We've taken effective action!
The latest news remains good. In an e-mail exchange, Michael Songy, CSRS, Inc., dated 2007 November 26, stated in part:
Mark: There has been no change from our standpoint relative to the bike paths . . . We are having some delays with the consultant regarding drainage outfalls for the project, and are working to get through that phase at this time.
As you may recall, this started when we discovered the Green Light Plan for the redesigned Brightside Lane from River Road to Nicholson Drive removed and did not replace the bicycle lane. Removing this segment effectively destroys a three-link chain of bike paths: the levee path from downtown to LSU and on to Brightside; Brightside Lane from River Road to Nicholson Drive, and; Nicholson Drive to South Stadium and the LSU campus.
BRASS initiated a petition online and on paper. After a few weeks we had garnered nearly 200 signatures. The petition with sigantures were hand-delivered to the DPW. Following the receipt of the petition, signatures, and support letter B.R.A.S.S. called Peter Newkirk, Director, Department of Public Works, to discuss things. The upshot was, Brightside Lane will have 4-12 feet wide lanes with a 30 feet wide median. The outside lanes on each side will have 4 feet wide bike lanes. Yes, striped, marked, bike lanes on each side running the same direction as motor vehicle traffic!
Thanks to everyone who signed the paper and electronic petitions in support of bicycle facilites on this road we have successfully campaigned for bicycle facilities in Baton Rouge! We will, of course, keep an eye on the plan as it develops. When the time comes be ready to have a group ride on the new bike lanes.
Note, however, the only public GLP document available still shows the bike lane removed and not replaced. That document is available here. As you can see when viewing the "Concept Plan," the existing bicycle lane on Brightside will be removed. We will continue to monitor this and ask that the new plans to include bicycle lanes be added to the public documents.
An email from Ingolf A. Partenheimer, Chief Traffic Engineer for the City-Parish, dated 2007 June 14, included the following: "The request was made at yesterday's GLP meeting not to dead end the shared use lane into River Road, but rather to look for ways to connect it to the top of the levee. GLP managers are looking into it." As above, look for more information here as soon as it is in hand.
The Brightside bike lane is one of the few bicycle facilities in the parish that actually connects two destinations - the campus of LSU and the levee path. By including lanes on Brightside, the City is helping create a nearly 7 mile loop from downtown to the campus of LSU. Riders wishing to get a longer ride in may continue through campus to the Lakes to enjoy an additional 7 miles of riding.
Please take a moment to call and write Peter Newkirk at the Department of Public Works to thank him for backing bicycle facilities in Baton Rouge. Writing and calling your Council representative to thank them for supporting bicycle and pedestrian facilites would be an additional good thing.
To open a 2-page PDF of the "Mayor-President and Metropolitan Council" contact list in a new window, click here.
Taking action is effective!
Page updated 2008 January 06