BIKE: SoCo Concerns Addressed

[Stuart Werbner]

Whoa, Nellie!!  (sorry, couldn't resist the SoCo pun)

There are some concerns being raised again about SoCo, and I will now 
attempt to address the ones that I havent already addressed before:

1) The city is spending boat loads of cash on the area in front of TSD, 
while my part of town is getting the shaft.

While I am sorry there are other parts of town getting the shaft, I am very 
glad to see that the area in front of the TSD is being rebuilt/improved.

My understanding is that the old wall was in dire need of repair, and was 
probably becoming a safety hazard. Furthermore, it looked like crap. It 
reminded me of my childhood when there on our family's black and white tv in 
the kitchen, I'd watch clips of the Brezhnev-era May Day parades on the 
evening news. All those glum looking generals surrounding Brezhnev above Red 
Square's mausoleum (sp?) wall watching the tanks, troops, and missile 
launchers roll by. This has been one of the reasons why I have hated to ride 
my bike along SoCo up till now -- I actually was fearful I was going to be 
crushed by a T-72 tank.

Also, it is my understanding that TSD is paying for the new cool wavy wall, 
and that the sidewalk, which also looked like crap, is being redone by the 
city. Again, I am very glad to see that it is being rebuilt to be at street 
level, instead of 20' or so off the ground like it was before -- much more 
bike/ped friendly.

I also want to make clear that the SoCo CAG did not vote on the spending to 
replace the sidewalk. You could blame me, Charlie Gandy, Paul Nagy, Jackie 
Goodman, or someone else for hijacking the process; or you could simply 
contact Pollyanne Melton with the city transportation staff, and get 
accurate, factual information on the reasons/details...

2) What's the deal with the SoCo bikelane that leads to nowehere?

Wow. If I had only realized I was asking for a bikelane leading to nowhere, 
I'd have definitely reconsidered supporting this.

The Bikelane-to-Nowhere Debacle (as I should probably now get used to 
hearing it labeled by the nay-sayers) will run along the southbound lane on 
SoCo between Riverside and Nellie. Whoa, Nellie!!!

[And, yes, parking will be permitted in it, but only for those who either 
served on the SCB Working Group or who are members of the SoCo CAG. Also, 
the city manager, assistant city managers, and members of the city council 
will be permitted to park there. Please contact Lane Wimberly for further 
details.]

For those familiar with S. Congress, this leads up a somewhat steep hill, 
hence there is a safety concern for the large(r) speed differential between 
cyclists and motorists.

Also, I mentioned this bike lane numerous times in earlier postings to the 
forum, and to others separate from the forum. In addition, other leaders of 
the cycling community, such as Tommy Eden have been pushing for this for 
quite a while. But, true to form, certain people have decided that they want 
to be "surprised" and "blind-sided" about this. For those of you wishing to 
do this, you are more than welcome to get your panties all up in a bunch, 
and go about your business.

Regarding the "nowhereness" of the bikelane, I would submit that it might 
actually start and end that is somewhere, and have a somewhere in between.

Starting with the northern end, the bikelane starts near the Riverside 
intersection, this connects cyclists to the Hike 'n Bike Trail and the SoCo 
bat bridge. Don't these qualify as somewhere?

Now, we can examine the in between -- SoCo shops and restaurants across the 
street for the fashionistas among us as welll as those looking for a quick 
byte or another fattening dessert. Also, of course, there is the TSD, and 
the intersection of Nellie and Academy to provide connection to the Bouldin 
Creek and Travis Hts. neighborhoods and some of the SoCo apartments. Hmmm, 
doesn't seem like the in between and southern end is "nowhere" either.

Also, regarding the southern end. This approaches the sacred SoCo angled 
parking zone in front of Gueros and the other businesses further south. Now, 
since the SoCo CAG is a consensus process, and there is vehement opposition 
from the businesses, and at least one of the NAs, along with very limited 
money available from the city, there is no plan at this time for a solution 
that would extend a bike facility through the merchant area.

If one of my dissenting brothers or sisters, or even maybe that rare 
supporter in the bicycle community wishes to propose a low cost solution 
that will meet with merchant and NA approval, please make your suggestion 
known, now. The window is closing rapidly.

Regards,

   __o
_`\<,_
(*)/ (*)
~~~~~~~~~
Stuart Werbner
Annuit Coeptis

"First the good news -- less than 4 years to go, and countin."