Bike lane coasting along when all of a sudden ...

Garrison Hilliard

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Apr 18, 2014, 8:18:48 AM4/18/14

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Sometimes a bike lane is more than just a bike lane. The Central
Parkway Bikeway Project is one of those.

First of all, this is not a simple white stripe running along the
side
of the road to provide breathing room for people wearing tight
black
shorts. No, this is what is called a protected bike lane, or cycle
track. It would set aside a full lane on each side of Central
Parkway,
with barriers protecting riders from traffic.

The Central Parkway Bikeway Project is also significant because it
would connect a string of neighborhoods: Downtown, Over-the-Rhine,
West
End, University Heights, Clifton and Northside.

"This is a game-changer for our community," said Mel McVay, senior
city
planner with the Department of Transportation & Engineering.

But this bike path, 5 miles in each direction, includes politics
and
federal money and engineers and businesses and people who love to
ride
bikes. So even though this was a plan that looked like a sure
thing,
everything could change. Or stop.

Mayor John Cranley has questions, the "new" council has concerns
and
some businesses along the route have worries about parking.

A public hearing will take place Monday at City Hall, which could
change everything.

Let the hand-wringing commence.

First, some history. The City Council approved the plan,
unanimously,
last year. Bids for the job have come in and the work could begin
within months. The project itself is relatively cheap; the total
cost
would be $600,000, with $500,000 coming from the federal
government.

The mayor's office is clear, or clear-ish, that the Central Parkway
Bikeway Project is still happening. Or at least that it has not
been
stopped.

"No, it's approved by council. The only way it won't happen is if a
majority of council decides to do something else," said Kevin
Osborne,
the mayor's spokesman. "We're just trying to balance the interests
of
the business owners and the cycling community to get a win-win for
everyone."

And some businesses along Central Parkway say eliminating two
lanes,
one in each direction, will slow traffic and put a limitation on
parking, north of Liberty Street, that could hurt some businesses.

Central Parkway is an important street, but one without much of an
identity between Downtown and Clifton. There are old buildings,
mostly
nondescript. There are automotive shops, little restaurants, small
churches and breweries that smell like hops.

The street has seen hard times. But that's why Tim Haines is
fighting
so hard to keep the bike lanes from happening. Haines has a story
of
hard work and perseverance and success, and he wants it to
continue.

He bought a "blighted" building on Central Parkway, the Mohawk
Brighton
Building, and fixed it up. "It is vital now, it generates taxes,"
Haines said. "There are 12 business tenants and 60 employees. My
building will be adversely affected."

Haines says he is not anti-bike. He repeats again and again that he
owns two bicycles. But he says the elimination of two lanes will
make a
mess of traffic and parking will become a problem.

Another business owner, who did not want to go on record for fear
of
offending the pro-bike-lane side, said he was very worried about
parking restrictions. There would be restrictions, much like those
that
exist Downtown, that would not allow parking on the inbound side of
Central Parkway in the morning and outbound for the evening
commute.

City planner McVay said there should not be worries about traffic.
Central Parkway's route has a variety of widths, from 50 feet to
120
feet. With bike lanes, some of the traffic will be two lanes in
each
direction, and some will be one lane in each direction.

The total traffic on the street, typically 14,000 to 18,000 cars
per
day depending on the location, "can be easily accommodated by one
or
two lanes" said McVay.

The mayor has asked the city manager to not award the contract to
build
the lanes until he has more time to hear from citizens and get
answers
to his questions. But, Osborne says, this does not necessarily mean
he
wants to stop the project. "The mayor's request is just that, a
request. The mayor and several council members had some questions
about
the project," Osborne said.

But the clock is ticking.

The $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's
Transportation Alternatives Program has a sunset provision. If the
contract for the job is not awarded by May 2, the money goes away.

In fairness, the plan was discussed, a process that began more than
a
year ago. When it announced the Central Parkway Bikeway Project,
the
city's Bike Transportation Program mentioned those meetings: "After
meeting with the Over-the-Rhine, West End, CUF and Clifton
community
councils throughout the spring and summer of 2013 and receiving
feedback from hundreds of residents, community consensus was
reached on
a new street design which includes a bike way called a protected
bike
lane."

Nern Ostendorf, executive director of Queen City Bike, a bike
advocacy
organization, says this plan has been talked about and talked
about.
"This process has been going on for at least a couple of years,"
Ostendorf said. "It got the most feedback and the most support of
any
project we have ever worked on."

It is not an accident that these bike lanes would connect
Northside,
Clifton, Over-the-Rhine and Downtown. "There are so many bicyclists
in
those (areas) already," McVay said. "This would connect businesses
and
people and neighborhoods."

But there are more people who drive. And Councilman David Mann
thinks
they do not know about the changes to a road that he drives every
day,
from his home in Clifton to Downtown.

"A lot of people who are going to be impacted by it, they have no
idea," Mann said. He said he wants more information about the bike
lane. He also said this council should not be beholden to every
decision made by the previous City Council, which he called "the
lame
duck council."

Mann says he is not committed for or against the bike lanes. These
lanes do exist in Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C., and other
places. McVay says research shows a protected bike lane doubles
usage
compared to a regular bike lane on the same route.

Ostendorf says that is the point. The lanes feel removed from
traffic,
which can attract people who are otherwise nervous about riding
among
vehicles. "It's a bike lane for regular people," Ostendorf said.
"It
feels safe and comfortable enough for everyday riders. People who
might
not ride otherwise."

Monday at City Hall, people who ride and people who do not will
have a
chance to keep talking about it. fS

Public hearing

The Neighborhoods Committee has scheduled a public hearing for 2
p.m.
Monday in Council Chambers, 801 Plum St. The Central Parkway
Bikeway
Project will be part of the conversation.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/04/17/bike-lane-reassessed/7853535/

--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ne...@netfront.net ---

DATAKOLL MARINE RESEARCH

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Apr 18, 2014, 9:17:15 AM4/18/14

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too short...waste of $$$...narrow minded...provincial....connecting nabs allows liberals ride thru your housing area.

DATAKOLL MARINE RESEARCH

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Apr 18, 2014, 9:20:27 AM4/18/14

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On Friday, April 18, 2014 9:17:15 AM UTC-4, DATAKOLL MARINE RESEARCH wrote:
> too short...waste of $$$...narrow minded...provincial....connecting nabs allows liberals ride thru your housing area.

......

time its done that 200k/mile

http://goo.gl/i2WXEf

DATAKOLL MARINE RESEARCH

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Apr 18, 2014, 9:27:14 AM4/18/14

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vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

http://kdvr.com/2014/03/20/cdot-colorado-bicycle-and-byways-map/

Garrison Hilliard

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Apr 21, 2014, 11:05:35 AM4/21/14

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CINCINNATI - A scheduled meeting Monday for City Council’s
neighborhoods committee could go a long way toward determining the
future of the longstanding Central Parkway bikeway project.

Several local bicyclist groups plan to attend the 2 p.m. meeting at
City Hall to voice their support for the project after it was called
into question last week when Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley put a hold
on awarding a construction contract.

The contract is needed to continue with the second stage of the
project, planned to begin in spring 2014.

"We are taking our role as the public voice of Cincinnati's bicycling
interests in this process very earnestly and we are doing everything
we can to ensure that this very widely supported community project
will be carried out as planned," according to Nern Ostendorf,
executive director of the nonprofit group Queen City Bike.

Cranley's spokesperson, Kevin Osborne, said Wednesday that the mayor
simply made a "request" to hold off on signing the deal after several
parties voiced concerns over the project and sought additional
information.

"The mayor and several council members were contacted by businesses
and commuters concerned about the project," he said. "They had some
questions about it, and they asked the city manager and transportation
director to hold off until they got some answers.”

On Nov. 12, 2013, Cincinnati City Council authorized the city manager
to accept a $500,000 grant from the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana (OKI)
Regional Council of Governments’ transportation alternatives program.
The city had applied for the grant the previous March. The grant
requires a 20 percent local match ($125,000) in funding.

Based on community input, the Cincinnati Department of Transportation
and Engineering (DOTE) developed a new street design for Central
Parkway between Elm Street in Over-the-Rhine and Ludlow Avenue in
Clifton.

The plan to install protected bike lane (or cycle track) on Central
Parkway between Elm Street in Over-the-Rhine and Ludlow Avenue in
Clifton is widely supported by bicyclists, many of whom are concerned
with their safety and that of other riders.

Bikeway projects supporters like Ostendorf contend the project is
necessary for both the well-being of the riders and the community.

"A protected bike lane will improve and serve the communities it
connects with safe and comfortable bicycle routes, a calmer and less
dangerous roadway, improve local business, and relieve parking and
traffic downtown," said Ostendorf who plans to attend Monday's
meeting.

Under the proposed design, crews won't widen the street but instead
re-stripe it to include a bikeway. This bikeway will connect to the
existing bike lanes on Ludlow Avenue, and to a new shared-use path for
pedestrians and bicyclists on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

The new street design will include some peak-hour parking
restrictions.

Project leaders divided road work into two phases: DOTE is currently
working on Phase 1, which stretches from Elm Street to Marshall
Avenue. As the project moves along, DOTE is coordinating with
community councils with the intentions of beginning new construction.

While his office did not provide specific concerns or complaining
parties, the mayor's office said through Osborne that it's open to a
"compromise" on the deal.

"We’re just trying to balance the interests of the business owners and

the cycling community. We’d like to get a compromise that everyone can
live with,” Osborne said.

Ostendorf said Wednesday that she doesn't understand the objections to
the project because it has been designed to take the best interests of
both bicyclists and motorists into account.

"It has been designed to minimally impact traffic flow, to retain a
majority of on street parking, and to open up the street as a bikeway
for users of all ages and abilities," she said.

Despite the fears of the pro-bike contingent, Osborne said even though
Cranley was able to put a freeze on the project, he can't permanently
stop it.

"The bike project is approved by council. The only way it won’t happen
is if a majority of council decides to do something differently," he
told WCPO.

Six members of the previous council that unanimously approved the
bikeway effort are on the current council.

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/city-council-committee-to-discuss-central-parkway-bikeway-project-on-monday

DATAKOLL MARINE RESEARCH

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Apr 21, 2014, 2:17:15 PM4/21/14

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6 council members' bro-in-law owns a paving company

DATAKOLL MARINE RESEARCH

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Apr 21, 2014, 2:18:17 PM4/21/14

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On Monday, April 21, 2014 2:17:15 PM UTC-4, DATAKOLL MARINE RESEARCH wrote:

6 council members' bro-in-law owns a paving company

you know the old saying ?

never turn your back on the asphalt plant

AMuzi

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Apr 21, 2014, 5:25:12 PM4/21/14

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On 4/21/2014 1:17 PM, DATAKOLL MARINE RESEARCH wrote:
> 6 council members' bro-in-law owns a paving company
>

That is no different in one city than any other.

--
Andrew Muzi
<www.yellowjersey.org/>
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

DATAKOLL MARINE RESEARCH

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Apr 21, 2014, 6:23:34 PM4/21/14

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" That is no different in one city than any other." butnot Chicago, NY, SF LA or Dallas/Huston/uh Fort Worth...

one could...Frank ? Frank is in Ohio rght and Cinn is same ? Cinncinnati is in Ohio right ?

yeah, we may search "bicycle Metropolis" then look down the sheet to see where the bike trans program is..

Cinns rates up

https://www.google.com/#q=bicycle+cincinnati+ohio

or maybe more people are searching there to find out what the expletive deleted is going on with the great asphalt ripoff.

Garrison Hilliard

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Apr 22, 2014, 10:51:42 AM4/22/14

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On Mon, 21 Apr 2014 11:05:35 -0400, Garrison Hilliard

The Central Parkway Bikeway Project remains in limbo. There could be
a
compromise, the plan could evaporate, or it might proceed as
planned.
But somehow along the way, this fairly simple $600,000 plan of
white
paint and plastic barriers has become something much larger.

At a City Council hearing on Monday, more than 200 people waited
and
listened as citizens spoke with passion about the direction of
their
Cincinnati. They asked if this is going to be a city that looks
forward
or backward. Will it be a place that respects business interests,
or a
place that wants to build bike paths?

At the end of the hearing, the answer to all those questions was
quite
clear: Who knows?

The project, as it exists today, would consist of two lanes, one in
each direction, of protected traffic along the side of Central
Parkway.
The path would connect a strong network of neighborhoods from
Downtown,
through OTR and the West End, winding its way through University
Heights, Clifton and Northside.

Community outreach to talk about the bike path began in March of
2013.
There were public hearings and community sessions and letters sent.
The
City Council approved the project last November.

The bikeway project came with $500,000 from the federal government,
covering nearly all the costs, but there was a catch. A contract
had to
be signed with the builder by May 1 of this year.

Things got tricky earlier this month when Mayor John Cranley
started
hearing questions from the business community about the bike path
and
what it would mean to them.

That's when tribes started forming.

First, there are the bike people. They love this idea for obvious
reasons. These lanes, set aside and protected, would make riding
north
and south through the city a joy.

Then there are some business people. Actually, they love the idea,
too.
On Monday they all seemed to go out of their way talking about how
much
they love to ride and how many bikes they owned. They are
reasonable,
they just do not want this path in front of their businesses. They
do
not want it slowing traffic or eliminating parking spots.

Another group consisted of City Council Members Chris Seelbach,
Yvette
Simpson and Wendell Young. They said over and again that the plan
has
been approved. That the people had their chance to talk last year,
and
in fact did. Let's keep moving forward, they said.

The last tribe was Vice Mayor David Mann. He said the plan could
and
should be modified to help businesses be successful. Council Member
Kevin Flynn might be in this tribe, too. But he might not. It is
hard
to know, he said almost nothing.

And a modified plan was presented at the hearing on Monday by the
Department of Transportation & Engineering the Director of
Transportation and Engineering, Michael Moore. He tried to not join
a
tribe.

Moore's modified plan would save some parking spots in front of
businesses. The "compromise" agreement on the inbound side of the
road,
would build a ramp onto a stretch that is currently a tree-lined
area.
That stretch, near Brighton Place, would be five parking spaces
long,
18 parking spaces long, or 30 spaces long.

The new costs, which the city would need to pick up, ranged from
$40,000 to $150,000. It would also mean cutting between 4-15 trees
-
some young, some mature.

Seelbach asked hard questions. You had a plan he said. You spent a
year
building the plan. You said it was your best proposal. Why change
it
now? Moore said this was the middle ground.

How people felt about the new proposal depended on which tribe they
were in. The bike riders said keep the existing plan, do not cut
down
trees. The business people seemed to think the new plan was a good
idea
for parking, but it did nothing for traffic. Seelbach, Simpson and
Young said: We have a good plan. Where is this money going to come
from? Mann said it seemed reasonable. Flynn did not seem to have an
opinion, at least not one he would voice.

During the hearing, when people said their words and talked about
why
it mattered, everybody was respectful and considerate. There was
some
head-shaking and maybe a little eye-rolling, but really the feeling
was
of people caring.

Mike Nichols, who owns a antique store on Central Parkway, was
worried
about the safety of cyclists as he loads and unloads his trucks.

John Donaldson said the Council must put the needs of business
first
and last.

Ryan Messer said everybody had their chance to talk last year.
Cincinnati must move forward.

Chris Wiedman asked why people were still talking about this issue.
It
had been resolved.

The real passion was when people were talking about their city.
Some
wanted to move forward with the original bike plan. Some wanted to
help
business first.

One of the most compelling points came from one of the few people
present who does not ride a bike and does not own a business on
Central
Parkway.

John Schneider has been through this with the City Council. He was
and
remains one of the most vocal light rail proponents and he thinks
the
bike path is a good idea. But his real passion seemed to be the
city
itself and the decisions it is making and the conversations it is
having.

"I'm not a cyclist or a property owner. So I have no dog in this
fight," Schneider said. "This process of rediscovery and
reconfiguration is ongoing, and it's exciting. And it's going to be
effective."

There are now three things that could happen. If the council does
nothing, the original plan goes into action. Or, five council
members
could bring it back for a vote and vote it down. Or five could
decide
to modify it.

On Monday, they all seemed equally likely because at the end,
nothing
happened. Except people listened, which is something.
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/04/21/bikes-business-politics-sometimes-collide/7987255/

Frank Krygowski

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Apr 22, 2014, 3:34:46 PM4/22/14

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I don't know much about Cincinnati. Hell, I can barely spell it. I did
bike there once or twice while on a business trip, but I rarely even
pass through.

But based on
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/04/21/bikes-business-politics-sometimes-collide/7987255/
they need Dan to explain things to them. He'll let them know that the
answers are obvious, no matter what they happen to think.

--
- Frank Krygowski

Dan O

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Apr 23, 2014, 2:12:54 AM4/23/14

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On Tuesday, April 22, 2014 12:34:46 PM UTC-7, Frank Krygowski wrote:
> On 4/21/2014 6:23 PM, DATAKOLL MARINE RESEARCH wrote:

<snip>

> > one could...Frank ? Frank is in Ohio rght and Cinn is same ? Cinncinnati is in Ohio right ?
>

<snip>

> I don't know much about Cincinnati. Hell, I can barely spell it. I did
> bike there once or twice while on a business trip, but I rarely even
> pass through.
>
> But based on
>
> http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/04/21/bikes-business-politics-sometimes-collide/7987255/
>
> they need Dan to explain things to them. He'll let them know that the
> answers are obvious, no matter what they happen to think.

Well, I took a look at:

http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/bikes/news/central-parkway-bikeway/

... I took a look at the Central Parkway between Ludlow and Elm
as it stands on Google Earth, and I read that article you linked
to above about the meeting they had there.

Only one word comes to mind:

Incroyable!

Dan O

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Apr 23, 2014, 12:03:55 PM4/23/14

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> > http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/04/21/bikes-business-politics-sometimes-collide/7987255/

> http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/bikes/news/central-parkway-bikeway/

Reading several stories on this, I ~loosely surmise:

The Mayor is Mayor because he has fat cat PTB friends. He
knew all along they wouldn't like this progressive licable
spaces shakeup to the car culture status quo, but the
Council made the obvious (I'd say, "no brainer", but Frank
would be all over that like flies on shit) choice.

The Mayor bided his time, probably worked to stack the
council with sympathetic cohorts, told his fat cats to
muster opposition, and then - when time was *short* to
fight off an attack, fired the torpedoes.

I still think the project will probably go ahead - probably
as originally approved (without the "alternative"
compromise that is more intended to sabotage the project as
less attractive than it is to broaden appeal). If it doesn't,
this will go down as an epic fiasco.

DATAKOLL MARINE RESEARCH

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Apr 23, 2014, 6:37:51 PM4/23/14

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a democratic move....PYA !

if the public wants a bikeway then the pub gonna come forward

Dan O

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Apr 23, 2014, 10:38:07 PM4/23/14

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On Wednesday, April 23, 2014 3:37:51 PM UTC-7, x wrote:
> a democratic move....PYA !
>
>
>
> if the public wants a bikeway then the pub gonna come forward

The State gets things done that need to be done, but that would
never receive the active support of but a small minority of
citizens. Democracy trumps, but not in real time.

(I read about an interesting bit of research about deer deciding
when to head for the waterhole. It's not when the leader gets
thirsty. It's when *exactly* one more than 50% of them look
toward the watering hole. Interesting, but they'll never get
any bike routes built.)

A large portion of the public are easily herded to the status
quo by a little propaganda. Change is scary. Especially when
it is endorsed by a bunch of weirdos who actually believe people
can get anywhere by bicycle.

Does the public want livable spaces? Or just motorways. (Or
free on-street parking.)

By the time the public comes around to shout about being
screwed (again) by fat cat car culture PTB, the deadline will
be past and the $ off the table. Politicians not all as
stupid as they appear.

I think in this case, though, it's a pretty desperate hail
mary attempt to torpedo the project, and hopefully they'll
get a nice taste of a better way of living there in Cinci.

Dan O

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Apr 24, 2014, 7:57:52 PM4/24/14

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Too much! Found this interview offering much insight to what makes
Cincinnati Mayor Cranley tick.

Now, I swear I had not read this before posting earlier in this
thread, but incroyably, he closes with the _very expression_ "damn
the torpedoes", to describe the development process of the project.

Now he's going to give them torpedoes.

http://www.urbanophile.com/interviews/cincinnati-mayor-john-cranley/

Now I begin to think the project supporters might cave, out of fear
of losing the whole thing, the route will lose 15 trees, the city
will pay a hundred grand to pave over the stumps, the route will
be diverted off course and skirt more parked cars, and Mayor Cranley
will call it a win-win. The compromise just seemed too ludicrous to
think the supporters would accept it, but now that I've been inside
Cranley's head a bit, I believe he will do whatever it takes to
secure his precious on-street parking for Mr. Haines. Seems to be
a very experienced hardball playing blowhard.

(I get a kick out of the way he dodges the question for two hot
air paragraphs, how he thinks bike share is the number one priority
for the bicycle community, and how a big part of what he's doing
seems to be anything that will undo what his predecessors did.)

DATAKOLL MARINE RESEARCH

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Apr 24, 2014, 11:57:06 PM4/24/14

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Cicinnatti isnot Portland. What you experience abt bike culture in Portland is not what's happening in C...that would be 'like' comparing Portland to The Dalles !

Bicycles may be sport in C but generally bikes are used fir lower class transportation that is people who are genetically disabled for functioning within the acceptable economic/social system...they're undesirable in the acceptable nayborhoods.

Dan O

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Apr 25, 2014, 3:47:08 AM4/25/14

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On Thursday, April 24, 2014 8:57:06 PM UTC-7, x wrote:
> Cicinnatti isnot Portland. What you experience abt bike culture in Portland is not what's happening in C...that would be 'like' comparing Portland to The Dalles !
>

I understand. I'm not of Portland, myself. I just really dig it
and am near enough to experience the vibe now and then.

> Bicycles may be sport in C but generally bikes are used fir lower class transportation that is people who are genetically disabled for functioning within the acceptable economic/social system...they're undesirable in the acceptable nayborhoods.
>

I have been indulging in some heavy assumptive pigeonholing
here, but the guy fits the profile (hardball fat cat).
Just look what he's doing to this golden opportunity -
out of spite for his political enemies and glad-handing
his fat cat friends.

On-street parking is pandering to the car culture. He thinks
it's supporting business, but the business consciousness there
cannot fathom life beyond the car culture.

His criticism of the project takes a page from Frank's play-
book - the "It's innovative! So we'll ignore the fact that
it's the wrong way to go and do it anyway." But they come
to it from opposite perspectives: Cranley doesn't want bikes
anywhere near cars.

So they'll get a facility with some compromises that make it
worse than it could have been, giving the anti-facility crowd
"problems" to criticize as inherent in the facilities approach.

The original deal was an excellent design and opportunity to
promote bicycle transportation using a road that was nowhere
near capacity but traveled by people like this guy:

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2014/04/commentary-agree-to-central-parkway-bikeway.html

... who calls the PArkway "... one of the few roads in the city
where you can gun it at 45 to 50 mph, well above the 35 mph speed
limit."

... in a city with a Mayor who says, "On street parking slows down
traffic because when you're driving, you're worried you're going to
hit the car's windshield or mirrors."

No *&^%ing way you're ever going to get people to commute by bike
using that road like they were just another vehicle. But the
cycle track facility would be a game changer... and it would
have been practically *free* repurposing of wasted pavement.

Frank whines about lack of political will to do what's necessary;
but then he dismisses Portland as "weird". The change is slow
(so slow), but it's coming.

Meanwhile, excuse me while I rock and roll rush hour any way I
can.

DATAKOLL MARINE RESEARCH

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Apr 25, 2014, 12:45:50 PM4/25/14

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who votes in Cinncin ? beggars on bicycles ?

Oh look Reba...there's oneadem bicycle beggars on ur lawn near the Bimmer...

Dan O

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Apr 26, 2014, 2:48:20 PM4/26/14

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OMFG, the drama mounts:

"There was little movement on the bikeway issue on Friday.
A special session of City Council to read an ordinance that
would kill the plan was called off because of a lack of quorum."

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2014/04/cranley-want-to-bike-on-central-parkway-use-the.html

"Cranley: Want to bike on Central Parkway? Use the sidewalk"

Separately:

"Cincinnati's top transportation official said the city can
implement changes he proposed to the Central Parkway bikeway
without a City Council vote."

"If the alternative is not implemented, Mann said he wants
the bikeway killed."

That doesn't compute logically. If they can implement the
changes they want, why would killing the project even come
up? Ah... "Mann welcomed Moore's statement but still
preferred a majority of council to be on record in favor
of the alternative." Hardball politics, dodging account-
ability for the changes - most probably the hundred grand.

Looking more certain that supporters of the original plan
will cave.

Dan O

unread,

Apr 26, 2014, 6:48:42 PM4/26/14

to

On Thursday, April 24, 2014 4:57:52 PM UTC-7, Dan O wrote:

<snip>

> I believe [Mayor Cranley] will do whatever it takes to

> secure his precious on-street parking for Mr. Haines.

"Mayor Cranley requested City Manager Scott Stiles delay awarding a contract after meeting with local business owner Tim Haines, who purchased a vacant building located at 2145 Central Parkway in 2012 for $230,000."

"His building now houses 65 employees from 12 different businesses including his own, Relocation Strategies. Haines has become a mouthpiece for the opposition to the bikeway -- though he adamantly states he is not against the lane; he is just against the project's current incarnation as it affects Central Parkway near his business, which utilizes 500 feet of on-street, unmetered parking, which translates to 30 parking spaces."

""If parking wasn't an issue, I would open up my arms and welcome the bike path," Haines says. "Parking for my 65 tenants is in jeopardy. As a business owner I have to fight for my tenants. ... Could they park and walk a quarter of a mile? They could, but that's not what they signed up for when they moved in.""

"Haines has a 16-space parking lot adjacent to his building that some of his tenants use and also owns a parking lot across the street that is in disrepair. Haines says he already cleared it of underbrush to cut down criminal activity and disposed of dozens of tires and beer bottles. He says it would cost up to $300,000 to upgrade the lot."