Small Mistakes Will Cause Big Problems for Bikers on 26th Ave

Northwest corner of 2nd St and 26th Ave N

Last fall, several northside bicyclists got together to see how the 26th Ave bike path was shaping up and to take a look at possibilities for riverfront connections at the end of 26th.  That's when we noticed the curb cut above.  The problem with this design, in case it's not obvious enough, is that the sidewalk and the bike lane bottleneck right at the point where we also have a fire hydrant.  There is literally no way for a biker to get on or off the bike path without either jumping a curb into traffic or jostling for sidewalk space with pedestrians.  Thanks to the building that abuts the sidewalk, there isn't even anyplace else for bikers or pedestrians to go to avoid conflicts with vehicular traffic.

We chalked that error up to the possibility that larger trucks along the industrial corridor may need a wider berth for their turns.  And for the time being, there will be very few pedestrians and bikers starting their route on the east side of 2nd.  Until a 26th/riverfront connection is cemented, there isn't much of a reason for bikers to be on the other side of this intersection.  So we chalked this up to one more mistake in a series of bad designs between Washington Avenue and north Minneapolis river connections.

That is, until we saw...

30 Days of Biking--Why Do I Have a Car?

Post and image by the Hawthorne Hawkman

Fifteen days ago, I came home from a bike ride and hopped on Facebook to post it.  It was then that I came across a challenge on Council Member Lilligren's Facebook page called 30 Days of Biking.  Here's how it works:  When you sign up, you agree to ride your bike at least once a day, every day, for the thirty days of April.  It's a pretty low-key commitment, as the once-per-day biking could just be 30 seconds around the block.  In fact, that's precisely what a few of my daily bike trips consisted of because I had to squeeze them in during NHL playoff game commercial breaks.

The aggregate map above shows only my first four days of biking.  During this challenge, I have tried to use my bicycle as often as possible.  It's not too hard when I live, work, worship, and do most of my shopping all within the Near North community.  But until this challenge, I did most of those trips by car.  And then I'd drive to the gym and get on some cardio machine for half an hour or more in the evenings.  This doesn't make a whole lot of sense NOW, but we're creatures of habit, and it didn't take long for 30 Days of Biking to help me kick the habit of the automobile.

That's not to say each and every trip has been done by car.  Grocery shopping, inclement weather, and very specific deadlines all contributed to me taking more than a few half-mile car rides.  But the vast majority of my travels have been on two wheels so far.  For instance...

Lowry Bike Lanes and a Blogging Success Story

Post by the Hawthorne Hawkman, above image from Hennepin County, and photo below from the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition blog.

Last summer, I found out that the Lowry Bridge bike lanes initially planned were not up to the standards that I had hoped to see - nor did they meet what many bicyclist groups had wanted, nor did they pass muster in accordance with long-term plans for Lowry Avenue.  So I did a rather extensive post (linked above) about the topic.  What followed was a result that affirms why I put so much energy into both reading comprehensive area planning documents, and blogging about them as best as I'm able.

Obviously in this case I wanted to see a better design for bike lanes on the Lowry Bridge.  But after the initial post I did not have the time, energy, wherewithal, or connections to see things through to a full and successful end goal.  Others did.  The Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition and a whole host of other cycling activists began a dialogue with Commissioner Stenglein around how to improve the bike lane designs.  That dialogue has proven successful, and I'm told that the bridge will have "slip ramps."

An example of a slip ramp, although the lanes on the Lowry Bridge will be much wider.

In a poetic twist, the bike lane pictured above is from the Hawthorne Bridge in Portland, Oregon.

So thank you to Commissioner Stenglein, the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition, and anyone else who helped the Lowry Bridge get much-improved bike lanes!  And check out the coalition's post for the specific details about how the lanes came about and how they will work.

We always knew the Lowry Bridge would be well-built, but now we can rest easier knowing it will be built right.

Biking the Grand Rounds

Post and images by the Hawthorne Hawkman.

On top of trying to map out various 15-minute biking destinations in NoMi, I've also been building up to biking the entire length of the Grand Rounds this summer.  Well, technically not each and every inch of that trail, since some of it loops around the lakes and Minnehaha Parkway.  Recently, I made good on my goal to bike the Grand Rounds in one trip.  What you see pictured above isn't the exact map of the trail, since the designated area stops just short of north Minneapolis.  And, in a point of pride, the last little jig in northeast isn't mapped out because my phone was low on batteries.  I had to upload the map of what I had done before it shut off and erased the record of my progress.

That's right, I had more endurance than my phone's batteries.

All bravado aside, the experience led to a few observations about the Grand Rounds...

Using New Bike Lanes to Nghia's (Again)

Post, photos, and image by the Hawthorne Hawkman.

Once again, I brought my car to Nghia's Auto Service on 42nd and Thomas.  The wheels made this odd, high-pitched sound that would be easy to drown out if you suffered from tinnitus.  A friend who knows her stuff mechanically said she thought it was the wheel bearings, and it should cost between $120-$180 to fix.  I left my car in Nghia's care and asked him to also fill the air conditioning.  That way, even if the car started making funny noises, I could fix the problem myself by rolling up the windows and turning on some music.

Turns out that the wheel coverings were loose, and Nghia tightened them up at no charge.  I'm clueless enough about cars that he could have said something like, "Yeah it was the debentured right axle sprocket that was wearing down.  We fixed that right up for you."  And I would have believed him and paid him for it.

Biking to and from the place, I tried out as much of the new lanes being put in on Fremont Ave N as I could.  Once they're complete, that will totally calm traffic on the street.  It looks like on the one-way segment from Plymouth to 33rd, there will be one lane of traffic, parking, and a bike lane.  All it will take is one car going the speed limit, and the reckless drivers who carom down Fremont at 45 mph will have to slow down.  This will be great for bikers, drivers, and pedestrians alike.

Mayor Rybak Tours Nice Rides in NoMi

Post, video, photos, and image by the Hawthorne Hawkman.

Today Mayor Rybak toured and promoted several Nice Ride stations in north Minneapolis.  The route started at UROC, then took a pit stop at the Avenue Eatery (where I joined up with them).  There, Rybak spoke briefly about the importance of the Nice Ride stations in NoMi.  I made sure to thank him for the new bike lanes on Emerson, and then he went off to do other business.  At the Avenue Eatery, I met the proprietors of a new bike shop in NoMi, located in the rear of the building on Broadway, between Emerson and Fremont.

Some criticism has been floating around that it's inappropriate for the mayor to do these tours or photo ops in north Minneapolis while we're still struggling with the tornado recovery.  I disagree, and to the extent I would criticize the mayor today, I'd say I wish he could have stayed with the group for the entirety of the bike tour.  And I believe it's possible to work on tough, ongoing issues over north while still highlighting some of the positive amenities like Nice Ride kiosks.

Thanks, Mayor Rybak, and thanks Nice Ride!

Bike Lanes Striped on Emerson

Post, photos, and image by the Hawthorne Hawkman.

This week the bike lanes on Emerson, from Plymouth Avenue to 33rd Avenue North, were striped in.  It was great to see cars going much slower on Emerson as a result of the narrower lanes, and plenty of new riders were spotted coming past the Hawthorne office--including the Bike Cops for Kids.

For this most recent addition to biking in NoMi, no parking spaces were lost either.  The trip from Plymouth to 33rd along Emerson Avenue North takes about five minutes.

Bike Lanes Coming on Emerson

Post and photos by the Hawthorne Hawkman.

I happened to notice city workers marking spots on Emerson Avenue North, in ways that looked like they were adding bike lanes.  After snapping a few photos, I confirmed that's exactly what they were doing.  The lanes themselves won't be fully painted until sometime this week at the absolute earliest.  And from a post on the Upper Willard-Homewood listserv, it's clear that there is still public discussion happening around bike lanes along Emerson and Fremont, from Plymouth to Webber Parkway.

The announcement reads:

Emerson Avenue Bike Lane Meeting


A meeting has been scheduled to discuss a potential bike lane and traffic calming on Emerson Avenue North:

Wednesday, August 17 6:30 p.m. Webber Park Community Center, 4400 Webber Pkwy.
Minneapolis Public Works staff has created a draft list of traffic calming locations based upon the feedback of block club leaders along Emerson Avenue. They would like to present this draft list to the community for comment. Traffic calming improvements would slow down motorists, improve pedestrian safety, and add greenery to the street. These changes would also pave the way for Emerson Avenue to be designated as a north-south bicycling route, connecting the Webber Parkway bike path with future bike routes on Emerson and Fremont Avenues south of 33rd Avenue. No parking will be taken out. For more information contact Shaun Murphy, 612-333-2450 or shaun.murphy@ci.minneapolis.mn.us. Visit the web page at http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/bicycles/EmersonFremont.asp

Great Work from Nghia's (Pronounced Nee-Yas) Auto

Post and image by the Hawthorne Hawkman.

And you can bike there easily too!

This week I needed brake work done on my car.  My normal place for repairs, Vina Auto on 26th and Emerson, was full.  But when the brakes were acting up as badly as they were, I couldn't wait.  Quite a few northside friends had "checked in" at Nghia's Auto Service Center on Facebook, and I had heard plenty of praise for Nghia and his work. In fact, that link will take you to a Google search result for Nghia's Auto, in which there isn't a single negative review.  His work was fast, reasonably priced, and high quality.

I was near the Irving Triangle on my bike when he called, so I mapped out my route back to my car.  The trip was 2.75 miles, and took me only 13 minutes.  From that perspective, it looks like you can get just about anywhere in NoMi by bike in 15-20 minutes.

Bike Signs Pop Up All Over NoMi!

Post and photos by the Hawthorne Hawkman.

I first ran across these nifty new bike trail signs along the River, and was too jaded at the time to think that they were placed on the residential side of Hawthorne as well.  But I drove around and saw these signs on 26th Ave and Lowry.  Showing bikers (and people in their cars) just how close downtown, our parks, and eventually Northeast really are via bike will hopefully do wonders for getting folks out of their cars and onto bicycles.

Major Taylor Club Hosts Biking in NoMi

Post, photos, and images by the Hawthorne Hawkman.

Last Saturday, the Major Taylor Bicycling Club and Bike Walk Move put on a cycling event in NoMi for people of all ages and skill levels.  The event started at 8 a.m. and I got there right on time because they offered a free tune-up.  The clouds seemed ready to drop buckets of rain on us, and I'm sure that dampened attendance somewhat.  If it rained, I had a plan:  I would get wet before I got home and dried off.

Since I arrived even before the folks doing the tune-ups, I was treated to a history lesson on Major Taylor, who was...

Nice Ride to the Northside Benefit Concert

Post, image, and photos by the Hawthorne Hawkman.

While videos are uploading from the phenomenal Northside Benefit Concert this evening, a preliminary post about my first Nice Ride experience is due.

I started at the kiosk at Farview Park, and found the bikes a bit clunky.  Getting them in and out of the kiosk is tricky at first, but not too hard to master.  Nice Ride bicycles are heavier than the average street bike, and that slowed me down a bit.  They also have only three speeds, and it wasn't until I was limited to such a low number that I realized how I am almost constantly shifting gears on my 21-speeder. 

That being said, the convenience of not needing to bring along a lock or other supplies, and not worrying about what to do if I met some friends after the concert and headed elsewhere allowed me to bike to a show that I otherwise would have driven to (and paid for parking).

In keeping with my biking themes, it's a nice coincidence that I made it to the kiosk at 4th and Hennepin in - you guessed it - fifteen minutes.

Since I already have a bike, my primary use of Nice Ride bicycles will be in situations like this.  They're perfect for heading from NoMi to downtown quickly, and best of all, parking is free.

Biking in NoMi - To and From Wirth Lake

Post, image, and photos by the Hawthorne Hawkman.

My inaugural post about 15-minute bike rides in NoMi got me from my home to the Guthrie in the time allowed.  One thing the RunKeeper app does is that it uses GPS to track elevation.  Needless to say, when I bike on the street by the Holiday gas station, the potholes mess with everything to the point where I have to reset my phone.  Last Sunday I decided to see how quickly one could access Wirth Lake.  I left home (26th Ave N and 3rd St N) and in fifteen minutes I had arrived at the corner of Plymouth and Theo Wirth.

I made my way down to Wirth Lake in about twenty-five minutes, but I meandered a bit.  If you bike directly there, you can make it across NoMi on 26th and down to Wirth Lake in probably twenty-two.

On my way back...

Nice Ride Kiosk at Farview Park!

Post and photos by the Hawthorne Hawkman.

There are now actual bikes and a usable kiosk at Farview Park on the corner of 26th Ave N and Lyndale Ave N.  At the time the picture was taken, the kiosk wasn't up and running yet.  I'm thrilled that we've got a Nice Ride station at the park and on one of the main bicycle thoroughfares in NoMi.  But not everyone is so overjoyed, and I can see why.

I've received some communication about concerns over letting private entities come on to our park land.  While doing so could create confusion over who is responsible for what, the contract approved by the Park Board does seem to clearly indicate that Nice Ride is responsible for cleaning and maintaining the kiosk on a daily basis.  As long as the kiosk is well-maintained and hopefully regularly used, I'll be happy to have Nice Ride a block or so away from my place.

Oh, and in reading that contract, I found out that the Nice Ride Kiosks are solar powered.  How cool is that?!

Building up to the Grand Rounds

Post, photos, and above image by the Hawthorne Hawkman

Where has the Hawkman been lately?  Taking advantage of the great weather and getting out on our bike trails.  My normal route starts at my place, then goes down to the river and to Minnehaha, across Minneapolis, back north around the lakes and Theo Wirth Parkway, then along 26th Avenue back home.  It's a 25-mile round trip and I can usually finish it in about two hours.

While on this trip, I stopped at a kiosk and noticed something oddly frustrating about the bike map.

We'll have to look a bit closer.

 

 

Even though the Park Board headquarters are in north Minneapolis, the designated Grand Rounds trail stops at Plymouth Avenue.  Plymouth, by the way, is the southern border of north Minneapolis neighborhoods at that particular junction.  Why didn't the Park Board mark the Grand Rounds all the way to the end of the bike path along the river?  What we're left with from this map is the false notion that the bike trail stops before you enter NoMi.  It's like the old maps of uncharted waters, that tell travelers "Here there be monsters."

The Minneapolis Park Board would like to welcome you to NoMi.  Image from the Rebel Zen blog.

Putting some of the blame back on north Minneapolis neighborhoods' shoulders though, much of the bike paths along the river and lakes have signs telling you which neighborhood or community you're in.  We haven't done that for ourselves.  If we expect the Park Board to acknowledge our existence on the Grand Rounds trail map, we need to put up our own signage.