> Steve Jevning - > > I'm sorry to be so negative in my attitude towards the Greenway. But what > can I do - I see nothing positive about it. I am part of the process here - > that's the whole point of my contribution in the first place. I am also > trying to change minds in my neighborhood, but this is a city-wide project, > and needs to be discussed city-wide. > > But before I get too negative on you again, I must say I do appreciate your > long discussion. I've been trying to figure out what the purpose of the > thing is - you explain it pretty well. I still think you are totally > wrong-headed in your points - but I can tell you are sincere in trying to > improve the city. > > The main point I have to make is that it makes no sense to build this > Greenway because the street is already bicycle and family friendly. I'm not > very familiar with the Roosevelt HS area, but I live right next to the > Bloomington shopping center. I don't know what you've heard about it, but > the Greenway won't change anything. The traffic gets a little heavy on > Bloomington Avenue, but not more than the other major streets nearby like > Chicago, Portland, or Park. In any case, changing 40th Street won't fix > that - maybe a traffic light would make a difference. > > I disagree with your comments that a serpentine road, bumpouts, and speed > tables will not detract from safety, but I don't think we'll get anywhere > here discussing that. We'll just have to wait and see how it comes out in > Kingfield. Three months without an accident (esp in the Summer) doesn't prove > much. I drove down 40th Street in Kingfield a few days ago - it didn't seem > like much had changed yet - for example, I didn't see any curb bumpouts. By the > way, could you explain a speed table a little more? You're right that I > assumed it was a bump. Is it like one of those grates by the highway to > wake you up when you go off the road? I'm fine with that. If it involves a > rise in the road, I stand by my comment that they are unsafe > > I found your comments about adults giving encouragement to kids on wobbly > bikes pretty funny. My concern about keeping my 11 year off an official > bike lane comes from his experience riding on the Lake Harriet bike paths > one weekend a couple of years ago. He was terrified - he thought if he > veered even slightly to the right or left he would get creamed by a fast > moving rider coming up behind him. 40th Street will never get that crowded, > but the concept is the same; fast moving bikes don't mix well with slow > ones. Also someone recently made th valid point that 40th Street will never become a commuter route because of too many hills and stop signs. But I still think a designated bike lane encourages fast biking. > > I look forward to riding down 40th to the lake next Spring to see all the > flowers. But I still get the impression from your posting that the purpose > of the Greenway is mostly for image - to encourage the trendy thinking of > "cars bad - bikes good." I don't believe our public roads should be making > a statement - they should be built to be used. And 40th Street is already a > great road. As I said in my original posting, I've ridden down the street > numerous times in the past. I don't want it ruined. > > Mark Anderson Bancroft Ward 8 [EMAIL PROTECTED] >
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