost loved ones as a result of a collision between a cyclist and a motorists. This is precisely one of the reasons why this conversation needs to take place. It starts with awareness – awareness that other forms of transportation have the right to use the same streets and roads motorists use. This is not limited to cyclists. Its people who use motorcycles, mopeds, and other forms of transportation other than automobiles. There are limits of course, it is illegal for a moped to travel on an interstate, but it is perfectly legal for a moped to use and share the same city streets motorists use.
“Some of the others, just appear to have a sense of entitlement. I can’t argue with arrogance. “
What you view as “entitlement” and “arrogance” I view as fairness and practicality. We are at a crucial time in our country’s existence. I feel we may be on the verge of a massive shift of how we view our transportation system and energy consumption in general. Should we wait until gasoline hits 4 dollars a gallon, and then try to deal with this issue ?
In defense of the individuals who posted on this thread, maybe you’re just not use to hearing the other side of the equation. Please try to put yourself in their shoes. If you’ve ever been on a bicycle traveling down city streets amongst cars, it can be a somewhat frightening experience. Unfortunately, there are some drivers who don’t respect a cyclist’s right to share the roads, and actually (however sick this may be) get kicks out of coming as close to a cyclists as possible. Many motorists automatically assume because they are in the larger vehicle they have the right to intimidate someone on a bicycle. This is not only limited to cyclists but also to pedestrians. But I’ll leave that for another post.
I probably should start driving more. So I can get my money’s worth out of my wheel tax.
Not a bad idea Cole. Be sure to stay within the county for which you paid the wheel tax though.
I have been run over, ruptured spleen, broke the windshield, had both wheels knocked off the bike, spent a week in the hospital. Been there, done that. No need for a lecture.
Yet you still won’t share the road, promoting dangerous conditions for cyclist.
You Sir are a stellar citizen.
Bruce –
At least you lived to tell the tale. Many cyclists/pedestrians who have been hit or run over by motor vehicles weren’t as fortunate.
If we can create some awareness and save a few lives in the process, why not do it ?
To Eric S.
The best part is, is that I don’t have to! Ha!
A vast majority of people who ride a bike in Fort Wayne, have no idea how to ride safe. Why don’t you promote a safe riding academy in order to educate them on safe riding?
Are they not riding safe, or are you not driving safe? You’ve already admitted you don’t want to share the road with cyclists. What exactly do you mean by bicyclists not riding safe? I’ll admit I’ve seen a few riding against traffic, but educating everyone, cyclists and drivers, on cycling would be even more beneficial than just the cyclists.
You don’t have to be a good citizen, you’re right. But when you start putting people’s lives in danger because you refuse to allow them on the road, even though they have all of the legal rights to be there, you cross the line from being a terrible citizen to criminal.
How do you know that cyclist education wasn’t part of the conversation at the summit? This is almost as important as driver education, but when I and many others are riding safe, it’s the uneducated drivers that have more power to injure and kill a rider. You don’t hear of cyclists killing motor vehicle operators.
Is it that hard to be aware of your surroundings while driving a motor vehicle, I mean you are moving a large mass of metal at a high rate of speed down a road that may contain any number of other large masses of metal? Is it that hard to slow down and wait for oncoming traffic to pass before you move over to go around a cyclist? How much time does that take? Maximum 3 minutes? Sorry for the inconvenience.
I pay taxes that go towards roads. Your wheel tax doesn’t come near paying for upkeep and construction of roads. When I ride my bike, I’m doing less damage and decreasing congestion. Cyclists should be PAID to ride rather than drive. The only drawback would be that driver would have to become more aware while driving. They need to do that anyways.
You want to put wheel taxes and registration fees on bicycles? Fine. When you do, I’m taking my entire lane, because according to you it seems that I’m only paying a portion of it or none at all.
Bruce, you are an asshat.
I have mixed emotions about all of this. As far as downtown bike riders go, fine by me. As as they obey the law, signal properly, have the proper reflective devices, etc… let ‘em ride.
On the other hand let’s take Bass Road. Why any idiot would want to ride from Scott Road east down Bass is beyond me, (there is no shoulder to speak of). I run into a guy that does this several times a week. He thinks he’s riding in a car. He drives right down the middle of the lane and sometimes the cars pileup behind him 8-10 deep. It’s almost impossible on that stretch to pass so we’re left going 12-15 MPH for several miles. This to me should be a ticketable offense for obstructing traffic. With all of the trails in Aboite, he should be required to use them.
And to borrow a phrase from Andy. I’ve also seen this same Asshat in his pretty little biking tights riding down Illinois Road west from Scott Road. What an idiot.
Our present day road laws were originally developed for bicycle traffic back in the day so, yeah I do have the same rights as folks who drive cars. Also, when I’m not driving one of my five vehicles that I pay plenty of taxes on every year I’m riding my bike saving the planet. Also, since I live out in Timbuktwo, when I want to ride the Greenway, I have to haul my bikes in. I’m still paying my fair share of taxes for the bike riding that I’m doing. Bottom line is, bikers have the very same rights as drivers. There are way more poor drivers on the road than poor bikers. Give the bikers a break!
build a bmx park