The St. Joseph County Parks Foundation and the Friends of the Pumpkinvine have each received $1,000 from the BMC to support development of their trails.

The Parks Foundation will use the funds for development of the IN-MI Trail, to help fill in the gap between Niles, Mich. and Roseland, Ind. The Park’s segment of this trail, the LaSalle Trail, has not yet started construction, and the BMC donation will be added to their trust fund earmarked for the trail.

The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail meanders between Goshen, Middlebury and Shipshewana in Elkhart County: they will use the funds to help close gaps in the trail. Currently under construction is a 1.2 mile section near Middlebury.

These donations support the BMC’s objectives of encouraging bicycling for commuting and recreation; expanding and improving bicycle infrastructure; and educating citizens and government about bicycle safety, laws and the benefits of cycling. Since the BMC’s inception in 2008, $11,481 has been contributed in cash. This cash has gone to the St. Joseph County Parks, South Bend Bicycle Network, IN-MI Trail, Friends of Granger Paths, and Friends of the Pumpkinvine. In addition to funding and organizing Michiana Bike to Work Week, the coalition has assisted the City of South Bend in developing their bike infrastructure, and cooperated with area non-profits in orchestrating cycling events and providing helmets and bike safety classes for third grade students in area schools.

Sources of funding for the BMC are private and corporate gifts, and an annual fund-raising event. Anyone wishing to make a gift to further the BMC mission can do so at this web site through PayPal, by simply clicking the “PayPal Donate” button at the top right of the page. The coalition is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and donations are generally  tax deductible. Contributors may direct the BMC to allocate the funds to one of three specific objectives: Infrastructure, Safety, or Events, by mentioning that in the donate window. Contributions may also be made by a check payable to Bike Michiana Coalition, and mailed to BMC, 66841 Walnut Rd., Walkerton, IN 46574.

Bikes on an Amtrak Train

As a bicyclist, you know how difficult it can be to transport your bicycle.  The League of Michigan Bicyclists is currently circulating a petition to allow bicycles on Amtrak trains without taking them apart.

The petition says “Seamless multi-modal connections are essential to a sustainable 21st century transportation system. It should be easy for travelers to make connections from one mode of transportation to another”.

Michiana cyclists are encouraged to learn more about the issue and sign the petition. You don’t need to be a Michigan resident to sign.  Click here to take the next step.

Most noteworthy, is the new lease agreement between Niles Township and American Electric Power Co. (AEP) that is in the works. AEP owns a high power line that goes from near the current Niles trail, down to the State Line; they will lease part of the property to Niles Township. Harry Thibault, chairman of the Niles Township Parks Board envisions running the trail down part of that property.

Obtaining rights to that property is only one step: the next step is funding. Thibault said “We’re hoping to apply for grants by the April 12 deadline…We’re running around like crazy to get our ducks in a row.”

Meanwhile St Joseph County, Indiana is also moving forward. Steve Slauson, Deputy Director of the St. Joseph County Parks reported that the county is applying for funding for the LaSalle Trail. This is the portion of the IN-MI trail that will run from the state line southward toward Roseland. The county applied for funding in 2011, but the application yielded no fruit, and will try again this year.

South Bend is slated to break ground on the last missing segment of the Northside Trail. According to Chris Dressel, South Bend Bicycle Coordinator, the ground breaking will be April of this year, and should be completed before next fall. This segment will close the gap between the trail’s current end near IUSB and the Mishawaka Riverwalk at Logan Street.

For more information, visit the Niles Daily Star, the  IN-MI Trail web site or the LaSalle Trail site. For more information on the Northside Trail, click here.

The Southwest Michigan Plan Commission has just published a map that can help cyclists find the best places to ride.  The map shows the low volume roads that cyclists prefer in green. It also highlights roads with a wide shoulder or bike lane. There’s even a listing of state and area parks with a listing of biking and other facilities and you can download it all from www.michigan.gov/mdot-biking.   At that site, you can also download maps and listings from other parts of Michigan and get loads of information on biking in the thumb state.

Because of their size, the maps are pretty cumbersome to look at on line, so you may want to get a hard copy. By this time next month, the maps should also be in the hands of Michigan bike shops, or you can order them from MDOT for $5.00 each, from the web site mentioned above.

In the meeting, the public will learn about the design specifics, as well as the impact the trail may have on the historic structures in the area, and a projected construction timetable. After the presentations, there will be a public statement session where citizens will be invited to offer comments.

The trail design calls for a 1.21 mile shared use path, 8 to 10 feet wide and some sections of Northside Boulevard will be closed to motor vehicles. The path will approximately follow the yellow line in the above map.

See http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=212168427829578000282.0004818ff1fa948006a56&msa=0 for an interactive map.

“St. Joseph County … has identified this area for consideration of a future bicycle facility enhancement project. St. Joseph County, in partnership with the University of Notre Dame and Clay Township, is currently surveying and collecting the necessary information to design a bike lane on Juniper Road between Douglas Road and Cleveland Road.

We have not scheduled the project for a construction date as it is subject to available funding and [we] will continue to work out the details with the parties involved. If sufficient funding is secured, the project may start in the spring of 2012. County officials are working hard to help make this project happen as quickly as possible.”

The operative word here is ‘funding’. Clark used the word twice, and of course funding is dependent on many issues: more than most cyclists can fully grasp.

In the second photo, Ms. Jo Duke passes under the I-80 toll road bridge, which is the choke point of the Notre Dame Northside route. Duke is on a recreational and fitness ride on a fine October afternoon. During rush-hour, the road is heavily used by Notre Dame bike-commuters.

Hopefully, Duke will have a safer route next October.

Earlier this month the mayors of South Bend and Mishawaka stepped up to their podiums to deliver their State of The City addresses.  Throughout their speeches they listed the various accomplishments of their cities in 2010, and laid out plans for 2011 and beyond.

Their addresses were well reported by the media, and it is my intention in this post to elaborate on just one facet of their speeches: alternative transportation. Biking and walking.  A lot is going on that we, as bikers and walkers don’t fully appreciate.

Mayor Steve Luecke had these comments about South Bend

Bicycle Friendly Community and Bike the Bend

When South Bend was designated as Indiana’s Green Community of the Year and as northern Indiana’s first Bicycle Friendly Community, it was another mark of excellence. The Bicycle Friendly Community designation by the League of American Bicyclists puts South Bend in a prestigious class of cities. Only 158 communities – the top one-half of 1 percent of the nation’s cities – have achieved this award for “remarkable commitments to bicycling.” Rob DeCleene, the new executive director of the South Bend/Mishawaka Convention and Visitors Bureau, recognized the significance, calling it “a huge coup.” He noted that bicycling has a very passionate following and represents so many positive aspects of a community — fitness, environmental awareness, family-friendliness. This last attribute was highlighted when the first Bike the Bend ride drew nearly 1,800 recreational bicyclists to our city streets and trails, as well as those of Mishawaka and St. Joseph County. Inspired by a private foundation and supported by the bicycling community, this event won a Local Government Cooperation Award from the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns. Many volunteers pulled together to help make this ride happen. Participants universally appreciated the family time and the chance to see our community from a new perspective. Join us May 15 for the second Bike the Bend, which will draw even more residents and visitors to our community. With underwriting sponsorships from foundations and private-sector companies, the ride is on its way to becoming self-sustaining – something that will add to our celebration during the post-ride festival in South Bend’s Potawatomi Park.

Park Foundation

The parks department also created South Bend’s first Park Foundation, which will seek funding and capital development resources for the department. Already, we are benefiting from one valuable resource – volunteers contributed more than 10,000 hours in support of park operations. Whether cleaning parks and riverbanks or staffing programs and upgrading equipment, these civic-minded residents provided the equivalent of more than $180,000 in support.

Northside Trail

Lovers of the river will be excited by our plans this year to connect South Bend’s extensive trail system to the City of Mishawaka’s Riverwalk. This will complete a trail system along the full length of the St. Joseph River through South Bend. After public hearings this spring, we will connect Northside Trail east to Logan Street. Both City engineers and the public agreed that the least expensive of four options was the best plan to move forward. Construction is expected to begin this spring with the trail completed before year’s end. [Note: the schedule has since been pushed back to 2012]

Diamond Avenue corridor

We’re implementing a unique idea this year to improve drainage and separate combined storm and sanitary sewers in the Diamond Avenue corridor. Instead of installing expensive, buried pipe, we will create an open channel resembling a natural creek near the start of the Riverside Trail at Angela Boulevard and Riverside Drive. Landscaped with meandering paths and a pedestal for public art, the channel will move storm water from an outfall near Portage to the river’s edge, where water will cascade into the St. Joseph River beneath a Riverside Trail overlook. (The open-air agitation of the storm water actually helps enhance the water quality before returning it to the river.) We are able to add this enhancement for the same cost as the conventional solution. In addition, we’re moving Riverside Drive back from the river’s edge, creating more premium riverfront park space and adding a new roundabout to this intersection to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety, and enhance off-street parking for the park on the south side of Angela.

Coveleski Park

We also will make investments to help the Cove be competitive with newer minor league stadiums and to enhance the potential for surrounding economic development. When this work is complete by July 4, it will make Coveleski a true downtown park with a walking trail and other features. It will be available to the public for much more than 70 home games. Downtown workers and residents will use the 360- degree concourse for wellness walks or buy lunch from the concessions vendors.

Mayor Dave Wood had comments about Mishawaka’s accomplishments and plans.

Bicycle Safety Program

St. Joseph Community Pediatrics and Lt. Tim Williams teamed up to provide a bicycle safety program to all of the 3rd grade students in Mishawaka. Therefore, in 2010 Mishawaka 3rd graders received approximately 950 bicycle helmets, which were furnished by St. Joseph Community Pediatrics of Mishawaka.

Indiana Safe Routes to School Program

One of the highest priorities of our City, with a walk-to school system, is the safety of our children. As such, our Engineering Department continues to work with the State of Indiana to establish a healthy and safe environment for school children through the Indiana Safe Routes to School Program. Each school in the City has been examined relative to the safe route to school program. In 2010, Emmons Elementary School was selected for this program with $247,965.00 in funding made available for improvements to S. Main Street and E. Sixteenth Street in the Emmons Elementary School area. Working collectively with school officials, parents, and the Mishawaka Police Department, it is our intent to design a safe route that is well maintained so that kids may easily walk or bike to and from school. In 2011, these improvements will include the replacement of damaged sidewalks and the removal of any brush or trees that may hamper the walkway to Emmons. In part, encouraging kids to walk or bike to school will reduce traffic congestion, fuel consumption and air pollution near our schools. Hopefully, this will also help lessen the growing health and obesity concerns for our children. A different elementary school will be targeted each year throughout the life of this program.

Downtown Main Street/Church Street Improvements

In 2011, we will undertake a major improvement to the Main Street/Church Street corridor in the heart of our downtown. This is the most heavily travelled thoroughfare in the downtown and provides a tremendous opportunity to enhance and beautify our downtown for our citizens, existing businesses, and to help promote future development. Once completed, this project will improve traffic flow, increase pedestrian safety, and enhance the character of our downtown.

Spring and Summer Events in Mishawaka

During spring and summer, multiple programs and events took place in our city parks including Bike the Bend, and the Memorial Day Bike Decorating Contest. The Bike the Bend event, held in May 2010 was a large event consisting of a 33 mile family bike ride in the streets of Mishawaka, South Bend, Notre Dame, and St. Joseph County. Months of planning and coordinating with the university and South Bend and Mishawaka had to take place for this first time bike ride event. The ride was a huge success attracting thousands of families and friends enjoying free rein of the city streets capped off by an after party celebration on Kamm Island. The 13th annual Bike Decorating Contest was held in conjunction with Bike the Bend. Patrons that participated had the chance to win a youth season pool pass or a family season pool pass. All contestants received a participation certificate and a goody bag full of patriotic items.

Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)

We replaced ten out of twelve existing school warning flashers from incandescent to LED including a beacon located on the back of the assembly identifying to traffic they are traveling within a school zone. The change to LED will allow a brighter display during all weather conditions providing a greater distance of visibility. The greater distance allows for the vehicular traffic to have an advantage of recognizing the school zone and providing the highest level of protection for pedestrians. In addition to the safety advantages, the LED provides a longer life, less energy and a constant level of safety. The remaining two school warning flasher locations have been included in previous or scheduled City projects and offer this same level of safety.

Riverwalk

The success and heavy use of the Mishawaka Riverwalk continues to spur the City’s efforts in expanding to connect more neighborhoods and parks to the St. Joseph River. Implementing the expansion of the Riverwalk requires a great deal of planning and study. Unlike a rails-to-trails program or green-field development, constructing the Riverwalk through established areas will require the City to buy property and, in some instances, relocate homes or businesses. The next logical expansion of the Riverwalk will be to connect our existing downtown walk east to Cedar Street, on both sides of the river. Specifically, in 2011 the City will contract to design a connection between Race Street and Cedar Street on the South side of the river. The goal will be to work with the existing land owners to limit the impacts on private property while providing the appropriate public space. The engineered plan will identify the impacts to specific properties and will allow the City to review plans with existing property owners. Given the number of property owners involved and the dialogue that needs to occur, implementation of this conceptual plan will likely take a number of years.

Mishawaka Riverwalk

Some would say the Mishawaka Riverwalk is the most impressive project in the county. It would be hard to make a case against that claim. The path that hugs the St. Joseph River complements the overhaul from a toxic industrial area in city center to an urban area that is as good as any around. It also is a part of the IN-MI Trail. Mainly along the north bank of the river, the trail extends from the Mishawaka City Limits on the west (Logan St.), almost to Cedar St. on the east, a distance of over 1.3 miles.

Riverside Trail

The longest trail constructed recently is the northern leg of South Bend’s Riverside Trail, at about 1.7 miles. This is an example of converting a lovely area into a lovely area people can enjoy. There are frequent overlooks, and vegetation has been trimmed just enough to allow visitors to watch the geese, the ducks, and the occasional osprey that nest nearby.  More importantly perhaps, is that this trail linked the existing southern leg of Riverside Trail from about Oakwood Blvd. to its northern cousin, the unnamed trail along Darden Road.

Jackson Road Bike/Ped

The Jackson Road Bike/Ped trail is about 0.6 miles long as it meanders from the corner of Linden & Jackson Rd. to the corner of Johnson Rd. and Lilac Dr. It travels through open rolling land owned by St. Joseph County. This county property is an old landfill that has recently been capped. Someday, it will hopefully be a county park.

Merrifield Underpass

Mishawaka built a bike/ped underpass at Merrifield Ave, under Mishawaka Ave. Sometimes referred to as the Merrifield Connector, the underpass allows safe and peaceful movement under a busy street. The tunnel was part of a larger job of rehabilitating the bridge over the St. Joseph River, which was becoming unsafe. This is a good example of solving two problems at one time with a single action.

Northside Trail

Link the Links. The Northside Boulevard Trail through the River Park neighborhood of South Bend, will tie Mishawaka’s Riverwalk with the East Bank Trail. The new trail section, about 1.1 miles in length has a projected completion date of 2011 or perhaps 2012. It will run from about the IUSB campus eastward to the South Bend/Mishawaka city line at Logan St. One unusual feature of this project is that it will preserve lovely historic stonework along the St. Joseph River which was built during the depression. Another unusual feature is that it will include the closure of portions of Northside Blvd., thus eliminating what some local residents refer to as a ‘racetrack’.

Granger Path along Adams Road

“Friends of Granger Paths” has worked closely with county and regional officials to get some bike/ped infrastructure in place. Granger Paths, is a model of grass roots activism. They have a good network in mind, and the first step will be a 0.9 mile section hopefully breaking ground in 2011 or 2012. It will run along Adams Rd. from Elm Rd. to Cherry Rd. and along Cherry Rd. from Adams Rd to Northpoint Elementary School.

Darden Road Bike/Ped

A new Bike/Ped path has been completed along Darden Rd. This path links the Historic Darden Bridge to SR 933, which is a significant business corridor north of Roseland/Notre Dame. As mentioned above, it ties into South Bend’s Riverside Trail. At the eastern end of the new trail is Christ the King Elementary School, and near the western end is the Isaac Walton League property. Perhaps more importantly, it crosses the proposed LaSalle Trail, which is also a piece of the IN-MI Trail.

IUSB Bike/Ped

The IUSB Bike/Ped path on the south side of the St Joe River allows residents of the ‘River Crossing’ student housing a non-motorized route to both the campus and shopping. This ½ mile path borders the river and the housing units. The file photo at below is the most recent available, but shows neither the new housing, the athletic fields, nor the bike/ped bridge that crosses the river.  This is a fine example of integrating alternative transportation modes into new housing development.

Gumwood Road Bike/Ped

Here’s another example of solving two problems with a single action. On Gumwood Rd., St. Joseph County is planning to add motorized travel lanes, while simultaneously adding a bike/ped path. This path will be more than two miles long, extending from the Mishawaka City Limits to the Michigan State Line. It will link the Granger Christian School with homes both north and south. It will also add bike access to shopping at its southern terminus. The path will probably be built in two phases, hopefully sometime between 2011 and 2013. Of course these plans are subject to change due to finances.

All of the new construction I’ve mentioned in this post shows that America is putting more and more resources into alternative modes of transportation.  But there is room for more improvement; the ‘People For Bikes’ organization points out that Biking and walking currently comprise 12% of trips that Americans make, but cost just 1.5% of our transportation spending.  They also point out that more bicycles are sold each year than cars and trucks combined. 

Bike to Work Week saw miles ridden in The Corporate Challenge increase to 26,154 from 16,179 (an increase of 74%). Also the number of teams increased to 119 from 111 (an increase of 7%) and South Bend closed off a street so the Bike Michiana Coalition could host an organic blueberry pancake breakfast.

Bike Michiana for Hospice saw the number of riders increase to 475 from 273 (an increase of 102%). Increases are expected again in 2011 since several new features will be added, including a 200 mile route.

Legislation was a mixed bag. A bill to help protect cyclists was introduced in the Indiana Senate. This was a step in the right direction, even though it never got out of committee.

The Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail saw progress in two areas: Niles opened a new section this fall and South Bend neared final plans on another section to be built in 2011.

South Bend received the Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community award, and activities to get to the Silver level are already underway

Additional routes have been added to the South Bend Bicycle Network. At the end of the year, there were 46 miles of bike routes, including 16 miles of painted bike lanes and 12 miles of separated bike/ped trail. The map is on the South Bend website at http://www.southbendin.gov/doc/CED_BikeMap1010b.pdf

South Bend formed a South Bend Bike Committee, headed by Chris Dressel. The first meeting, made up of several civic, business and government groups, was November 17. This committee, which was one of the recommendations to advance the BFC silver level, plans to meet quarterly

A new Bicycle Signage Committee has been meeting. It is part of a larger effort by South Bend called “Powering the New Economy”. Bicyclists are involved with the signage portion of the project.

The number of Safety Education classes grew. In 2009 there were was one class with 83 students, while in 2010 there were five classes with 338 students. Classes are for elementary students.

Trail enthusiasts await the ribbon cutting

About two dozen hearty souls braced themselves against a blustery wind to celebrate the extension of the trail at Riverfront Park. Against the backdrop of the St. Joseph River, a cloudless sky, and swirling fall leaves, Autumn Carey, Chairwoman of the City of Niles Parks and Recreation Department  said the trail “has been twenty years in the making”.  The first section of the trail was opened in 1996. She said “it takes a lot of people” to accomplish something like this.

Autumn Carey speaking on behalf of the Parks and Recreation Board

Mayor Michael McCousin also had a few words to commemorate the opening.  Before snipping the bright red ribbon, he congratulated the all-volunteer Parks and Recreation Board, and said that he has received a lot of comments on a lot of things in Niles. But for this project he has received “more positive comments than for anything else the city has done”. The Mayor then hoisted a giant pair of scissors, and cut the ribbon to a round of applause from the assembly.

This trail is part of the interstate Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail that will connect Niles, Mich. to Mishawaka, Ind. and has been identified as a crucial north-south link in the overall non-motorized and green network in Berrien County, Mich. and St. Joseph County, Ind.  In March of this year the Niles City Council endorsed the Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail Plan as a concept for further development, and showed support for the exploration of funding and other methods of implementation of the plan in order to make it a reality.

There are three trail segments that await completion. All three segments have obstacles, yet are moving forward.

1. Niles Township from Fort/Third to the state line,
2. St. Joseph County, Ind.  from the state line to Roseland, Ind.
3. South Bend, Ind. from Ironwood Dr. to the South Bend / Mishawaka city line.

Looking ahead, some dream of the day when the trail will extend from Elkhart, Ind. to Berrien Springs, Mich. and beyond. For more information on the IN-MI Trail view a map.