www.lawsonhelp.com/wendy/bikes.html As a resident, parent, and consumer who frequently drives, bikes and walks on Hennepin, Lyndale, and Nicollet Avenues, often with a carload of kids, or several kids also on bikes or on foot, I find the frenzy of 45 mph SUV's and oversize pickups zooming in and out of unclear lanes on Lyndale Avenue terrifying. While we try to avoid being pedestrians on these corridors, we sometimes want to take advantage of businesses or other public facilities and are forced into the melee. You talked about encouraging business... it is frightening to cross the Lake Street/Lyndale intersection to go from one shop to another... doesn't that discourage business? You want all of Lyndale, Hennepin and Nicollet to be like that? I avoid that corner (and choose other locations)... even though we LOVE the restaurants, bike shop, theater, and other shops. I'll bet we spend easily $100 a week eating out (I'm not a very good cook)... and we don't spend it at that insane intersection because it is not a very nice place to be with rushing cars and exhaust fumes choked between buildings.
While we are not anti-car as a blanket ideology (both hubby & I own high-performance, 5-speed beauties), we do believe in slowing down and calming down those who seem oblivious to pedestrians and smaller vehicles while in residential areas. Traffic experts say that single lane traffic does just that. As far as "...crazy, militant, or desperate" goes, I personally really enjoy a brisk bike ride in the fresh winter air when roadway ice conditions permit. Is it really so different from someone who enjoys riding snowmobiles for hours in the winter cold? Every time I can ride my bike and leave my auto in the garage, I save on gas and maintenance, wear and tear, and have a healthy and fun experience. We both enjoy driving our vehicles, we also believe in balance and responsibility. The mindset that personal vehicles are the only way to get somewhere is just the easy and lazy way out. Making fun of or _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
