Published: July 26, 2008 10:39 pm      

Biking along Broadway

City officials considering installing bike lanes downtown.

With the price of gas still hovering just below $4 per gallon, many people have started using alternative means of transportation, including bicycles.

So the City of Logansport is considering steps to help make traveling throughout town by bicycle a little easier.

Several city officials held a meeting recently to discuss installation of bike paths on Market Street and Broadway between Sixth and 24th streets. However, because of the many variables in the process, including how bike lanes might affect parking and vehicle traffic along those streets, Mayor Mike Fincher said he wants feedback from city residents before moving forward with such a project.

“The city is looking into it,” Fincher said of the option. “If everything holds true about what we’re hearing, gas prices could shoot up to $6, $7, $8 per gallon. If that comes to reality, people will have to get to work somehow. So we’re considering it.”

Brian Morrill brought the idea to Fincher several weeks ago following discussions with other members of the community interested in having bike lanes installed downtown for work, personal and recreational purposes. Such lanes would help cyclists get safely to various points throughout the city he said.

“How it came to me was that I was driving downtown on Broadway one evening and I saw a lot of people using the portion of the street that’s blocked off for walking, jogging and exercising,” said Morrill. “It occurred to me that maybe we don’t need three lanes there for traffic.”

Coincidentally, Fincher had also been considering the idea and facilitated a meeting with Morrill, Parks Administrator Jan Fawley, Street Commissioner Don Crain and other city officials to get some additional feedback on the idea.

Morrill, who said he rides his bike recreationally, gave several examples at the meeting of the trail systems utilized in other cities, including Chicago and Bloomington, Ill. He noted that many cities use both north-south and east-west routes. If the idea can be implemented in Logansport, Morrill said he would like to see a similar system here, possibly using Burlington Avenue as a north-south route.

“I think it’s timely from a standpoint of the $4 per gallon for gas and the childhood obesity rate,” Morrill said of the concept. “I think from a development standpoint, it makes our community look more progressive because we’re offering our residents a way to save money and we’re offering them an opportunity to get some exercise.”

If the city were to install bike paths, everyone at the meeting agreed that the likely place to start would on Broadway because of the road construction already underway there.

“This seems like the logical time,” said Morrill. “If we’re going to do it we should to do it before they open the road back up. Right now, people are used to getting by using one lane. I think motorists could use two lanes and have the third for a bike lane.”

Morrill and Fawley both noted that much of the major traffic along Broadway has been rerouted south of town because of the Hoosier Heartland Corridor, therefore reducing the need for three vehicle lanes along Broadway.

Fawley said she supports the idea not only as a way to help people cut down on their gasoline use but also as a way to encourage exercise. However, Fawley added the city would need to take steps during the process to ensure the safety of both motorists and cyclists.

“I like to ride my bike, but if you go down Broadway, you’re taking your life into your own hands,” said Fawley.

Though some cities use curbs to keep cyclists separate from motorists, Crain said the construction project on Broadway is too far along at this point to install such dividers. So distinctive road paint and other visuals would be the only option to delineate bike lanes from vehicle lanes.

Fawley said some cities paint the entire bike lane a solid color so drivers have no doubt what lanes are reserved only for cyclists.

Crain didn’t think that would be enough to keep cyclists safe.

Though the street commissioner said he isn’t opposed to the idea, he said he believes the city should be looking at adding the bike paths on streets other than the two busiest.

“I guess I’d rather see them on more of a secondary street,” said Crain. “When you look at the average daily traffic on Broadway and Market, you’re talking about thousands. I don’t really feel comfortable with bike traffic around that many vehicles.”

Realistically, Crain said such a process should have started several years ago to ensure that it was done properly. To add a bike lane on Broadway now would mean a loss in parking, a change in traffic flow and potentially a slowdown in the current construction project.

“There was some talk from people wondering if it was too late to incorporate it into the Broadway project,” said Crain. “I feel it is, but that’s not to say it isn’t going to happen. ... I am for bikes, I just don’t feel they should be on Broadway or Market.”

At this point, Crain said he hasn’t seen any plans for installation of bike lanes along Broadway or any other street in town. Morrill, who brought forth the idea, said there is no organized citizen effort underway to move the project along, and at this point, the ball is in the city’s court.

Fincher said before any decisions are made, there are still a number of questions to be answered like how to install them and what to do about parking. So for now, the idea remains solely in the talking stages.

“But I’d like to get some feedback from the community to see what they think,” said Fincher.

Carla Knapp can be contacted at (574) 732-5150 or via e-mail at carla.knapp@pharostribune.com