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.

“LeBron James bikes to work to avoid marathon traffic

With the ING Miami Marathon backing up traffic Sunday, fans were advised to see alternate routes to get to Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bulls. LeBron James took that advice to heart.

Rather than driving, James biked about 40 minutes from his house to AmericanAirlines Arena before Sunday’s game. James said he had biked to games “a few” times before.

“You guys drove here?” James asked media after the game. “You guys are crazy.”

James is somewhat of a biking enthusiast. Every summer since 2005, James has hosted a bike ride for charity in his native Akron, Ohio. In 2007, James bought an ownership stake in the bicycle manufacturer Cannondale.

James’ pregame ride didn’t seem to affect him Sunday, as he still managed 11 rebounds and a game-high 35 points in the Heat’s 97-93 win.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/30/2615787/lebron-james-bikes-to-work-to.html#storylink=cpy”

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.

Here’s the legal synopsis of the bill: “Provides that it is a Class C infraction for a person driving a vehicle overtaking a bicycle to not allow at least three feet of clearance between the vehicle and the bicycle and not return to the original lane until the vehicle is safely clear of the bicycle.”

If you want details, or want to follow the political wrangles of the bill, you can do so at http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2012&session=1&request=getBill&doctype=SB&docno=0101.

This is the third year that Senator Broden has sponsored a bicycle safety bill. Two years ago there was an ombudsmen bill with many minor provisions. It nearly passed but died in the reconciliation process between the two chambers of the legislature. Last years bill never got to the assembly floor, probably because it included a mandatory helmet provision and received little or no support from the bicycling community.

This year’s effort is a single issue bill: 3 feet please. Tim Maher said “Hopefully this is our year.” Tim has been among the strong supporters of  Sen. Broden’s bike safety efforts.

As a follower of biking issues, I am reminded of the state of Maine. They introduced bicycle safety bills for seven (count ‘em 7) consecutive years before a bill was passed. Maine is now one of the most bicycle friendly states in the U.S.

Issue highlights from RPM Editor Jan Spalding: This issue includes a Fit for the Fit gift guide featuring stories from RPM retail advertisers and gift ideas from local stores, gyms and services. Also, Ann Amico Moran contributed a great story on Michiana’s Dynamic Duos — five area couples who workout and work for the community. Winter runs, cross-country skiing, a report from the PanAm Games, water intake and plenty more fill the issue.

Check it out!

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.

The Bike Michiana Coalition (BMC) sent an online  questionnaire to the candidates for mayor in Mishawaka.  The questionnaire consisted of nine questions.
Dave Wood responded, while Craig Fry did not.  Listed below are the questions and answers to
the questionnaire from Wood. Since Fry did not respond, the BMC has resorted to
a South Bend Tribune report and on archived web site posts to shed light on Fry’s
stance on bicycling.

1. Do you consider bicycles to be a valid form of transportation that should be encouraged?  

Wood: Yes

2. Do you think bicycling infrastructure improvements are a good use of city resources? 

Wood: Yes

3. Please indicate your level of support for the  following, as High, Moderate, or Low.

a. Striped bicycle lanes added to existing city streets where feasible. 

Wod: Moderate-Low

b. Multi-use pathways (i.e. for pedestrians and cyclists) that are physically separated from
roadways. 

Wood: Moderate

c. City support for cycling events such as Bike the Bend.

Wood: Moderate

d. Designating a member of your administration, at least on a part-time basis, as a “Bicycle Coordinator”  to oversee city efforts related to cycling.

Wood: Low

4.  Given the tough economic climate that we’re in, what steps can be taken toward becoming a more bicycle-friendly city?

Wood: We are developing a sidewalk and pathway master plan to make  our city more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. Mishawaka will continue to  pursue such important projects as Riverwalk while also connecting neighborhoods  into that system.   We will continue to  make this a priority. I have already begun the process to expand the Riverwalk  by miles over the next ten years.

Since Mishawaka schools have no busses, many kids ride bikes to school. We  recently started our Safe Routes to School program to address rough sidewalks  surrounding schools. We will target a different school each year.

We have also won awards for partnering with other communities to promote  bicycle connections

Our Mishawaka Police Department also teaches a bike safety course to children  as well as supporting free helmets to school students.

5.  Are you, or  members of your immediate family, cyclists?  If so, please comment on your experiences with cycling in Michiana.

Wood: Recreational

6.  Would you care  to comment on any other aspects of Michiana cycling?

Wood: We are a partner in supporting important community outreach  programs such as Bike the Bend and have opened more of Mishawaka up to that  event.

Since Fry did not respond to the questionnaire, the BMC has  taken the liberty of quoting from archived e-mails from him, and from a South  Bend Tribune news article.

1. In an October 10, 2011 Tribune  article covering a debate between Fry and Wood:

“One question asked whether the  candidates would be interested in adding bike lanes and trails.

Fry said he wasn’t sure that the city could safely add bike lanes to its  streets. And, he said of his experience with bike lanes in Indianapolis, they  eliminate lanes of traffic and make it difficult for cars.” [Indianapolis was  recently recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Community, in part because they added  bike lanes to several streets.]

2. In 2008/2009, the BMC worked with  Bicycle Indiana, Sen. John Broden, Rep. Ryan Dvorak, Sen. Tim Neese and others  to improve Indiana’s bicycle safety laws (SB553). Following are two poignant  posts on the BMC website from that era:

Willy Was said “I e-mailed Craig Fry and he said he will never support bikes  on the roads, it is not safe.”

3. Nancy  Tibbett [Executive Director of Bicycle Indiana] was in the gallery at the 3/31/2009  House session. Here are the highlights of the session.

• The bill passed 60 – 36.
• Several Representatives spoke before  the vote: she didn’t get the names of all of them, but all were in favor except  Craig Fry, who said something like “bicyclists would not need to worry about  getting hit if they stayed off the roads”.

Mishawaka elections are November 8,  2011. The Bike Michiana Coalition encourages all citizens to exercise their  right to vote.

“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.

Two interconnecting branch lines of the Norfolk Southern Railway Co. running from South Bend’s west side to the Saint Mary’s College campus would be abandoned if a petition filed by the City of South Bend and other partners is approved.

Attorneys representing the City of South Bend, the Brothers of Holy Cross Inc., Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame and the Sisters of the Holy Cross Inc. filed the petition Tuesday with the federal Surface Transportation Board. The petition seeks to re-open the board’s 2008 ruling that there wasn’t a sufficient burden of proof for Norfolk Southern to abandon the 3.7 miles of rail lines, even though the railway company has indicated it will not sell the lines to any purchaser.

The above map shows 4 miles of unused railway. The city it trying to get all but 0.3 miles declared ‘abandoned’.

“There is no hope of attracting current or future traffic to move over the long-dormant, dead-end tracks that are involved in this case,” the petition said. “Their prolonged retention as part of the nation’s rail transportation system serves no useful purpose.”

The Norfolk Southern branch lines have not been used for any rail service since 1994 or 1995 when they were owned by Conrail. In addition, seven businesses located along the line unanimously support abandonment, saying they have no present or future need for rail service.

The City of South Bend hopes to use the abandoned railway corridor as right of way for utilities as well as for further development of multipurpose trails that would connect the city’s west-side neighborhoods with the Riverside Trail, the East Bank Trail and potentially the campuses of Holy Cross College, Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame.

Although the Surface Transportation Board in a split decision denied a 2008 appeal to reopen the abandonment petition, the Board indicated that applicants could revisit the question “should the transfer, rehabilitation and restoration of operations not occur within a reasonable period of time.”

“A reasonable period of time has now passed since the Board issued its February 2008 decision. Because no evidence of any future need has ever materialized and because the lines have not been sold or restored, abandonment authority should be summarily granted,” petitioners said. “Abandonment of the lines and the permanent removal of the remaining tracks will permit the revitalization and full development of the former right-of-way and facilitate the use, development and enjoyment of the underlying real properties.”

Renewed service hasn’t materialized. The lines have not been rehabilitated and Norfolk Southern has recently removed additional safety equipment from the lines, which have 22 rail crossings over streets and alleys within city limits. Norfolk Southern “management does not see a real possibility that rail services will ever be resumed,” petitioners said, adding that “continued upkeep of the safety equipment … is a waste of its assets.”

“Unused lines located in an urban setting … are a barricade to development and contribute to urban blight,” petitioners said. “This is an intolerable situation that is contrary to the public interest, especially when the industries and businesses along the line have made it crystal clear that they have no need for future rail service and support abandonment of the lines in order to encourage local development and the revitalization of the part of South Bend that is adjacent to the lines.”

The Surface Transportation Board is an economic regulatory agency charged with resolving freight railroad rate and service disputes as well as reviewing proposed rail mergers, rail line purchases, constructions and abandonments.

The petition was filed by City Attorney Charles Leone on behalf of the City of South Bend and Attorney Richard H. Streeter, counsel for the Sisters of Holy Cross Inc., Brothers of Holy Cross Inc. and Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame.