Photo courtesy of Treadly and Me
The Friends of the Katy Trail, and some City of Dallas and Dallas County politicians and staff, are proposing cycle-tracks in Dallas, specifically in the Uptown/Arts District, and along Industrial Boulevard. Alta Design of Portland has convinced these well-meaning folks that they will turn Dallas into a vision of Holland or Denmark... but a very large city in a Commonwealth nation (with perhaps more in common with Dallas than the Low Country cities) experienced a different reality after being Amsterdamned.
Perhaps Dallas' experience will be more like Amsterdam's than Melbourne's. Perhaps not... and looking at that dangerous street-scape, you can certainly see why the segregationists want bicycles out of the way.
6 comments:
PM,
A govt study from Victoria that came out this year shows a nearly 20% increase in ridership on that same "Amsterdam-like" Swanson Street from 2007 to 2008: http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/default/A2_-_Swanston_Street_Redevelopment_-_Attachment_2.pdf
This falls directly inline with the Jensen study showing 18-20% increases in ridership when implementing "Cycle Tracks" (ie. dedicated bicycle lanes): http://bikefriendlyoc.wordpress.com/2009/07/08/ask-the-experts-s%C3%B8ren-underlien-jensen-and-dr-lon-d-roberts-phd/
The author of the blog article also states in the comments:
"I agree that if the segregated lanes have the effect that advocates predict—increased rider numbers—then riders will have to become more aware of the need to ride to the left and let others pass easily. Sheer weight of numbers will ensure that this happens." Since the blog was posted in 2007, I've emailed to find out his thoughts now.
Also, I've sent emails to city planners there to receive detailed notes of accidents after implementation. Keep in mind, that a 2007 report from an Australian researcher corroborates the "Safety in Numbers" studies by Jacobsen.(http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080903112034.htm).
I'll let you know what I find out.
The Friends of the Katy Trail has nothing to do with this ... as I think I mentioned before.
Friends of the Katy Trail said...
"The Friends of the Katy Trail has nothing to do with this ... as I think I mentioned before."
Yes you did, but in addition to the Friends sponsorship of the Arts Loop study, the FotKT's Executive Director debuted the Arts Loop cycle-track on KERA's "Think!" program as representing the Friends, and he wrote an Op-Ed for the Dallas Morning news supporting these types of facilities in Dallas identified as the Exec. Dir.
Friends of the Katy Trail said...
"The Friends of the Katy Trail has nothing to do with this ... "
So then, has The Friend's has taken a position opposing the installation of cycle-tracks?
Hmmm. Does silence represent cowardly approval?
@Friends of the Katy Trail
(aka Eric Van Steenburg)
"The Friends of the Katy Trail has nothing to do with this ... as I think I mentioned before."
How do you find the courage to post a blatant lie like this in a public forum.
PM did not state that you had anything to do with the installation of cycle-tracks. He said you were "proposing cycle-tracks in Dallas."
A proposal is the act of presenting to another a concept or principle for consideration.
Let us not beat around the bush. The "Friends of the Katy Trail" profile is a virtual avatar for the FKT Executive Director, Eric Van Steenburg. Am I mistaken?
You have expressed your public support for the Complete Streets program and have lauded Angela Hunt and Mia Birk for their plans to build the so-called Arts Loop. Both make use of cycle-tracks as an integral component and the latter makes specific use of them to keep cyclists out of the way of motorists. These are simply two examples, but nevertheless confirm at least tacit approval of FKT for cycle-tracks and other segregationist facilities.
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