"...objects to this "concept" on four grounds: 1) one-way car travel will promote high speeds; 2) a serpentine pattern and "bumps" will cause bumper car driving; 3) the street is already bike-friendly; and 4) the design isn't green enough. Before we respond, let us assure people that the Greenway will not be implemented in any neighborhood without the consent of the neighborhood organization, and a decision to allocate NRP funding to construction. There are people who want to move ahead with the Greenway in each of the six neighborhoods, but the neighborhood as a whole will make the decision."
What a great dialogue on a planning issue. This concept is a really an attractive idea, but why not just green up the existing street, eliminate a side of parking and put in dedicated bike lanes. You'd have a fabulous boulevard without the hassle of trying to fix a problem you've created - the one way street - by screwing up neighborhood traffic through speed humps, and alternating one way directions. And you'd be able to do it at a significantly lower cost. >From my perspective, just because a neighborhood organization supports a project, doesn't mean the neighborhood does. From one who tried to get speed humps installed in Standish, I know that the City requires almost complete unanimity (a high percentage of sign offs from neighbors) in order to install them. From what I've seen in Standish, I just don't think that is going to happen. And since there is already a tremendous speeding problem with Roosevelt High school (I actually know people who have left the neighborhood because of it), there needs to be a better look at micro-neighborhood design - or what St. Paul would call Small Area Plans. A good start would be to read "Street Reclaiming." Some of its essential ideas are to get rid of the punitive measures such as speed humps and controlled intersections and instead narrow streets, use street furniture, banners and greenery to create more of a yard extended into the street. If we designed our streets to say "look at the beautiful yards we are driving through" as opposed to what we have now, which is "yards fronted on speedway routes." I just cannot accept installing a one way along 40th, no matter what punitive measures to slow traffic are taken. Just as we are thinking about the environment, we need also to think of the children playing in the yards along that street. And with the money that it is going to take to solve the affordable housing crisis in Minneapolis, I think there is a better solution for this bikeway idea at a significantly lower cost. Good luck. Russ Peterson Saint Michael _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
