I attended many of the Minneapolis Bicycle Task Force meetings a few years ago that resulted in the banning of bicycles on the Nicollet Mall weekdays from 6AM to 6PM. The Metro Transit bus drivers were adamant that there was NO WAY that bus and bicycle traffic could share the Mall and avoid another "certain fatality", caused of course by the fault of reckless bicyclists. It was decided that to avoid the "inevitable" a "safe alternative" would be found. Well, that so called safe alternative are the bike lanes on Marquette and Second Avenues! Instead of the Mall where the only other traffic is Metro Transit busses (and the occasional lost tourist and a few cabs) driven by professional drivers who are trained to deal with all sorts of traffic, bicyclists are forced to ride down the middle of two of the most congested streets downtown! Oncoming drivers think nothing of driving in the bike lanes and cars entering and exiting parking ramps seldom check for bicycle traffic. Ever since the lanes were put in there has been constant construction that has resulted in gaps where the lanes ceased to exist and when opened again the pavement is often uneven and dangerous. It's no wonder that people are discouraged to try bicycle commuting when we discourage use of our safest street, Nicollet Mall, and force people (here's where the Metro Transit Police come in Terrell) to use two streets that really are intimidating to the average cyclist. Yes Terrell the Transit Police ticket cyclists who break the rules. But think about this, when was the last time you saw them ticket a bus that is driving over 10MPH or passes another bus? Both are also violations on the Mall! Richard Anderson Loring Park
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