Bicyclist object to Congressman Mica's plans to eliminate bike/sidewalk funding

[thelakelander]

Ken Bryan remembers a time when senior citizens rode bikes along U.S. 17 in Clay County.

"At the time it was just a two-lane road," he said. "And it was a safe road to ride on."

Those days are over. And Bryan, the Florida director of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, is one of many cyclists opposing a proposal from U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., that would cut out funding for bike trails and sidewalks in future road construction projects.

Mica's plan would create more roads like Blanding Boulevard and U.S. 17, which became six-lane behemoths that Bryan says are dangerous to even cross on foot.

"Jacksonville and Florida both need more communities where people can travel without cars," Bryan said, "and Mica's proposal makes that impossible."

Full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2011-07-22/story/florida-bicyclists-object-plan-would-stop-funding-sidewalks-and-bike


Do we really want more roadway facilities in our communities like this?

From the Article

Mica has the support of Florida Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad. At a recent congressional hearing run by Mica in Maitland, Prasad endorsed Mica's strategy.

"We must give serious consideration to whether, when resources and dollars are at a premium, spending money on sidewalks, bike trails, beautification and other projects like this is the most prudent use of taxpayer money," Prasad said.

One could make a stronger argument that we must give serious consideration to whether road building for the sake of road building is the most prudent use of taxpayer money.

[jandar]

The new part of Blanding Blvd from Knight Box Rd to CR209/Old Jennings has sidewalks. Granted, there is no buffer between the sidewalk and the road. But it also looks like there will be bike lanes on it. And this road is not yet done either.

The thought is correct, the implementation shoddy.

[Dashing Dan]

Given our state's last-place ranking in Dangerous by Design, Florida is the state with the greatest need for enhancement funds etc. 

This flexibility argument is the same argument that Rep. Ryan is making for medicare vouchers.  It saves money for the feds, but it doesn't help the people who need the money.  There are a lot of people who need this money but are not able to drive.

[thelakelander]

The new part of Blanding Blvd from Knight Box Rd to CR209/Old Jennings has sidewalks. Granted, there is no buffer between the sidewalk and the road. But it also looks like there will be bike lanes on it. And this road is not yet done either.

The thought is correct, the implementation shoddy.

^They basically put in those sidewalks because they had to and did not go above the minimum design requirements.  Thus, they'll have no tree cover, no buffer from fast moving vehicular traffic and no proper integration with the surrounding land uses at pedestrian level, which means no one will use them.   If you can't get the FDOTs and JTAs of the world to go above the minimum design requirements now (see http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-jun-jtas-plans-for-i-95jtb-interchange-shortsighted), what makes anyone think they will if the minimum requirements completely exclude bicycle and sidewalks?  This is the complete opposite of Complete Streets (see http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-mar-complete-streets-policy-to-impact-jacksonville) and Context Sensitive Streets policies (see http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-feb-everyone-wins-with-complete-streets)  that are increasing in popularity around the nation.

[Dashing Dan]

Without enhancement funds, the need for a complete streets policy is greater than ever.

[Kay]

"One could make a stronger argument that we must give serious consideration to whether road building for the sake of road building is the most prudent use of taxpayer money."


I sincerely believe that we should build no more new roads or widen any more existing roads.  All transportation dollars should go towards creating mobility within this godforsaken county--which for us means walkable, bikeable and mass transist options.  STOP THE MADNESS!!!

[Lunican]

Mica has the support of Florida Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad. At a recent congressional hearing run by Mica in Maitland, Prasad endorsed Mica's strategy.

"We must give serious consideration to whether, when resources and dollars are at a premium, spending money on sidewalks, bike trails, beautification and other projects like this is the most prudent use of taxpayer money," Prasad said.

The approach was also endorsed by Bob Burleson, president of the Florida Transportation Builders Association.

This is why Florida and Jacksonville rank last for walkability and first for pedestrian deaths.

[Lunican]

The jacksonville.com commenters have a special disdain for anyone not properly stuffed into a car.

By Voice_of_Jax | 07/22/11 - 02:13 am

That would be fine if they stayed in the bike lanes and OFF THE SIDEWALKS! Bicycles are the main mode of bum transportation as well. Make them stay off the sidewalk, it is illegal to ride there.

[chipwich]

More bike lanes and more properly designed sidewalks are obviously a step in the right direction and are in everyone's best interest.

However, with funding as it is, I can't help feeling that bicyclists need to help pay for bike lanes.  Like most people in Jacksonville, I am not a cyclist.  I pay a yearly car registration and gas taxes to help ( I repeat help, since it doesn't really cover all costs)  cover the costs of driving on roads.  Cyclists pay no fees for bike lanes or to use the road.  On top of that, drivers have to share their road (which is designed to be used solely by cars) with much slower moving cyclists ( who in my mind are a bit of a nuisance to drivers).


We need to fund bike lanes, they are critical for the safety and well-being of both cyclists and motorists.  I just think bicycles (being a reasonable and legitimate road-worthy mode of transportation), should have tags, with annual registration fees to help fund new bike lanes, that will be used solely by other cyclists.

[Dashing Dan]

If a roadway is congested and heavily used by cyclists, then the provision of a bike lane would be much more cost effective than widening the roadway.  In this area, a good example of this can be found on CR 210 / Mickler Road, between the Intracoastal Waterway and A1A.

Just look at how much more space is required for a car than for a bike.  More people on bikes = more room for cars.  If FDOT could spend every dime that it has on building complete streets, then the overall need for road space would go down, not up.

The trend over the past few years is that people are driving less and cycling more.  FDOT should take advantage of this opportunity to save on the costs of roadbuilding.

[tufsu1]

The new part of Blanding Blvd from Knight Box Rd to CR209/Old Jennings has sidewalks. Granted, there is no buffer between the sidewalk and the road. But it also looks like there will be bike lanes on it. And this road is not yet done either.

The thought is correct, the implementation shoddy.

there will be bike lanes...and yes, I agree...there is a huge median...all they had to do was shrink that a little and then put a grass strip separating the road from the sidewalk....but that does make for maintainence for FDOT

[FayeforCure]

Clearly, elected officials in FL undermine livability and sustainability at EVERY turn. How much longer are these people going to be doing this?

For the rest of their lives!

Because no matter what they do, they get re-elected due to gerry-mandered districts.

Fair Districting is currently being undermined by Rick Scott to keep this bizarre type fake Democracy in place.

Your vote simply does not count in gerry-mandered districts.

John Mica is Congressman for Life with absolute power to destroy all our chances for livable communities and sustainability.