Infrastructure
In recent days, I’ve been seeing lots of new bike lane and sharrow markings down on Springfield’s streets. While I’ve not been a big advocate of marked lanes in the past, I think the increased presence and visibility is a good thing.
It seems like as more markings have been put down, drivers are becoming more aware and courteous toward me as I’m traversing these streets. Hopefully, this anecdotal evidence is not just a figment of my imagination but the seeds of something better in Springfield.
The bulk of the marked streets are in and around our urban core, MSU, and OTC at this point. I would really like to see those expand to the south and east sides of town. There are literally pockets of places where you just can’t get by bike without risking limb and ire by driving your bike down a major traffic thoroughfare. If some of those problem areas could be addressed, it would open up more options for folks who are “stranded” in those areas. If that happened, I think you would see a big influx of bike commuters here in town.
I see it as progress, and I’ll take what I can get!
God bless…
TW
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August 23, 2012 at 7:37 pm
I think you’re right, it does help spread awareness. There is more to come as Springfield moves toward the next level of “Bicycle Friendly Community!” Check out http://letsgosmart.org/#bike.
August 24, 2012 at 11:23 am
THE ONE THAT PERPLEXES ME IS THE TRAIL THAT RUNS ALONG WALNUT LAWN. IT IS REALLY DOABLE UNTIL YOU GET TO KANSAS EXPWY. WEST OF THERE IT IS REALLY SKINNY 2 LANE WITH NO SHOULDER. YOUR OPTIONS ARE NORTH OR SOUTH ON KANSAS OR BECOM A MOVING OBSTACLE FOR OVER A MILE AS YOU TRY TO LINK UP WITH A SHOULDER OR TRAIL. WITH ITS PROXIMITY TO THE GREEN WAY IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO LINK IT SOMEHOW. NOW I JUST USE IT TO LINK UP TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS TO THE NORTH OF WALNUT LAWN WHICH EVENTUALL GET TO THE GREENWAY,( ONCE YOU CROSS BATTLEFIELD AND SUNSET)
August 24, 2012 at 2:13 pm
I know where you’re talking about, Mike. That’s a bad road to ride. There are plans to put down marked bike lanes on Kansas Ave. This year, from Walnut Lawn to north of Battlefield, and next year from Walnut Lawn south, then across KS Expressway to Chesterfield going west. That might help. (Here’s a map .)