Review and Offer Input of the Bike Lanes Proposed for Duluth’s Bikeway System at a Public Meeting November 13

You don't have to be a bicyclist to be interested or give input in the on-road bike lanes being proposed for city-wide implementation.  If you're an interested community member you also have the opportunity attend a meeting to review the information gathered this summer and hear the plan of the proposed bike lanes.The meeting is Wednesday, November 13, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Clyde Iron, 2920 West Michigan Street in Duluth.

The proposed system will include protected bike lanes and revisions to signed bike routes which would be developed to support bicycling as a transportation option.  Going green!  This would make a great alternative to driving a car for short trips like running errands.  They are hoping to create dedicated bicycle lanes to popular destinations that make the rider feel safe and comfortable.

Duluth has an active bicycling community and was recently recognized as a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community by the American League of Cyclists.

Duluth continues to implement its Complete Streets initiative, recognizing the importance of designing a transportation system that provides safe access and travel for all users including pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.  Developing a long-term plan has been a work in progress for several years, since Duluth/Superior released its first bike route plan in 1994.  Besides gathering public input, time has been spent mapping routes.

“The city continues to work towards becoming more bike-friendly, but first we need to identify and plan

for where the improvements make the most sense,” said City Engineer Cindy Voigt. “The best routes

are not necessarily going to be the shortest distance between two points. In addition to the slopes or

steepness of the hills, we needed to factor in information about where people are riding now, and where

they’d like to ride if lanes were made available.”

The final results of this process are displayed in a map of the proposed bikeways system and will be the centerpiece of  discussion at tomorrow’s meeting. Participants will  have the opportunity to ask questions about the routes and their proposed implementation. The map and more info can be viewed online  [here]  and printed copies have been distributed to area bike shops for review and comment.

Public comment is being sought before the proposed bikeways map is presented to the Duluth City Council on December 5, 2013.

Anyone with questions should contact James Gittemeier at jgittemeier@ardc.org or (218) 529-7556 or Cindy Voigt at (218) 730-5071 or cvoigt@duluthmn.gov.