The Wabasha Street leg of the downtown bike loop may die a quick death... but if parking meters are extended to 10 p.m. downtown, won't we all?
Deep within the recesses of St. Paul City Hall, planners are still refining their vision for a raised downtown bicycle "loop" that would connect downtown cyclists to regional trails. The final plan still isn't quite ready for debut, but from the sounds of it, it's not too different from the original plan.
But one thing is clear: an effort to relocate a proposed leg of the bike loop off St. Peter Street and onto Wabasha Street is drying on the vine. Says planner Reuben Collins, by way of email:
"The initial analysis suggested that St. Peter was preferred over Wabasha for several reasons. As a result, we are focusing all of our design efforts on further refinements of St. Peter Street. While the study hasn’t officially eliminated any routes yet (including Wabasha), we would need to encounter a significant design challenge on St. Peter before we would look any further at Wabasha."
Here's what they're working with:
Clik here to view.
The proposed downtown bicycle loop would be raised at sidewalk level and buffered from cars.
Given the overlapping and sometimes competing interests downtown -- residents, workers, sports fans, concert-goers, business owners, college students, government, you name it -- the Scoop wishes good luck to all involved.
Speaking of big changes downtown... Did you hear about the mayor's plan to keep parking meters rolling to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday?
First, there was Hitler railing against the proposed downtown bicycle loop, among other St. Paul bike plans. Now, the supposed "menace" that is paid parking in downtown St. Paul has its own (ironic) scary movie trailer...
The likelihood that the movie short "Death of a Downtown: The St. Paul Paid Parking Menace" was actually produced by Chris Coleman, written by Bill Hosko, directed by "irrational business owner" or production designed by Kathy "Landry" (sic) is pretty much nil, but who cares? At least these filmmakers have a sense of humor.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The Scoop takes no sides on parking meter increases rolled out in the middle of winter when new downtown restaurants, retailers and attractions like SubText Bookstore, Big River Pizza, Saint Dinette and CHS Field are barely out of the cradle. The Scoop is neutral on that one, you betcha.
But as parody goes, the movie trailer is a slick indictment of downtown residents, business owners and visitors who feel that parking is an asset that should be provided for free more often than not. (Put a thumb in everyone's eye, why don't you?) Just remember to stay for the credits, which carry such hidden gems as "Costume Designer: Dan Bostrom."
And don't forget the tagline: "R.I.P Downtown St Paul, if these urbanists get their way..."
The post Wabasha St. bike route near death / "R.I.P Downtown St Paul, if these urbanists get their way!" appeared first on City Hall Scoop.