HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-08-09 Luecke announces 2009 additions to bicycle network
Office of the Mayor
NEWS RELEASE
Friday, May 08, 2009
2:45 pm
Luecke announces 2009 additions to bicycle network
Contact:
Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564
or Chris Dressel, South Bend Bicycle Coordinator, 235-9660
As the City of South Bend works toward attaining national designation as a Bicycle
Friendly Community, Mayor Stephen J. Luecke today announced the specific 10.3 miles
of bicycle routes that city crews will add this year to South Bend’s bicycle network.
“Bicycling to work or school, to the market or park, enhances our quality of life. It
supports our efforts to remake South Bend as a community of choice,” Luecke said. “As
we work with bicycling advocates to create a comprehensive network of lanes, trails and
other routes, these urban paths will tie our community more closely together. This
alternative form of transportation will lessen road congestion and enhance our residents’
health.”
Implementation of the 2009 mileage is already under way. It features 16 different
segments, the longest two being the 1.6-mile extension of the Riverside Trail from
Oakwood Boulevard to Darden Road, and the 1.6-mile section of striped lanes and
“Share the Road” signs along a series of four streets – Meade, Colfax, Kaley and
Washington – from Bendix Drive to Summit Drive.
“The large number of smaller segments this year results from our team’s efforts to link
existing segments of the bicycle network,” said South Bend Bicycle Coordinator Chris
Dressel, a planner with the Department of Community and Economic Development. “As
these segments are completed, bicyclists will be able to experience a taste of our
proposed 89-mile network.”
Other segments planned for implementation in 2009 include:
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29Street/Sunnymede Avenue/30 Street – Jefferson Boulevard to Mishawaka Avenue, 0.5
miles, signed route*
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Beyer Street – Mishawaka Avenue to Northside Boulevard, 0.2 miles, striped lane
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Calvert Street – Twyckenham Drive to Ironwood Drive, 0.5 miles, signed route*
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Falcon Street – Washington Street to Ford Street, 0.5 miles, striped lane/signed route
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Lafayette Boulevard – South Street to Indiana Avenue, 0.8 miles, striped lane/signed route
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Notre Dame Avenue – South Bend Avenue to Angela Boulevard, TBD
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Portage Avenue – Lathrop Street to Woodlawn Boulevard, 0.5 miles, TBD
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Ridgedale Road – High Street to Hilltop Drive, 1.0 miles, signed route*
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South Street – United Drive/Taylor Street to Lafayette Boulevard, 0.3 miles, signed route
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Summit Drive – Washington Street to Ford Street, 0.5 miles, striped lane/signed route
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Twyckenham Drive – Angela Boulevard to South Bend Avenue. 0.1 miles, separated path*
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United Drive – Chapin Street to South/Taylor streets, 0.2 miles, striped lane/signed route
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Woodlawn Boulevard – Portage Avenue to Riverside Trail, 0.5 miles, signed route*
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York Road – Jackson Road to Kern Road, 0.9 miles, signed route*
* Notes bike route already completed
For its planning, including the Bicycle Friendly Community designation, the City of
South Bend is working with the Bike Michiana Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group
formed in 2008 to represent regional bike interests. The League of American Bicyclists
reviews applications and grants a four-year designation based on four levels – platinum,
gold, silver or bronze. If recognized, South Bend would be the first northern Indiana city
so designated. Bloomington and Carmel have received bronze status.
“We are very pleased with the partnership Bike Michiana Coalition has formed with the
City of South Bend through the appointment of a bicycle coordinator, and especially so
by the development of the bicycle network and increased number of bike routes for the
cycling community,” said president Jeff Nixa.
A citywide system of bicycle lanes and routes represents a key priority in City Plan,
South Bend’s comprehensive plan for 2025. In his 2007 State of the City address, Luecke
issued a directive to create a 50-mile network by the end of 2011, implementing at least
10 miles each year. When this year’s segments are completed, the emerging network will
have nearly 43 miles – 34.8 miles since the mayor’s 2007 directive.
As more routes are added over the next three years, this will further define an
interconnected network, which includes:
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Multipurpose paths – Off-road, paved pathways limited to bicycles and pedestrian traffic.
(Example: Riverside Trail, Portage Avenue)
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Bicycle lanes – Painted five-foot-wide lanes on each side of the road between traffic and
parking lanes. (Example: Mishawaka Avenue)
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Designated routes – Streets marked by “Share the Road” signs that are recommended for
bicycle and vehicular traffic. (Example: Ford Street)
Dressel, named the City’s first Bicycle Coordinator during the 2009 State of the City
address, serves as the governmental point person for all bicycle-related planning,
activities and groups. In addition to continue route implementation and application for a
Bicycle Friendly Community, Dressel also is charged with developing a bike master plan
for the City.
To view a map of the bicycle network or for more information, visit
www.SouthBendIN.gov/bike
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