After reading Louisville's toll-happy new mayor officiously gurgle (to a dietitian, no less) yet again about the grandeur of oligarchy enfluffment via the ORBP, it's instructive to survey the scene in nearby cities. Following are three such bits of inspiration.
Cincinnati submits $56.8M TIGER III application to fund modern streetcar extension, by Randy A. Simes (UrbanCincy)
Local governments across the United States are in the process of competing for $527 million worth of Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) III funds. The deadline for applications was October 31, and the City of Cincinnati once again has applied for funds.
Cincinnati’s TIGER III application requests $56.8 million for phase one of the Cincinnati Streetcar. City officials say that the money will go to immediately restore the project’s segments that were eliminated following Governor Kasish’s (R) controversial reallocation of $52 million in early 2011.
Measured Progress: Bike Lanes on Broad Ripple Ave, by Curt Ailes (Urban Indy)
Last week, guide lines went down on Broad Ripple Ave between the village and Keystone Avenue. I knew that the thermostriped permanent ones would not be far behind. Well, the new lines are down and my initial expectations for what the corridor would look like have been exceeded.
We've previously referenced form-based codes here.
Meridian Kessler Moving Forward with Form-Based Codes, by Kevin Kastner (Urban Indy)
My neighborhood, Meridian Kessler, has been doing some behind-the-scenes maneuvering to promote the implementation of Form-Based zoning codes in the neighborhood. Form-based codes are the logical antidote to the current use-based zoning that is in place in much of the United States. Urban Indy will be highly supportive of the Meridian Kessler Neighborhood Association’s push for this important and much-needed change.
I was just talking about this yesterday with a friend who works at the Grant Line Road/Mt. Tabor intersection. Obviously for bike lanes to have any real value to New Albany they need to be functional on Charlestown Road, State Street, and Grant Line. If they can be no better that what has been installed on Charlestown Road from Vincennes to roughly Terry Ln. then we would be better without them. Besides abruptly ending around Terry Ln, what are you supposed to do exactly at the intersection of Charlestown Rd and Silver St? It is a complete disaster. If you were new to biking and encountered that you might just freak out and quit. Not to mention the propensity of the bike lanes to become a repository for cinders, glass fragments, sticks, and rocks because no one sweeps them.
ReplyDeleteWith a little map studying and experience I am able to safely navigate all through New Albany and the surrounding areas without using any of the above mentioned roads...its not to hard to do as I am sure you are aware. Also due to experience I really have no problem riding those roads when necessary (including exiting town across that IN 62 debacle of a bridge over Silver Creek). However, without determination few people will bridge over from casual, lets try it cyclists to committed riders. If we are going to have bike infrastructure it obviously needs to be good, well thought out, and maintained.
Absolutely agree! Charlestown Road "bike lane" is completely absurd! (But then again, sidewalks are also a "now you see 'em, now you don't" phenom.) And anyone know if the new narrow lane on recently repaved Silver Street is supposed to be another of these segments to nowhere?
ReplyDelete