05-11-2007 Luecke announces first 11.4 miles of bicycle lanes

Home Browse Search

Page 3. Representatives of Grace United Methodist Church, which is along the Twyckenham route, advocated for painted bicycle lanes for where only a signed route has previously existed. "We believe the benefits of bicycle lanes outweigh our parking considerations: fighting pollution, encouraging healthfulness, promoting neighborhood awareness — and possibly even encouraging attendees to ride their bicycles to church,"wrote Virginia Black, chair of the congregation's task force on church and society. Painted bicycle lanes would put cyclists between parked cars and traffic lanes as they did in 1994 on the first painted lanes on Twyckenham between South Bend and McKinley avenues. Following graphic standards developed by the City of Chicago, which marked 107 miles of lanes over the past decade, the lanes disappear at intersections and railroad crossings. In 1998, only 1 percent of all U.S. trips took place by bicycle, compared with double-digit percentages in Europe reaching as high as 30 percent of all trips in the Netherlands, according to the International Bicycle Fund. Individual Chinese cities post figures as high as 77 percent of all trips. (Americans lead the world in trips by automobile, 84 percent, while lag behind in all other forms of transportation, including walking, 9 percent.) "Many neighbors who have indicated that they would likely commute by bicycle do not do so, specifically because of anxiety over traffic and safety," wrote the Near Norwest Neighborhood's Mary Turgi, board president, and Karen C. Ainsely, executive director. "The bikeways plan would bring a much-needed positive change to our urban transportation needs." "This could be the incentive some need to get out and ride,"wrote Martha Lewis, president of the Howard Park Neighborhood Association. "Many of the members ride their bikes as the main means to navigate around the city. ... This project certainly adds to the quality of life here in South Bend. ..." The city plans to designate north-south and east-west routes each year. As routes and lanes are designated in future years, the city plans to work toward interconnectivity among the lanes themselves and with the Riverwalk and other bicycle paths. Indeed, bicyclists could follow the Twyckenham route from the fairgrounds to north of the Notre Dame campus along a paved bike path, except for a short connector that won't be complete until the state finishes the Ind. 23 reconstruction project. Although there is distinct public preference for the 10-foot wide, paved, off-road paths featured in the Riverwalks, the bicycle lanes have a dramatic cost advantage. It costs about $1 million to build each mile of Riverwalk path, compared with about $1,000 to $3,000 for each mile of signed route or painted lanes. The city has established a bike lane hotline for residents to offer their comments,feedback and suggestions on the proposed bicycle lanes. The number is (5 74) 235-9953. Callers who leave a phone number or e-mail address will receive a reply within 1 to 2 business days. - 30 -