Planning a Protected Downtown Bike Route
The Minneapolis Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) met on April 23. Anna Flintoft, a planner with the city of Minneapolis, gave the committee new information on the city’s bike plan update, and we heard updates from the engineering subcommittee.
Minneapolis Bike Plan
The city of Minneapolis plans to update its bike plan to include protected bikeways, and specifically on-street protected bike lanes. Ms. Flintoft said the city considers protected bikeways to be part of a low-stress network for bike transportation, including painted bike lanes, shared lanes, shoulders, and bicycle boulevards. This project is to revise to the city’s existing bike plan, not draw a whole new plan. Minneapolis and Hennepin County are co-hosting an open house next week, where they will collect thoughts and opinions on their bike plans. Show up!
One thing that keeps coming up is the cost of maintaining protected bike lanes during the winter. Sometimes, the cost is used in cost-benefit analyses of building protected bike lanes. A planner might say, “Removing snow from a protected bike lane will cost more than our current snow-plowing practices.” Several members of the BAC pointed out that this thinking is flawed, saying it doesn’t compare apples to apples.
Currently, most painted bike lanes in the city are not maintained during winter. They serve as seasonal auxiliary parking for when snow banks expand from the curb into the street. So saying, “Maintaining protected bike lanes would be more expensive than what we’re doing now,” is tantamount to saying, “Maintaining protected bike lanes would be more expensive than not maintaining painted bike lanes,” which isn’t a surprise. Robin Garwood, aide to CM Cam Gordon, suggested that the city update the cost-benefit analysis to include the costs of three scenarios: 1) current plowing practices, 2) clearing snow from existing painted bike lanes, and 3) clearing snow from prospective protected bike lanes. Having these three estimates would enable officials to make informed policy decisions. BAC members also welcomed the option of prioritizing snow removal for select key bike routes, rather than demand the highest level of service for the whole system.
Engineering Subcommittee
Go read Doug’s report on the BAC engineering subcommittee for a more detailed account.
The BAC urged the city to plan for a protected bike route through downtown from the southwest. Nicollet Mall plans are crystallizing, and it looks like there won’t be space for protected bike lanes. That’s not really a surprise. But it means that there are only a few options left: Hennepin, Lasalle (which ends at 8th Street), Marquette, 2nd, and 3rd. Lasalle is scheduled for a reconstruction next year, and the BAC passed a resolution urging the city to plan a protected bike lane on Lasalle or some nearby parallel street this year.
Tune in next month for more developments.
Upcoming Events:
Bikeways for Everyone kick-off 4/29
Minneapolis Bike Week 5/4-5/11
Minneapolis/Hennepin County public input event 5/8
North Minneapolis Greenway Open Streets 5/31
Calling All Volunteers for Bike Week!
Minneapolis Bike Week is almost here and we need your volutneer power!
On May 4th-11th the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition is hosting a city-wide bicylce celebration in partnership with the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, and dozens of local businesses and community groups to put on more than 50 events! During Bike Week, Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition will also be setting up Commuter Pit Stops throughout the city to excite people about biking and provide helpful resources to get more people out and riding. Bike week is powered by volutneers like you, so come join us!
Yes! I want to be a part of Bike Week! How can I help?
Like giving away free, fun stuff? Enjoy encouraging and celebrating bicycling? Need an excuse to knock off work early on a beautiful spring day? Volunteer at a Commuter Pit Stop!
At Commuter Pit Stops, volunteers will be responsible for:
-
Giving away awesome freebies to cyclists such as lights, maps, stickers, high-fives, other cool stuff -
Hanging out with other volunteers and a shop-sponsored mechanic providing free bike repair -
Providing friendly and helpful knowledge to cyclists (don't worry about this — we'll provide resources) -
Rocking out and having fun celebrating people riding bikes!
What more could you want? To see which Commuter Pit Stop locations need more volunteers and to sign up for a shift, click here!
Can't volunteer at a Commuter Pit Stop? Still want to support the coalition in putting on this awesome week? Grab a friend, bike around with some posters, and spark some buzz about Bike Week! We are looking for volunteers to flyer in their neighborhoods and around major Bike Week event locations. Contact [email protected] to pick up some flyers and help us spread the word!
Thanks so much to all of our volunteers.
For questions on volunteering, contact Beth Wagner at [email protected]
What else is happening during Bike Week?
Minneapolis Bike Week will feature 8 themed days from May 4-11 with 50+ events including:
Sunday, May 4: Bike to Parks Day
Mayday Parade and Festival: event bike parking and free bike repair
Monday, May 5: Cinco de Mayo
Commuter Pit Stops including Tamales y Bicicletas' Tu salud, tu bici: Cinco de Mayo Commuter Pit Stop
Tuesday, May 6: Nice Ride Day
Break for Breakfast
Nice Ride Station Demonstrations
Wednesday, May 7: Bike to School Day
Bike to School Day Celebrations
Commuter Pit Stops
Thursday, May 8: Bike to Work Day
Hennepin County Downtown Celebration
Bike to Work Day morning rides with City Council Members and Hennepin County Commissioners
Friday, May 9: Bike and Ride Day
Free Transit rides for bicyclists
Commuter Pit Stops
Saturday, May 10: Bike to Local Businesses Day
Bike to Local Businesses celebrations in Northeast, Seward, Downtown, and Southwest
Sunday, May 11: Family Bike Day
Family bike rides with mom
Learn more about Bike week and events at www.mplsbikeweek.org.
For questions about Bike Week, contact Nick Ray [email protected] or 612.968.0722.
