Comments on: And the wheels stop (Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority) http://www.transformtopeka.com/and-the-wheels-stop/ Topeka Image Improvement Project Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:42:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Hudson H Luce http://www.transformtopeka.com/and-the-wheels-stop/comment-page-1/#comment-862 Hudson H Luce Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:32:24 +0000 http://www.transformtopeka.com/?p=892#comment-862 Here's a comment I submitted to the cjonline site in response to the article about the veto. I tend to be pretty skeptical about paying outside consultants lots of money for work which could be done for free by the people who live here. In fact, about 35 years ago, there was a group headed by Phil Menninger which created, in conjunction with the City, a network of marked bike lanes and bike routes in Topeka, which seems to have disappeared...<br><br>==========================<br>Here's an alternative solution...<br>Submitted by streamfortyseven on Fri, 07/10/2009 - 7:48pm.<br><br>In these tough economic times, the veto makes sense. $75,000 for another study by an outside consultant seems to be a lot of money for something that could be accomplished by people interested enough to volunteer their time and expertise in planning out bike trails and bike lanes. There's no such thing as "government money", it's all money from taxpayers.<br><br>Figuring out where bike lanes and bike trails would be optimally placed would be a task for this Bicycle Advisory Board, in cooperation with the people in the Planning and Transportation Departments. Ideally, the board would be made up of people who ride bikes for transportation, fitness, and fun, and people who know (or can learn) the details of city planning and transportation planning, enough to work well with the people in the Planning and Transportation Departments of city government. In a town of this size, getting such a board together should be a comparatively easy task.<br><br>Right now, gasoline is pretty cheap. As the economy recovers, it may get more expensive, especially if we run into inflation, what with all the stimulus money being pumped into the economy. With lots of people out of work, riding a bicycle to work or to the grocery store instead of driving might become a more popular thing to do. It might be a good idea to plan ahead for such a possibility, instead of not making any plans, and dealing with a series of tragic accidents between bikes and cars, where the cyclist ends up much worse off than the motorist. A Bicycle Advisory Board staffed by volunteers might be just the solution we're looking for. Here's a comment I submitted to the cjonline site in response to the article about the veto. I tend to be pretty skeptical about paying outside consultants lots of money for work which could be done for free by the people who live here. In fact, about 35 years ago, there was a group headed by Phil Menninger which created, in conjunction with the City, a network of marked bike lanes and bike routes in Topeka, which seems to have disappeared…

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Here's an alternative solution…
Submitted by streamfortyseven on Fri, 07/10/2009 – 7:48pm.

In these tough economic times, the veto makes sense. $75,000 for another study by an outside consultant seems to be a lot of money for something that could be accomplished by people interested enough to volunteer their time and expertise in planning out bike trails and bike lanes. There's no such thing as “government money”, it's all money from taxpayers.

Figuring out where bike lanes and bike trails would be optimally placed would be a task for this Bicycle Advisory Board, in cooperation with the people in the Planning and Transportation Departments. Ideally, the board would be made up of people who ride bikes for transportation, fitness, and fun, and people who know (or can learn) the details of city planning and transportation planning, enough to work well with the people in the Planning and Transportation Departments of city government. In a town of this size, getting such a board together should be a comparatively easy task.

Right now, gasoline is pretty cheap. As the economy recovers, it may get more expensive, especially if we run into inflation, what with all the stimulus money being pumped into the economy. With lots of people out of work, riding a bicycle to work or to the grocery store instead of driving might become a more popular thing to do. It might be a good idea to plan ahead for such a possibility, instead of not making any plans, and dealing with a series of tragic accidents between bikes and cars, where the cyclist ends up much worse off than the motorist. A Bicycle Advisory Board staffed by volunteers might be just the solution we're looking for.

]]> By: John Gary http://www.transformtopeka.com/and-the-wheels-stop/comment-page-1/#comment-687 John Gary Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:26:25 +0000 http://www.transformtopeka.com/?p=892#comment-687 http://www.topeka.org/pdfs/council_minutes/070709m.pdf Looks like a staff report and supporting documents probably sumbitted by the planning department is where all the information concerning this is gathered. Reply on this comment thread if you would like to participate in a research project culminating into a planning and design proposal for a bikeway route. I anticipate to finish in early December. http://www.topeka.org/pdfs/council_minutes/070709m.pdf

Looks like a staff report and supporting documents probably sumbitted by the planning department is where all the information concerning this is gathered.

Reply on this comment thread if you would like to participate in a research project culminating into a planning and design proposal for a bikeway route. I anticipate to finish in early December.

]]> By: John Gary http://www.transformtopeka.com/and-the-wheels-stop/comment-page-1/#comment-686 John Gary Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:19:24 +0000 http://www.transformtopeka.com/?p=892#comment-686 Does anyone know if there were proposed routes submitted to the city commisssion when they voted to approve of a bikeway? I would like to see some of the initital ideas out there. Who requested the bikeway be put on the city commission agenda? Does anyone know if there were proposed routes submitted to the city commisssion when they voted to approve of a bikeway? I would like to see some of the initital ideas out there. Who requested the bikeway be put on the city commission agenda?

]]> By: Terry Xidis http://www.transformtopeka.com/and-the-wheels-stop/comment-page-1/#comment-638 Terry Xidis Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:51:15 +0000 http://www.transformtopeka.com/?p=892#comment-638 I agree with Hudson and streamfortyseven. Instead of spending to study a problem. Let's ask the community involved for input. I think the mayor made a good decision. Since I've lived in Topeka, it seems we have a tendency to pay for study after study. My family and I are bicycle riders and would love bike lanes. I do agree with Transform Topeka that bike lanes would make the city more attractive to individuals and businesses. Ask where cyclist are riding. Then widen those streets as modification/repairs are done and paint a bike lane. I agree with Hudson and streamfortyseven. Instead of spending to study a problem. Let’s ask the community involved for input. I think the mayor made a good decision. Since I’ve lived in Topeka, it seems we have a tendency to pay for study after study. My family and I are bicycle riders and would love bike lanes. I do agree with Transform Topeka that bike lanes would make the city more attractive to individuals and businesses. Ask where cyclist are riding. Then widen those streets as modification/repairs are done and paint a bike lane.

]]> By: Hudson H Luce http://www.transformtopeka.com/and-the-wheels-stop/comment-page-1/#comment-635 Hudson H Luce Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:37:13 +0000 http://www.transformtopeka.com/?p=892#comment-635 Here's a comment I submitted to the cjonline site in response to the article about the veto. I tend to be pretty skeptical about paying outside consultants lots of money for work which could be done for free by the people who live here. In fact, about 35 years ago, there was a group headed by Phil Menninger which created, in conjunction with the City, a network of marked bike lanes and bike routes in Topeka, which seems to have disappeared... ========================== Here's an alternative solution... Submitted by streamfortyseven on Fri, 07/10/2009 - 7:48pm. In these tough economic times, the veto makes sense. $75,000 for another study by an outside consultant seems to be a lot of money for something that could be accomplished by people interested enough to volunteer their time and expertise in planning out bike trails and bike lanes. There's no such thing as "government money", it's all money from taxpayers. Figuring out where bike lanes and bike trails would be optimally placed would be a task for this Bicycle Advisory Board, in cooperation with the people in the Planning and Transportation Departments. Ideally, the board would be made up of people who ride bikes for transportation, fitness, and fun, and people who know (or can learn) the details of city planning and transportation planning, enough to work well with the people in the Planning and Transportation Departments of city government. In a town of this size, getting such a board together should be a comparatively easy task. Right now, gasoline is pretty cheap. As the economy recovers, it may get more expensive, especially if we run into inflation, what with all the stimulus money being pumped into the economy. With lots of people out of work, riding a bicycle to work or to the grocery store instead of driving might become a more popular thing to do. It might be a good idea to plan ahead for such a possibility, instead of not making any plans, and dealing with a series of tragic accidents between bikes and cars, where the cyclist ends up much worse off than the motorist. A Bicycle Advisory Board staffed by volunteers might be just the solution we're looking for. Here’s a comment I submitted to the cjonline site in response to the article about the veto. I tend to be pretty skeptical about paying outside consultants lots of money for work which could be done for free by the people who live here. In fact, about 35 years ago, there was a group headed by Phil Menninger which created, in conjunction with the City, a network of marked bike lanes and bike routes in Topeka, which seems to have disappeared…

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Here’s an alternative solution…
Submitted by streamfortyseven on Fri, 07/10/2009 – 7:48pm.

In these tough economic times, the veto makes sense. $75,000 for another study by an outside consultant seems to be a lot of money for something that could be accomplished by people interested enough to volunteer their time and expertise in planning out bike trails and bike lanes. There’s no such thing as “government money”, it’s all money from taxpayers.

Figuring out where bike lanes and bike trails would be optimally placed would be a task for this Bicycle Advisory Board, in cooperation with the people in the Planning and Transportation Departments. Ideally, the board would be made up of people who ride bikes for transportation, fitness, and fun, and people who know (or can learn) the details of city planning and transportation planning, enough to work well with the people in the Planning and Transportation Departments of city government. In a town of this size, getting such a board together should be a comparatively easy task.

Right now, gasoline is pretty cheap. As the economy recovers, it may get more expensive, especially if we run into inflation, what with all the stimulus money being pumped into the economy. With lots of people out of work, riding a bicycle to work or to the grocery store instead of driving might become a more popular thing to do. It might be a good idea to plan ahead for such a possibility, instead of not making any plans, and dealing with a series of tragic accidents between bikes and cars, where the cyclist ends up much worse off than the motorist. A Bicycle Advisory Board staffed by volunteers might be just the solution we’re looking for.

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