Bicycling for Louisville

Bike Lanes, chaining together access roads for bicycles, and bike paths are all in the mix for Southwestern, Algonquin, and Southern parkways, I'd wager. Come out and support better cycling facilities!

Via Metro Parks:

Louisville Metro Parks & Recreation will host a series of four public meetings to gather input on the Olmsted Parkways Shared Use Path, a bicycle/pedestrian improvement project. The focus of the meetings will be the proposed design for building a shared use path along the parkways, and the design for a road diet to allow for bicycle lanes along the parkways.

Meeting dates and locations:

• 10/22 - 6pm-8pm - Southern Star Baptist, 2304 Algonquin Pkwy
• 10/28 - 6pm-8pm - First Gethsemane Baptist, 1159 Algonquin Pkwy
• 10/29 - 6pm-8pm - Shawnee Golf clubhouse, 460 Northwestern Pkwy
• 11/4 - 6pm-8pm - Ashland Ave Firehouse, 501 Ashland Ave

The meeting begins with an open house at 6pm, with presentation of the plan at 7pm followed by a question and answer period.

Our 45 minute introduction to bicycling for college students is now open to the public! Register now. 

Wed 9/4/13 1:30-2:30pm, Downtown HSC Library Commons Auditorium 103. Register here.
Wed 9/4/13 3-4pm, Downtown HSC Library Commons Auditorium 103. Register here.
Fri 9/6/13 2-3pm, Strickler Hall Room 102. Register here.
Mon 9/9/13 5-6pm, Ekstrom Library Chao Auditorium. Register here.
Mon 9/9/13 6:30-7:30pm, Ekstrom Library Chao Auditorium. Register here.
Tues 9/10/13 4-5pm, Downtown HSC Library Commons Auditorium 103. Register here.
Tues 9/10/13 5:30-6:30pm, Downtown HSC Library Commons Auditorium 103. Register here.
Sat 9/14/13 11am-Noon, Strickler Hall Room 102. Register here.
Sat 9/14/13 12:30 -1:30pm, Strickler Hall Room 102. Register here.

We've been getting a lot of questions about what is this little bicycle marking is for. Why, it's for getting you to ask questions, of course!

Do you see the vertical saw cut in the road that the marking goes over? That is a bundle of wires which will trigger the stoplight if you put a car over it. Your bike may also trigger it, if you manage to put your rims directly on it.  (and I mean directly!!) This only works on stop lights that function by detectors - which is most of them, excepting of course downtown, Old Louisville, and the West end. 

But if you see the saw cuts in the road, you can be sure it's a light you can try to trigger, regardless of whether this little bike marking is there or not. If you have your choice of 3 cuts, aim for the middle one, it's twice as sensitive. 

Now you know!

In 2012 Bicycling for Louisville published a secret report to Louisville Metro, advocating for building an "Urban Bicycle Network".

This summer, Metro Louisville funded an Urban Bike Network. 

This July, Bicycling for Louisville - particularly Chris Glasser - has been working with the city on a network of "low stress" bicycle boulevards.

Today, Bicycling for Louisville successfully advocated for improving the geometry of bike lanes on First & Brook. When completed next month, these will be the best bike lanes in the history of the region.

Maximize bicycle facilities - make them safe, comfortable, and useful to as many people as possible - join Bicycling for Louisville!

Free Passes for Forecastle Volunteers

Join us for a 3 hour volunteer shift to hear the music and be part of the party, July 12-14. Volunteers who sign up for 3 shifts are eligible for a pass in to see the shows. As always, when you volunteer for Valet Bike Parking you get snacks & beverages, you get to hang out with fun bike-minded people, and you help make fun local events more bike-friendly by promoting bicycling! You also get a free membership in your local bicycle advocacy org. Sign up and help!

12 months until the first phase is installed

Thank you Metro Council!

Metro Council has allocated $300,000 to build an urban bike network. The network will create a critical mass of bikeways linking destinations in Downtown, Old Louisville, and the main University of Louisville campus. Additionally, proposed elements go as far west as Shawnee Park and as far east as Grinstead Drive. 

Bicycling for Louisville has worked for this for years, working at all levels of government, engaging the public, building a grassroots advocacy organization, and siezing opportunities. Now that there is a flexible budget, we look forward to working with the city to maximize this investment. In particular, we are looking at:

• destinations - serve a transportation need
• geometry - safe & wide enough to travel at any speed
• inviting - infrastructure that is straightforward to new riders

This is the first time general funds have been used to build bicycle transportation networks. The city's strategy is to target locally-owned within 2 miles of downtown. As a result, there is just one public agency involved in spending the money , and we can expect installation within a year - warp speed for transportation projects!

Huzzah!

Cycling Savvy is a new and different approach to cycling education, focusing on problem-solving skills for the individual rider who wants to minimize conflict and maximize ability to use the existing environment. As a program, Cycling Savvy teaches folks how to reduce conflicts created by road designs and behaviors of other road users while getting where the rider wishes to go.

More information on the Cycling Savvy program can be found via Commute Louisville or on Facebook. Keep an eye out for upcoming class schedules!

Today the Mayor unveiled his proposed budget for 2013-14. In his address to Metro Council, the Mayor included general fund budget for bicycle improvements to city streets, including a "critical mass" of bicycle infrastructure to link downtown, Old Louisville, and University of Louisville's main campus.

In the coming weeks, Bicycling for Louisville will be working with citizens, council, Public Works, and of course our membership to promote & shape this plan.  We look forward to lowering the bar to bicycle transportation.

update: "$300,000 for restriping roads to allow bike lanes, primarily between the University of Louisville Belknap Campus and downtown." - Courier Journal

Embark on a romantic adventure through central Louisville! This lovely ride lets you pick your own route and your own pace, with fun activities along the way.

Total distance will be about 10 miles - an hour's worth of beginner-speed riding. 

What: Romantic ride
Who: You and all your friends (on facebook)
Where: Rudyard Kipling - 422 W. Oak St
When: Party starts at 6 - Friday 2-15-2013
Why: bring $5 to benefit Bicylcing for Louisville

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