COVERITLIVE.COM

12:50

Ken Paulman, MPR News - We'll get started in about ten minutes. Feel free to submit questions/comments in advance.

12:50

News Cut (Bob) - We've opened up the chat area for the session that starts at 1 p.m. Guests include Jen Vanek, a regular bicycle commuter who lives in Minneapolis; and Shaun Murphy the Minneapolis bike/pedestrian project coordinator. Shaun is also one of the organizers of Bike Walk Week.

If you haven't watched the video I put up yesterday on my ride yesterday, please do. It highlights several confusing issues -- that I have, anyway -- regarding right of way issues and 'best practices' for riders.

I also want to occasionally drop in pictures of your ride today. So send them to me directly at bcollins@mpr.org .

In the meantime, get your questions into the queue and we'll see you at 1.

12:56

12:56

News Cut (Bob) - Via Katie Eukel at the Green Institute.

12:58

Ken Paulman, MPR News - I think we have Jen and Shaun online. Jen, Shaun, before we get started, how about telling us a little bit about yourselves?

1:00	Jen - Jen here: I live in south Minneapolis, near the river. I teach Adult Basic Education in St. Paul. I bike commute when the weather is good & ride for exercise as often as I can. From spring through fall, I ride almost everyday.

1:02

Shaun Murphy - Hi Ken. I'm the Non-Motorized Pilot Program (NTP) Coordinator for the City of Minneapolis. That means I seek funding for and assist in implementation of all NTP projects for the city (NTP is a federal transportation program aimed at increasing biking and walking and decreasing driving).

I also ride my bicycle for most of my trips in the city.

1:04	News Cut (Bob) - What is/are the biggest issue (s) facing cities and commuters/riders who want to increase participation ?

1:05	Jen - Feeling welcome on the road is a big issue for me.

1:05	Shaun Murphy - One of the biggest issues we face is carving out spaces for cyclists on streets - I think this is related to Jen's comment.

1:06	Ken Paulman, MPR News - Does that mean bike lanes, or are there other strategies?

1:06	[Comment From HerculesTRockefeller] Safety first, then legality, then courtesy. You should never jeopardize your own safety to pacify somebody else's hypothesized frustration.

1:07	Jen - Bike lanes are ideal. Better than off street paths.

1:07	Shaun Murphy - We consistently hear from cyclists (and would-be cyclists) that having a sense of safety on streets is a priority. Typically this does mean bike lanes, but we are planning for new types of strategies such as bicycle boulevards and "sharrows"

1:07

News Cut (Bob) - Sareen Keenan of Minneapolis sends in this story when we asked for stories of conflict/cooperation on the streets.

I approached a four way stop with a car coming towards me. Neither of us signaled to turn, and both seemed to be "rolling" the stop sign. Little did I know that the gentleman thought that in addition to stopping at the sign, his turn signal was another optional rule of the road. He had anticipated that I was going to stop at the sign and he turned infront of me, causing me to stop quickly. He then got out of his car, and started to yell at ME for not stopping - even though he did the same thing. After that - I tried to ride away and he said "you think you are so cool... I can follow you home." So I rode around the neighborhood, finally over to the fire station because I wasn't going to let him follow me and it was the only safe place I knew.

I see stories like this a lot, but I wonder if this is indicative of the majority of drivers, or do they just make good stories to tell when bicyclists get together. Yesterday, as I indicated, I found some wonderful examples of courtesy.

1:08	[Comment From PJ] I live near Summit Ave where there's a bike lane but there are too many bikes on the sidewalk!

1:08

[Comment From Marie]
There's a Bike to Work day event in Duluth tomorrow. More people bike for transportation every year but we still can't convince the city or the engineers that street designs for bikes will be good for cyclists and motorists alike. Having a bike coordinator on city staff is a fantasy. Any suggestions?

1:08	Jen - Portland Oregon has neat paint markings reserving the top of each intersection from shoulder to center of the lane for bikers.

1:09	Ken Paulman, MPR News - Piggybacking on Jen's post - the idea there is it puts the bike at the front of the line, making them more visible to turning drivers.

1:10	Ken Paulman, MPR News - How about this issue of sidewalk riding? It's legal in most places, but my understanding is that it's safer to be in the road. Shaun - any insight?

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