From fearlessdiamond69 at gmail.com Mon Mar 23 12:49:01 2009 From: fearlessdiamond69 at gmail.com (Snakebite) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:49:01 -0500 Subject: [Chat] Need Biker Input Message-ID: <363842df0903231049q139c20d9i5f7dff46c07b8137@mail.gmail.com> Gringos, OK, here?s something that really dogs my cat. If you?ve been paying attention, the City has been raising the dikes along the Big Sioux River over the past few years. More is planned for this year and next. Until some of us spoke up, the City provided no alternate routes for Bike Trail closure. This year?s project will raise the dikes between 41st St and the zoo. Both sides of the river will be raised. This project is slated to start late spring this year AND NOT BE FINISHED UNTIL SOMETIME IN 2010!!! It is my understanding the bike trail will be closed for the duration of the project. If the bike trail were only used by weekend revelers wanting some recreation on their Huffy?s, I?d not think too much about it. What the City is apparently discounting are those of us who use the bicycle as either our sole, primary, or preferred method of transport. The weekend rec riders will find elsewhere to ride. It is the bicycle commuters who use the trail to get to and from work who are going to be screwed as things stand. It is also my understanding there is no alternate route planned. I?ve presented my concern to Sam Trebilcock (with the City Planning Office) and he?s acknowledged my concern and has urged attendance to the Open House on Wednesday. I?ve attached the flyer as a PDF file for your use. Normally I use this method of communication to announce bike rides or trips or to invite you all along for some of my hi-jinx. This time I?m asking you for something. I?m asking for your attendance at the open house meeting (see attached). It will be optimal if you?d ride your bike there dressed appropriately. It would be awesome to fill the room with rollers to make the biggest impact. It is my intent to present my argument bikes are more than just a recreational toy, people use bikes to get to and from their jobs, the bike trail is one route used by these commuters, and removing this route without providing an alternate is an abomination (I?ve patiently waited for the day I could use ?abomination? in an email!). This is a *VERY* important issue. If bikers make a stand now, do not allow this project to go forward without a viable alternate route, then we?ll be taking a big step toward more bike infrastructure justification. Doing nothing will demonstrate apathy and an apparent conciliatory attitude that bikes and biking really are nothing more than toys and recreational activities only. Please be at the open house. You don?t have to say anything if you don?t want to. Your presence will be noticed and is vital to this action step. ~Snakebite~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From fearlessdiamond69 at gmail.com Mon Mar 23 12:53:31 2009 From: fearlessdiamond69 at gmail.com (Snakebite) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:53:31 -0500 Subject: [Chat] here's the attachment I forgot Message-ID: <363842df0903231053u6a9c8a76n4f63e299bd2c8486@mail.gmail.com> Here's the attachement I forgot in the longer email. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: BikeTrailClosing.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 170538 bytes Desc: not available URL: From fearlessdiamond69 at gmail.com Tue Mar 24 11:49:14 2009 From: fearlessdiamond69 at gmail.com (Snakebite) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:49:14 -0500 Subject: [Chat] Tomorrow's Open House Message-ID: <363842df0903240949o3b5d2f92v2d97a17ef1a8407f@mail.gmail.com> Rockers, Tomorrow's open house regarding the bike trail closure (which I have remembered to attach this time) will be set up as a come and go event and not set up for a person to address "The City" per se. Instead rollers can talk to City Folk one on one and leave written comments which the City will review. I am preparing my comments - similar to the email from yesterday - to take along. I've alerted Sam many rollers will be coming to this meeting. He MIGHT have a few things to say at this meeting. The chances of him doing so are increased if a mob of us shows up at the same time. What I'm asking of those showing up is if you could meet outside the building just before 5:30 PM such that we can blitzkrieg in at 5:30 PM hopefully MANY rollers strong. Sam has told me doing such will make a *HUGE * impact if a herd of us show up like I'm trying to organize. PLEASE make this event if you can. Please pass this along to any and all remotely interested. I encourage you to be involved as well. Please prepare your own written comments if you'd like. If you'd prefer to be anonymous, send you thoughts to me and I'll incorporate them into my spew. I'd like to close my emphasizing how very important this is. Everyone is needed to be there - on your bike if you can, dress appropriately for bike travel so there's no mistake who you are and how you got there. Thanks! ~Snakebite~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: BikeTrailClosing.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 170538 bytes Desc: not available URL: From fearlessdiamond69 at gmail.com Thu Mar 26 12:09:21 2009 From: fearlessdiamond69 at gmail.com (Snakebite) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:09:21 -0500 Subject: [Chat] Open House Recap Message-ID: <363842df0903261009s2db608f0qc6828e5e500416cb@mail.gmail.com> Rollers, First off, thanks to everyone who showed up at yesterday?s open house regarding the bike trail closure. The event was very well attended. I?m going to present a run down of my perception of what went on. My initial thought no alternate route was being provided was unfounded. An alternate route will be provided. It is my understanding a map of this route will be on the City website soon ?ish. Essentially the alternate route put pedestrians on the sidewalk of Kiwanis Avenue. The bike route places riders off the trail at 49th St, routes them through town using Lake or West Avenue as the major North / South run, jogs them back West on 22ndSt. where they?ll wind down the road by the country clubs and to the trail access by the zoo. This route will have BIG maps by 49th and the Zoo and smaller maps at other trailheads. The route will be marked by on street pavement markings as well as big green signs. This much I was pleased to see. It is my understanding those of us who are members of the City Bicycle Committee will group ride this route after it is marked to give our impressions of rideability and adequacy of markings. Related, the traffic dude (I don?t remember his name) indicated the on-street markings would be placed within a pavement marking contract for other markings. Potentially, this wouldn?t happen until much after the project has started and the alternate route is in place. Here are the two things I learned that disturbed me greatly. First, the bike trail will not be placed on top of the levee near the country clubs. Instead, it will be on a shelf on the river side down slope. It is my understanding this has come about because the levee is actually considered country club land and the bourgeoisie can?t be the bourgeoisie if they can see bicycles and pedestrians. I guess they feel they?ve got to have the separation of the social classes for them to feel (self) important. What this means is the bike path will be subject to rain run off and snow melt water. This potentially creates a very icy and hazardous situation. There were verbal comments and audible groans when this was announced at the open house. This is huge concern of mine. Safety should come first and I believe it is being compromised. The second thing I learned that sucks is the bridge crossing the river on 41 st St needs to be raised. This will be done in phases such that either the north half or the south half will be worked on at one time. Traffic will be necked down to fewer lanes while the adjacent half is being constructed. We were specifically told no provisions for bicycle or pedestrian traffic have been made during this construction. Since river crossings are few and far between to begin with, this takes away one that potentially affects those who use this river crossing to get to and from work. It is my thought the City still considers bicycling a recreational activity only. I base this on two factors. First, with the trail being placed on a step instead of the top of levee near the country clubs I feel the City thinks biking and walking stop in the winter. Second, the lack of a 41stcrossing leads me to believe the City isn?t taking in account those who commute to and from work using this crossing. The City is taking comments and suggestions on this project. Please direct your comments to Sam Trebilcock with the City Planning office. Your comments should be IN WRITING ? meaning, don?t call Sam and bitch. Also, please don?t direct any flamed comments at Sam. Sam is a huge ally to bikers and pedestrians. His email address is STrebilcock at siouxfalls.org. Sam is a friend of bikers and pedestrians and is simply the messenger for communication both ways. I am drafting my own comments. They will be centered on the trail placement near the country clubs, the bridge raising, and the pavement markings. Please feel free to contact Sam with questions or your written comments. I highly encourage you to do so. The more of us who speak up, the more likely our concerns will be address. ~Snakebite~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From fearlessdiamond69 at gmail.com Fri Mar 27 13:12:46 2009 From: fearlessdiamond69 at gmail.com (Snakebite) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:12:46 -0500 Subject: [Chat] Upcomings Message-ID: <363842df0903271112i88b06c7h963b9782f00c8d35@mail.gmail.com> Rollers, I wanted to make you aware of two (2) things coming up. The first (1st) is the MS Society?s MS ? Pedal the Plains bike ride. The second (2nd) is the call for art bike rack submissions to the City. The MS ride will be August 1st and 2nd. This year Saturday will take us from Sioux Falls to Vermillion. Sunday will bring us back from Vermillion to Sioux Falls. This is a very important fund raising event for the MS Society. Please strongly consider doing this ride. I am acting as team captain for *Team FAB*. If you sign up, please consider putting yourself on this team using that name and me as the captain. The MS ride is about as easy a 75?mile-per-day ride as you can get around here. The route is practically flat, there are rest stops about every 10 to 12 miles, you?ll get fed WELL and several times per day ? all in the name of a very worthy charity. You may sign up here: http://bikenth.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/NTHBikeEvents?fr_id=10070&pg=entry Or call Crazy Janey at the MS office - 605-336-7017. She?ll fix your wagon and take care of your sign up stuff. Part the Second: The City of Sioux Falls has recognized the need for more / better / cooler / art inspired, bike racks. They are calling for bike racks disguised as art work submissions. The info can be found here: http://www.siouxfalls.org/Mayor/boards_commissions/visual_arts_commission/request_for_art_bike_racks So, all you artsy-fartsy types should latch onto this and let your bikey creativity run like a bike on a 25% downhill grade with no brakes. Heck, I think I might even put together a submission and nobody has ever accused me of being even slightly artistic. Autistic, maybe, artistic ? no way. File this under ?dance like no one is watching? and throw your inhibitions in the closet and submit your art! As always, pass this on to everyone, even those who might be slightly annoyed you did so. You?ll actually be making their day as being annoyed is a daily goal of theirs and you?ll be throwing gas on their proverbial cranky-ass fire. That is all, ~Snakebite~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: