Central Avenue Facilities, Minneapolis Bike Plan Discussed at Today's BAC Meeting

A report from the Wednesday, July 1, Minneapolis Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting (these are not official minutes).

Central Avenue NE Bicycle Facilities

The bulk of today's Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting focused on a proposal to add bicycle facilities to Central Avenue NE.  A consultant is working on draft concept drawings which will be presented for feedback at a public meeting in late July.

The project is part of the $22.5 million Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program grant (Bike/Walk Twin Cities), a federal program explore how investments in planning, infrastructure, and public education can increase rates of bicycling and walking and reduce driving.

Commendably, at the request of Councilmember Paul Ostrow, the City will include a separated bicycle lane, or cycletrack, as one of the options for Central Avenue NE between 27th-37th Avenue.  This is truly an innovative solution that deserves consideration.

Individual BAC members made a number of comments about bicycle facilities on Central, including the following:

- prefer to use consistent bicycle lanes along the corridor however possible, rather than switching between bicycle lanes and shared lanes marked with "sharrows"

- prefer consistent vehicle lane widths, such as 11' lanes, along the whole corridor, rather than changing widths (the right-of-way changes width, but there was a preference to put any additional space into the bike lane where possible)

- traffic speeds are very high, and design should take this into account

- there is a preference not to direct bicycles to the sidewalk when crossing under the railroad bridge north of 14th Ave NE

- after comments from BAC members, the City agreed to include a "road diet" option in their study, which would change the 4-lane road into 2 lanes with a central turning lane, leaving more room for on-street parking and bicycle lanes.  Left turn volumes, traffic delay, and potential effects of spillover traffic on neighborhood streets will be considered in the study.

Upcoming Bicycle Events

Nick Mason of Dero Bike Racks and Board Member for the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota announced several upcoming events -- more information is available at www.bikemn.org

Manure in Bike Lanes

In response to a citizen complaint about horse manure in downtown Minneapolis bicycle lanes (from Minneapolis PD horses), the BAC discussed more broadly the issue of Police Department use of bicycle lanes - particularly voicing concern about police cars parking for long periods of time in bicycle lanes.

Potential Changes to the BAC

Robin Garwood of Cam Gordon's office is convening a working group to discuss the potential of changing the format of the BAC -- potentially adding appointed members, expanding the geographic representation of citizen participants, and adding a Chair who is not City staff.

Next Meeting: Bicycle Design Guidelines

Minneapolis Bicycle Program Coordinator Don Pflaum announced that draft Bicycle Design Guidelines will be presented and discussed at next month's BAC meeting, to be held Wednesday, August 5 at 10am in room 241 of City Hall.