Archive for the ‘Facilities’ Category
Posted by Paul Taylor on October 30, 2010
Reviewing detail plans and completing surveys
The proposed multi-use path that will hug the north bank of the St. Joseph River between IUSB and Logan Street was discussed in detail at a planning meeting on October 27. Residents of the River Park neighborhood and trail enthusiasts met with city officials and the planning consultant to discuss four alternatives, three of which were new since the last planning meeting.
As with any project, everyone sees good and bad in each of the alternatives, and opinions were voiced freely. There seemed to be, however, unanimous agreement among the 41 attendees that the trail would be a great asset to the neighborhood. It will link up with the Riverwalk in Mishawaka, and the East Race in South Bend. It is part of the IN-MI River Valley Trail system which will someday extend to Niles, Mich. and beyond. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Facilities, Infrastructure, News, Routes | Tagged: IN-MI Trail, Indiana, path, South Bend | 1 Comment »
Posted by Paul Taylor on October 22, 2010
The Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail, is an assemblage of separately built and managed trails. It will someday extend from Mishawaka, IN to Niles, MI and developers continue to make herky-jerky progress toward its completion. Some futurists envision the day when it will run from Elkhart, IN to Berrien Springs, MI, and even all the way to Lake Michigan.
Notable progress has been made recently.
Dead end? Yes, but progress is being made.
A section in Niles has just opened which extends the trail southward from downtown Niles to the Fort/3rd Sts. intersection. A ribbon cutting will be held October 30th at 10:00 am at Niles’ River Front Park.
In South Bend, IN, extension of the section known as the Northside Trail is in the planning stage. A public hearing was held a few months ago. Based on public comments, planners have fine tuned the plan and a second public hearing will be held at 6:00 pm on October 27th at the River Park Branch Library at 2022 Mishawaka Ave. The extension will more-or-less parallel Northside Blvd. from 21st Street to Logan St. where it will link up with Mishawaka’s Riverwalk. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Facilities, Infrastructure, News | Tagged: bicycle, Bike, bike paths, IN-MI Trail, Mishawaka, Niles, South Bend, Trails | 2 Comments »
Posted by Judy Lee on May 17, 2010
Our Michiana area is brimming with several biking and running events during the next 3 weeks. You still have the opportunity to get involved in outdoor healthy activities as an active participant or as a volunteer, and in some cases you can do both.
Time is flying by — sign up today!
Please see below for a calendar of events:
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Advocacy, Events, Facilities, Group Rides: Special, News | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Paul Taylor on April 30, 2010
May is Bike Month, and cyclists are being encouraged with more than just fair weather to increase their miles and activity levels. Months of planning will culminate in two major cycling events. Publicity is being rolled out for Bike the Bend and Bike to Work Week.
Bike the Bend is an inaugural bike ride for Michiana. It is modeled after Bike the Drive in Chicago and organized rides in other cities where streets become car-free for a few hours: cyclists own the streets. This event, which is ideal family fun, takes place on Sunday, May 23.
Bike to Work Week is an annual event that has grown each year in Michiana. Riders are invited to join teams, usually organized around their workplaces, and enjoy friendly competition with other teams. The week features two special events where cyclist gather in downtown South Bend to enjoy camaraderie and some good eats. Bike to Work Week takes place from Monday, May 24 through Friday, May 28.
Biking infrastructure is improving too, as South Bend Mayor Stephen Luecke has announced over 10 miles of new city bike routes in 2010. And the Bike Michiana Coalition has purchased new portable bike parking racks to be set up for special Michiana biking events.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Advocacy, Events, Facilities, Group Rides: Special, Infrastructure, News, Routes | Tagged: Bicycle accident, Bike, bike paths, Bike the Bend, bike-to-work, commuting, South Bend | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Paul Taylor on January 1, 2010
The coalition has earmarked $3,500 for support of bicycle advocacy, infrastructure and safety.
Three specific programs have been identified, and funding has been set aside to support them. The programs are Children’s Education, South Bend Bike Lanes, and the LaSalle Trail.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Advocacy, education, Facilities, Infrastructure, News | Tagged: Advocacy, Bicycle accident, bike paths, education, Lane, South Bend, Trails | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Paul Taylor on September 27, 2009
Joe Dits, the popular South Bend Tribune columnist, has unearthed another cyclist’s and walker’s gem: the Nickle Plate Trail. This 13-mile rail-trail extends from Peru (about 65 miles south of South Bend, Ind. and 68 miles north of Indianapolis) to Cassville, a dot on the map just north of Kokomo. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Facilities, Routes | Tagged: bike paths | 1 Comment »
Posted by Henry Scott on September 11, 2009
The South Bend Tribune had an article back in June about rising bike theft in South Bend, which we briefly discussed on Bike Michiana. I’m not aware of any subsequent statistical data, but we have clearly seen an increase in bike theft on the IU-South Bend campus this summer, and it appears to be continuing into the fall semester. Like many campuses we’re seeing record enrollment this year and, not surprisingly, the campus bike racks are in much higher demand. That’s certainly a good thing, but I’m afraid it may have made our campus more fertile ground for bike thieves.
Anyone have additional anecdotal or statistical evidence about bike theft in South Bend? What is your strategy for keeping your bike secure? As I’ve mentioned previously, I typically use just a cable lock, but I think it may be time for me to beef up my security measures.
Posted in Facilities, Gear | 2 Comments »
Posted by Adam Bee on August 8, 2009
It’s less difficult than you might expect to get around the most auto-dependent sections of Michiana, as long as you’re willing to cut through a few parking lots.
I’d imagine that the practice is officially illegal, potentially dangerous, and probably not LAB-approved, but those are true of a lot of well-established, practical cycling techniques. The hard fact is that currently if you want to ride to Wal-Mart and you’re not prepared to take arterial traffic sewers, parking lot skipping is the only way to go.
When you start looking at infrastructure that way, you really start to notice details about the landscape, like the lack of any bridge over Juday Creek under 4 lanes. Or which parking lots link together, which require off-road curb hopping, and which are unfortunately impassible. Or which parking lot entrances are directly opposite each other and which require the dreaded right-to-left. (I myself cut through two lots every commute to round off an ugly right-to-left!)
This all ties into a greater facet of bike infrastructure that I think is perhaps obscured from recreational cyclists and other would-be advocates: Often the greatest benefits to utility cyclists come from careful planning and tiny changes to stuff that will be built anyway.
What do you think? Do you ride through parking lots? Which ones are your favorites? Which are the most heartbreaking non-connecting lots?
Posted in Advocacy, Commentary, Facilities, Infrastructure, Routes | 2 Comments »
Posted by Jeff Nixa on May 30, 2009
Update: an 11 MB PDF of the map is now available for download.
The first-ever comprehensive St. Joseph/Elkhart Counties bike map is now available. A joint effort of the Bike Michiana Coalition, local government, business and university, the folding map will first be distributed to cyclists who attend the South Bend Bike to Work Week events, June 1-5. Afterwards, the map will be available throughout Michiana in local bike shops and other locations yet to be determined. A free copy of the map ($5 value) will also be provided every person signing up for an annual membership in the Bike Michiana Coalition.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Advocacy, Facilities, Infrastructure, News, Routes | 3 Comments »
Posted by Adam Bee on April 22, 2009
Have you ever noticed that right-to-left turns are much more difficult than left-to-rights?
That is, if you’re crossing some large ugly six-lane traffic sewer to get from one lovely back road to another, it seems much easier to me if you have to go LTR instead of RTL.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Commentary, Facilities, Routes | 2 Comments »
Jerry Hinnefeld
Henry Scott
judithrobert
Jeff Nixa
memooney
Adam Bee
bspitzer
Nate Barnett
Paul Taylor
Danny Graber
lhierony
Phil G-E
petercolan
Jim Moffitt
Judy Lee
2wheelpeddler
dickkuehl
nimbabike
North Mishiwaka Parking Lots
Posted by Adam Bee on August 8, 2009
It’s less difficult than you might expect to get around the most auto-dependent sections of Michiana, as long as you’re willing to cut through a few parking lots.
I’d imagine that the practice is officially illegal, potentially dangerous, and probably not LAB-approved, but those are true of a lot of well-established, practical cycling techniques. The hard fact is that currently if you want to ride to Wal-Mart and you’re not prepared to take arterial traffic sewers, parking lot skipping is the only way to go.
When you start looking at infrastructure that way, you really start to notice details about the landscape, like the lack of any bridge over Juday Creek under 4 lanes. Or which parking lots link together, which require off-road curb hopping, and which are unfortunately impassible. Or which parking lot entrances are directly opposite each other and which require the dreaded right-to-left. (I myself cut through two lots every commute to round off an ugly right-to-left!)
This all ties into a greater facet of bike infrastructure that I think is perhaps obscured from recreational cyclists and other would-be advocates: Often the greatest benefits to utility cyclists come from careful planning and tiny changes to stuff that will be built anyway.
What do you think? Do you ride through parking lots? Which ones are your favorites? Which are the most heartbreaking non-connecting lots?
Posted in Advocacy, Commentary, Facilities, Infrastructure, Routes | 2 Comments »