By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The roomful of bicyclists was asked how many considered Bowling Green to be a bicycle friendly community. No one raised a hand.
Instead, the 40 or so bicyclists shared stories of how unwelcoming the city is to two-wheel travelers. They told of streets marked as bike routes that have no berm for bicyclists, of road repairs that leave streets layered with loose gravel, of storm sewer grates positioned so they snag bike tires and of motorists hostile about sharing the road with bicycles.
And they discussed bicycle plans adopted by the city nine years ago – with very little progress made to improve bicycle travel in the community. That transportation master plan update from 2007 recommended that the city consider bicycle facilities as part of all new or re-construction road projects, that all bike routes have improved signage, and that the city consider eliminating parking on streets for bicycle routes.
When the bicyclists in the library meeting room were asked to identify the streets they would most like to see accommodate bikes, they listed the same streets that had been designated in the 2007 plan.
Many felt that they were just spinning their wheels.
Tuesday’s meeting was a joint effort of the city’s Bicycle Safety Commission and the City Council Transportation and Safety Committee members Daniel Gordon, Sandy Rowland and John Zanfardino. The goal was to gather input from bicyclists on what streets they would like modified in some way to improve safety for cyclists.
The group also discussed options for making the streets more accommodating to bikes. Those options include:
- Widening some streets by extending the pavement.
- Giving bicyclists room by narrowing the width for motorized vehicles.
- Banning parking along some streets.
- Turning some streets into one-way routes.
Many of the cyclists said the city’s current signage stating “share the road” with the image of a bicycle is worthless. If there isn’t some space dedicated for bicycles, most motorists don’t feel the need to share, they said.
The number of car-bicycle accidents in the city is low, with an average of 12 a year, and most not causing serious injuries. However, many of the cyclists said they have learned to ride defensively, and avoid streets that they feel are particularly dangerous for bicycles.
Bikes parked outside library during meeting
Streets identified at the meeting as especially risky for bicyclists included Haskins Road, Poe Road, Sand Ridge Road, Conneaut Avenue, Wintergarden Road, and West Wooster Street west of Haskins Road. Some were dangerous because of no berm for bikers, others because of debris on the roads, and some because of the motorists’ speed.
Some suggested that bike routes be determined with destinations in mind – with the goals of getting people to places like BGSU, city parks, community center, social service agencies, the Slippery Elm Trail, and the high school.
“That’s where I would start, with the magnets,” Tom Klein suggested.
Others wanted to make a list of possible bike routes, with street names being called out as quickly as they could be mapped at the front of the room. By time they were done, the list was quite lengthy and included Maple, Pearl, North Prospect, Fairview, North Grove, Campbell Hill, Poe, Clough, Conneaut, Thurstin, Manville, Wintergarden, Wooster, Haskins, Napoleon, Gypsy Lane, Brim, Dunbridge and Church.
Many of the streets identified had already been designated in the 2007 plan.
“The plan is here. Why not use it as a jump off,” one person suggested, expressing frustration that no action had been taken with the list made nine years ago. “This seems to be exactly what you are talking about.”
Some of the cyclists were tired of waiting for the city to take action.
“Which streets could we do expediently?” Penny Evans asked.
“I would just like the city to act,” said another cyclist.
“I do think there is a hostile environment for bicyclists,” said Kay Chapman.
Many were willing to settle for far less than the standard three-feet wide lanes set aside in some communities.
“The idea that if we have to do all or nothing – we get nothing,” said Eileen Baker.
The city council members spoke of the costs attached to creating bike accommodations.
“Feasibility is not just a financial question, it’s also a political question,” Gordon said. “Have any of you heard about the controversy with garbage cans?”
Zanfardino and Steve Langendorfer, of the bicycle commission, suggested a narrowing down of the streets identified for accommodations. “We need to reduce that down to reality,” Zanfardino said.
Another meeting on the topic will be held when BGSU students are back in the city.
