On April 29th a Star Tribune columnist complained about proposed bike lanes on 26th and 28th streets in Minneapolis. The very next day, 32 year-old Jason Ritenour was killed in a high-speed wreck on Blaisdell and 26th street.
I don’t expect the columnist to change his mind in light of the most recent carnage. I seem to recall him complaining about the Park Avenue and Portland Avenue bike lanes as well, but I doubt he or the residents want to go back to how those streets were: four lanes of chaotic 40 + mph traffic, essentially a freeway running through residential neighborhoods.
People will always complain when their free parking is taken away. Why give them a megaphone? I wonder how many lives have been saved and how many injuries and crashes averted thanks to the lower speeds on Portland and Park. Those gains are invisible. The loss of one’s free parking entitlement on the other hand is very tangible.
I won’t get upset. I have recognized that figures in the media benefit by dividing people into acrimonious opposing sides. When residents and the city get together on safety, which is something we all agree on, you get bike lanes and moderate speeds. And yes, some people might have to walk a half a block from their parking spot.
pseudoisaac 