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More bike lanes, good sidewalks, cyclers urge
By JON WILSON, Times Staff Writer
ST. PETERSBURG -- The walkers and bike riders came with a strong message: Let's get on with this plan to make it easier and safer for us to get around. At a four-hour workshop last week, people interested in traveling by means other than motor vehicles ogled maps, filled out surveys, chatted with transportation experts and got to know city officials working to create more bike lanes and foot paths. Organizers estimated more than 100 attended. It wasn't a sit-down-and-hear-a-lecture format. Attendees came and went as they pleased, chatting or just absorbing information. "A lot of people, the first thing they said was, 'How long is it going to take to do all this,' " said neighborhood transportation director Michael Frederick. To do all that planners envision might take years. The idea of making provisions for foot and pedal-power transportation emerged from a project called Vision 2020, in which officials and residents set out to chart St. Petersburg's future 20 years from now. The bicycle/pedestrian master plan is a first step. It is expected to be finished by February or March. Tuesday, people marked a survey asking which of eight goals should have priority. They chose among constructing new sidewalks, repairing or rebuilding existing ones, expanding the network of on-road bike lanes, improving pedestrian crossings on major roadways, adding or extending shared-use paths such as the Pinellas Trail, providing convenient bike parking, generally enhancing safety for cyclists and pedestrians and increasing bike and pedestrian travel relative to auto travel. There was also a chance to examine city maps and designate roads or intersections that could benefit from enhancements aimed at cyclists and pedestrians. No hard-core motorists showed up to argue whether accommodations should be made for non-motorized traffic. But some bike riders suggested enhancements need to be accomplished with care. "I heard a lot of cyclists say things I wouldn't expect," Frederick said. "They said some roads they wouldn't want bike lanes on, because traffic is just too heavy." Dr. M.L. King (Ninth) Street was among those mentioned. So was Gandy Boulevard. "A lot of people wanted to make sure facilities are not just being designed for professional riders; they wanted to make sure kids have a way to get to school as well," Frederick said. Others said they would like to see traffic slowed before the bike/pedestrian plan gets too far along. "My only question is why they wouldn't consider traffic calming and lane narrowing before adding pedestrian walkways and bike lanes," said Amy Sharpe, 23. Next on the agenda: compiling the survey data. A question always hovering: Can St. Petersburg really fall in love with bikes and walking and a new way of looking at transportation? "If we have courage," said Karl Nurse. The city Planning Commission member (and 2001 mayoral candidate) attended the workshop. It will take strong leadership, Nurse said, adding that plenty of federal money could be available if the city gets serious.
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From the Times South Pinellas desks |
