Bike paths would be ideal if they went all over town and connected up
well. I know I have thought about recommending bike paths myself as a
way to encourage many "classes" of cyclists to ride, but then I decided
that if they only get to use a path for a short distance and get "dumped" in
an inconvenient place, it may not help them. Another point: if we had
recommended a bike path on Hwy. 8, and it was on the south side, I couldn't
get from the bike path to Tri-State. The 6th Street path has caused enough
problems that our 6th St. committee recommended changing to lanes. Bicycles
traveling close to the street but in different directions on a separated path
mixed with pedestrians has not worked well.
We had this discussion again in the Mtn. View committee and recommended lanes.
Although I fully sympathize with your concerns, I think that the most
practical, economical, and seemingly overall safest plan is bike
lanes with sidewalks on both sides. Sidewalks can provide a route for
those cyclists very uncomfortable with streets but willing to travel the speed of
pedestrians (and yield to pedestrians). As Tom mentioned, conflicts with
pedestrians has been a source of complaints about mixed bike/ped paths.
I hope you will consider applying for the bicycle commission (and I hope
to encourage others on this list to apply as well). We certainly do need
a variety of views on this new committee.
Also, please remember that everyone can give input to the newest
Mountain View Road plans next Tuesday, Dec. 5 from 10 am to mall closing
at the Palouse Empire Mall (near Andrews Hallmark) and on Wed., Dec. 6
at the East Side Market Place from 12-4.
Diane
On Thu, 30 Nov 1995, RAY PANKOPF wrote:
> ** Proprietary **
>
> i just rec'd a copy of a (& thought i'd make you aware) (tho many
> probably already are) of a draft ordinance from the city establishing a
> bicycle advisory commission of 5 to 9 members.
>
> looks good to me... but i do have one concern
>
> i'd like to see a balance on such a commission. i am a "sometimes bicycle
> commuter... (not hard core), and i think that the desires of the "hardcore"
> commuters sometimes run roughshod over the needs of the community in
> general.
>
> i am speaking specifically of the desire by the "professional commuters"
> to put all bike lanes at traffic level, on the street, separated from traffic
> only by a painted white line.
>
> such "applied" bike lanes are great for retrofit situations... putting
> dedicated lanes in where none currently exist. but i object to such
> "retrofit" design solutions in new construction (ie highway 8 project and
> the proposed mountain view project)
>
> where one is starting from scratch and has the opportunity to separate
> bikes from autos (and pedestrians) it make just too much sense to do so.
> why ask for a retrofit compromise, when a permanent solution can be
> constructed? (again, it makes just too much sense)
>
> so... i hope the commission memebership has a balance of views....
>
> ...ray
>
>