March 26, 2003
Forum steers cycling future
35 cyclists discuss possible path plans
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
What if _ shoulders of all major roads were paved and bicycle friendly?
_ Bicycle routes connected communities and encouraged residents to explore, commute and socialize, two-wheeled style?
_ Drivers and bicyclists shared the roads to the benefit of all?
Thirty-five area cyclists gathered at the Traverse Area District Library Monday evening to discuss ways to make the region a more bicycle-friendly community. The Cherry Capital Cycling Club, the League of Michigan Bicyclists, the Grand Traverse County Planning Commission and the Grand Traverse County Road Commission jointly sponsored the meeting.
Mark Skeels of the Grand Traverse County Planning Commission presented information on the existing county bikeways plan. Noting it was an old plan, he invited citizen input on areas that need bike lanes.
"We are looking for input on paved shoulders or paths and are really emphasizing connections to other paths," said Skeels, adding that these connections among communities or paths are key to getting funding.
Mike Dillenbeck spoke on the multiple TART trail phases, noting what had been accomplished and plans for the future. He also discussed the Road Commission's effort to add paved shoulders to area roads and how federal status and funding affect their efforts. Dillenbeck also fielded questions about current chip coating of some roads, noting it was a stopgap measure to keep the road usable in the face of funding shortfalls for repaving.
Lucinda Means, executive director of the League of Michigan Bicyclists based in Lansing, discussed a variety of programs around the state that are helping promote bicycle-friendly communities. She also described an effort to include information on bicycling in the state publication "What Every Driver Must Know" and the possibility of including a question on bicycling on future drivers' license tests.
Means also pointed out that communities must link biking access with public transportation and bike parking facilities at destination points.
"People think when they are talking about bicycling communities it is just about roads," she said. "There are six cities in Michigan that have bike racks on the front of their busses."
Her organization is also pulling together a basic primer on how to choose, maintain, equip and ride a bike safely.
"We are trying to demystify biking so that people trapped in cul de sacs will get enthusiastic about riding," Means said. "Someday someone you've never heard of will be the president of your bicycling club because they will get into riding and love it."
After the presentations, participants broke into small groups to discuss which area roads needed shoulders the most. Each group covered one geographical area. After 20 minutes, the large group reassembled to compile their desires on one master map of the county to give the planning and road commissions input on most critically needed improvements.
Sara Cockrell is a longtime cyclist and has been active in the Cherry Capital Cycling Club for ten years. She was pleased at the forum's dialog and noted that there is an east-west bike path but little that runs north-south in the area.
"I thought it went really well and I was surprised that the road commission would accept that kind of comment on where we want to ride," said Cockrell, a past president and board member of the club. "I realize that funds are very limited and they will have to prioritize. I think the objective of connecting trails, making the roads that can be biked have a destination, was a popular point."
Means was pleased at the attendance and ideas generated at the forum, noting that Traverse City has the vision and motivation to make bicycles more usable in the area.
"This meeting is a testament to the quality of the people who are part of the city and the policy makers," she said. "Being bicycle friendly benefits all the people in the community, it makes the community better and government is realizing that."