Having lived near a roundabout for 6 years, I have become a huge fan of them. In general they are safer, more efficient, calm traffic, and more aesthetically pleasing. They are also very good at dealing with intersections where not everything is perfectly aligned at 90 degrees (Highway 14 and Marion Road is a great example). As a taxpayer, I love that operating costs are much lower than a signalized intersection. There is a large roundabout planned for US 63 and 75th street North.
One down side is that roundabouts can be intimidating for cyclists especially if they have multiple lanes or higher design speeds.
Mitzi Baker has done alot of nice work in the area of active living in Olmsted County. Here is some information on public investments in active living. Basically this is just another reason why safe non-motorized connections in my community are vital. Read the rest of this entry »
There will be a meeting on November 17 from 5 to 7 PM at the Rochester Public Library to discuss our community bicycle masterplan. If you want to say your piece, here is your chance.
Last month I met with Mike Sheehan, County Engineer. One of the items we discussed was how citizens could contact the county about safety issues. Here is how to do it. For my cycling friends, I want to specifically point out that if there is gravel on a road, report it and it will get fixed. Read the rest of this entry »
I also sent out this same letter via email. Here is what I wrote:
Dear Rochester Pedestrian, Cyclist, or Supporter,
If you are receiving this note directly from me, it is because you have contacted me on pedestrian / bicycle issue, are a part of the local growing cycling community, or your name was given to me. I intend to use this network as issues come up. I will not spam your inboxes but will send action alerts. If you do not want to be involved in our collective efforts, let me know and I will remove you from my list. Read the rest of this entry »
OK, when 4 people send me the same link I am perhaps too pigeonholed. Here is an article from the NY Times on how European cities are addressing, mobility, congestion, and parking. There is much wisdom in this approach, but we are a long way away from this point. If we could do one change right now I would like to move from minimum parking standards to maximum. Read the rest of this entry »
Of course bikers have the right to use any roads, however simple modification make routes far more safe for bikers. Cyclists now have a direct route between Apache Mall and Mayo High School. This also provides a connection between the Southern portions of the Bear Creek and Zumbro Trails. Read the rest of this entry »