03/12/1979 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Jim Hanks, Traffic Engineer, said the 1990 Plan had a bikeway on 18th from Bertelson Road to Agate Street. The one essential goal of the T-2000 Plan is the need to divert automobile trips to bicycle ... trips and transit trips. He said 18th Avenue was essential to the ,., bikeway plan. Last year they had striped 18th Avenue for bike lanes, but there was not enough room on 18th and the striped lanes did not work well. Council asked the Bicycle Committee to study the situation and report back. The plan that the Committee came up with would include removal of parking on 18th, and installing left-hand turn lanes. Mr. Hanks explained the alternatives to the original proposed 18th Avenue bike lane. Public hearing was opened. Those speaking in favor of the 18th Avenue bike traffic plan were as follows. Ruth Bascom, 2114 University Street; Jim Winquist, 29461 Gimpl Hill Road; Al Bumstead, 3530 West Amazon; Ray Gilden, 170 East 37th Avenue; Trip Allen, 2815 Elinor Street, Jim Atchley, 1145 West 14th; Mark Bondurant, 511 East 12th; Cliff Lind, 28773 Gimpl Hill Road; and Allen Johnson, 1991 Madison. The people who spoke for the bike lanes on 18th realized that it was a difficult decision for the Bicycle Committee. 18th Avenue was the most direct route to two high schools, the University, and parts of downtown. It could be traveled without frequent stops. Bicyclists would use 18th Avenue for those reasons whether it was striped or ~ not. Bicylists should be encouraged to use their alternative trans- portation, thereby making less car traffic, pollution, and parking problems. Amazon Parkway and 17th Street were alternatives to be encouraged. They were, however, slower although more pleasant to ride. Ms. Bascom noted that the Bicycle Committee could find no good alternatives to the 18th Avenue bikeway. She did thank Jim Hanks, Brian Obie, and Allen Johnson for supplemental suggestions for ways of encouraging bicyclists to take alternative routes to 18th Avenue. Those speaking against the 18th Avenue bicycle/traffic plan were as follows: Elaine Roccio, 2483 Blackburn; Terry Burgess, 171 West 18th, Forrest F. Andreason, 446 East 13th; Dennis Spitze, 113 West 18th; Pearl Gaines, 1990 West 18th; Nancy Pottker, 1790 Washington Street, E. J. McGoran, 1806 Washington; Pat Grant, 90 West 18th. The people speaking against the 18th Avenue bike/traffic plan were not opposed to bicycles, but they did feel that bicycles and cars should not mix. It was felt to be dangerous to have bicycles on 18th Avenue. They suggested cyclists were better served by using 17th or the Amazon bike path. One person said that since the Amazon bike path would soon be lit (she had heard a lighting contract had been given), it would be excellent for bikes. Another suggested that 17th Avenue e 3/1'1-179--6 I If 0