Peeve O' The Day: August 27, 2010
Q: What's the best way to get to the state fair?
A: On a bike. And it's not even a close competition.
Driving to the fair is like taking a cheese grater to your sanity. And the buses are packed and logistically challenged and, most of the time, have to drive slowly in the clogged traffic lanes. No, the best way to get to the fair is on a bicycle. It's fast, fun, and even begins to offset some of the fried food you just ate.
So that's why its aggravating that there really aren't any good bike routes into the Fair. The fair routes bikes around the fair, and temporarily 'removes' the bike lane that goes straight to the entrance.
Given the inevitable mile-long bumper-to-bumper jams in every direction, you'd think they would be doing everything they could to encourage people to ride bicycles, not making it more difficult.
Comments
Yeah, and they have
Yeah, and they have constuction zone-like signs saying it's closed, and they put plastic bags over some of the signs in the ground saying "Bike Lane". I'm also annoyed that they mark a bicycle detour along Energy Park Drive, which is a poor alternative because it's a 4-lane industrial corridor (but lacking shoulders) with a speed limit of 35-40 mph, and on the east end it seems you're supposed to take Snelling in order to get back to Como. Snelling between Energy Park and Como is not a place I want to be on a bike. Or at all, really.
Surprise!
Surprise!
contact county commissioners
Como Ave is a County State Aid route so likely Ramsey County is the perp of this transport hate crime. As Como is the border here between district 3 and 4, contact both Commissioners to demand a halt to this harmful anti-bike practice:
District 3 Commissioner Janice Rettman
janice.rettman@co.ramsey.mn.us
Tel: 651-266-8360
District 4 Commissioner Toni Carter
Toni.Carter@co.ramsey.mn.us
Tel: 651.266.8364
For good measure contact St Paul Councilmember Russ Stark:
ward4@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Ph: (651) 266-8640
intercampus trail
who actually controls this route, Is it city, county, state, or the sole whim of the Uof M? All I know is during the fair my ride to and from the west bank from Roseville has gotten longer and with a fun hill up Cleveland because I can't ride past Como heading north.
John -- this website doesn't
John -- this website doesn't display the titles of comments for whatever reason, so "intercampus trail" was missing for your reply. I'm curious who controls the U of M transitway as well, since the company I work for is located next to it. We're over by Energy Park Drive, so it'd be great if buses actually stopped somewhere near there. The corridor could also stand to have better sidewalks and other pedestrian features, not to mention additional sidewalks/trails along Energy Park Drive.
Where were you blocked when you took the transitway? I think the last bit north of Como may actually be on State Fair property, so it kinda, sorta makes sense for that segment to get cordoned off during the fair. I didn't notice any signs blocking access along the segment between Energy Park and Como, but because the end of the transitway was cut off, it wouldn't be very helpful to go that direction anyway if you were continuing north.
Well, anyway, that whole area east of MN-280 is poorly interconnected because of the rail lines cutting through.
The U of M controls the Transitway
The University of Minnesota owns and operates the U of M Transitway - so good luck getting them to respond to your concerns because they are not accountable to any voters.