Will there be a bicycle and pedestrian bridge over I-40?

by: Phillip Barron - October 30th, 2007   Filed under: Uncategorized Add Comment

Construction dates for the American Tobacco Trail bridge over I-40 and the new pedestrian bridge over 147 are indexical: no matter when you ask, the answer is always “they should be completed in about 2 years.” As a member of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission for the past 4 years, “When will the ATT bridge be built?” is the single question we are asked by the public most often.

A few local bloggers got together near the end of summer to create a questionnaire for the candidates in this round of municipal elections. A great idea, our list really gathered together some tough questions — the answers to which would have given the public some insight into what the candidates have in mind for some of the more pressing (and consistent) problems in Durham. Too bad not a single candidate responded with answers. My question (one of two that I asked) continued…

Can we get a straight (i.e., non-indexical) answer on when 1) the American Tobacco Trail/I-40 bridge and 2) the new pedestrian bridge over 147 will be built? What will you do to ensure that these two important projects are completed on the current schedule?

The election hopefuls may not have bothered to answer, but the City of Durham is hosting a community meeting to discuss the planned pedestrian crossing of I-40 for the American Tobacco Trail near Fayetteville Road.

  • Date: Tuesday, November 13, 2007
  • Time: 7:00 PM
  • Place: Durham City Hall, 2nd Floor Committee Room

The contact for the meeting is Byron Brady, PE, CPESC, a Contract Engineer with the City
(919) 560-4326 ext. 296
byron.brady@durhamnc.gov

 

If you want to have any input on the kind of bridge that will connect the existing ATT with its future continuation at Southpoint, then you’ll want to be at this meeting.

No word, though, on the new pedestrian bridge over 147 which, last I heard, could have opened by now.

Thanks to Dan Clever for the heads up on this meeting.

 
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happy halloween

by: Phillip Barron - October 29th, 2007   Filed under: Uncategorized 1 Comment

bike jack-o-lantern

 
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innovate or die

by: Phillip Barron - October 25th, 2007   Filed under: Uncategorized 1 Comment

innovate or dieSince in my last column I criticized the folks at Google for being short-sighted in their thinking about how to improve transportation, I want to post an update. In “Hybrid car pitch a step backwards,” I implied that the software giant known for creative thinking is selling itself (and us) short by encouraging the development of new plug-in hybrid automobiles. Hybrids, in my opinion, will not only keep us dependent on gasoline longer (by stretching the fuel supply), but keep us dependent on an automobile-based transportation model whose dangerous side-effects (if you can call 40,000 deaths per year side-effects) are not being factored into the race to answer the challenges of climate change.

Fortunately, the hybrid-development contest is not all Google has up its sleeve. Innovate or Die, a contest sponsored by bicycle manufacturer Specialized and Google, is soliciting entries from inventors working on how to improve human-powered vehicles, or transit. The language of the contest organizers clearly suggests an understanding that transit will play a significant role in adapting traffic for a sustainable future.

Hopefully George Bliss or some equally creative unknown inventor will get involve, unveiling the next amazing thing in human-powered movement. Segways need not apply.

 
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ATT surface repair

by: Phillip Barron - October 22nd, 2007   Filed under: Uncategorized Add Comment

This morning, I passed a crew from Durham’s Department of General Services patching cracks on the Tobacco Trail. If you’ve noticed the widening cracks along the trail, then you know what they’re patching. Before the cold weather gets here, they will be filling in the cracks with an expandable tar substance that prevents rain water (yeah, right… like it’s going to rain anytime soon) from seeping into the cracks where it might freeze, expand, and worsen the condition the trail.

So, a big thank you to General Services for their work on the trail.

ATT patch

 
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Halloween Hundred and Hallowheels

by: Phillip Barron - October 22nd, 2007   Filed under: Uncategorized Add Comment

2007 Halloween Hundred

Halloween Hundred

  • Fri., Oct. 26 Full Moon Meander, 6:33 p.m.

16 mile group ride starts at moonrise! (head and tail lights required)

  • Sat., Oct. 27 Scenic Durham County Rides

100 miles, 8:30 a.m. / 62 miles, 9:30 a.m. / 31 miles, 10 a.m.

Family Fun Ride, 10:30 a.m. 6-12 miles on the American Tobacco Trail

All rides are fully supported and start and finish at the American Tobacco Historic District located at 318 Blackwell St. in downtown Durham.

For more info: http://www.durhamhabitat.org/about_us/news.php?ID=79

Hallowheels, an alleycat in Raleigh

hallowheels_final.pnghallowheels_back_final.png

 
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update your RSS feeds

by: Phillip Barron - October 19th, 2007   Filed under: Uncategorized 1 Comment

I finally completed enough of my migration to WordPress to take the site redesign public. While there are still a few kinks to work out, hopefully the new site organization resolves some of the problems with the old. Permalinks will be updated to redirect to their new locations at some point, but for now — if you’re an RSS reader, then go ahead and update your RSS feed. You can find the link to the new feeds in the top right corner.

 

winterizing the bike

by: Phillip Barron - October 18th, 2007   Filed under: Uncategorized 3 Comments

neon wire on snapdeckDown here in North Carolina, we don’t get much snow. Hell, this year we haven’t even gotten much rain. Gone are my college days of putting snow tires on the bike for the winter. For the most part, I keep the same tires, much of the same gear on the bike, and just throw on a few extra layers of clothing as we head into the cooler months.

But darkness here is the same as it is anywhere. As the days get shorter, I will be riding to and from work in the dark, so lighting up my ride is the biggest change I make in preparation for winter.

In years past, I have used a helmet-mounted headlight (a 15W spotlight to help me see where I’m going), a flashing white LED mounted on the handlebars (something to help drivers see me), and a red blinkie light clipped to the back of my helmet. Even though I’ve not had an accident (nor even a close call) at night, I am always thinking of ways to improve my visibility — by that I mean the ability of drivers to see me.

Last winter, I strapped a day glow orange construction vest to the back my bike. While ugly, it catches drivers’ attention both day and night, since it has reflective yellow stripes across it. But after seeing the Down Low Glow at a Cruiser Tuesday ride and thinking more about how doing something unique often calls the right sort of attention to you, I have been thinking about adding their neon to my pick-up truck. But the cost… $100 for one neon stick and battery; $130 for two? C’mon.

So, I went to the local Advance Auto parts yesterday and for $30 bought 5ft of neon wire, 4 bright blue LEDs, and a 6V battery. I took it all home, soldered the wires together, added a switch, and voila… a glowing snap deck.

neon wire on snapdeck2I ran out of liquid nails about halfway around the snap deck, so I’ve got electrical tape temporarily holding it in place. But I will clean that up soon. I’ll test ride it and let y’all know the reaction.

 
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THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS: Durham Parks and Rec plans trip for bikers

by: Phillip Barron - October 16th, 2007   Filed under: Uncategorized Add Comment

Durham Parks and Rec is organizing a road trip for cyclists. See details below.

Come spend a leisurely fall day riding the Virginia Creeper Trail with Durham Parks and Rec Adventure Programs staff. Appropriate for participants ages 10 and up (minors must be accompanied by parent/guardian) this wide, smooth reclaimed rail bed trail offers a scenic tour of Southwest Virginia. After the ride, we’ll take our well-earned appetites to one of the affordable, eclectic restaurants in town and get some rest that night, cross-country cyclist style, in an adventure traveler’s hostel. The next morning we’ll cook a hearty breakfast and spend some time exploring one of the many legendary trails that are in walking distance from our hostel. This is a great opportunity to see Blue Ridge fall colors and stay in “Trail City, USA”.

Program Dates: Saturday-Sunday, October 27-28 (depart on Saturday at 8 a.m. and return on Sunday afternoon). Cost: $130.00 and includes the bike rental, tour, lodging and all meals except Saturday dinner.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

  • Ride the Virginia Creeper Bike Trail
  • Stay in an adventure traveler’s hostel
  • See the fall colors in a unique way
  • No prior mountain biking experience is necessary!

Email: jordan.doctor@durhamnc.gov for information about signing up.

About Durham Parks and Recreation

Durham Parks and Recreation provides opportunities for the Durham community to “Play More.” The department strives to help citizens discover, explore and enjoy life through creative and challenging recreational choices that contribute to their physical, emotional and social health. To learn more about Parks and Recreation, visit http://www.durhamnc.gov/departments/parks.

 
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opportunity for public comments

by: Phillip Barron - October 15th, 2007   Filed under: Uncategorized Add Comment

Send Ellen your comments — read below

The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) programs the state and federal transportation projects in our region and is developing a Regional Priority List for the FY 2009-2015 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP is a seven-year funding document for bicycle, pedestrian, highway, rail, and public transportation projects. Every two years, the DCHC MPO approves its Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP), and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) produces the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The Regional Priority List provides guidance to the State and the MPO on the MTIP and STIP.

On September 12, 2007, the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) released for public comment the draft Regional Priority List. The draft Regional Priority List is available on the DCHC MPO website at this link. It is also available at the public libraries and planning departments in Durham County, Orange County (including Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough), and Chatham County.

Public comments on the proposed list should be sent to ellen DOT beckmann AT durhamnc DOT gov by October 10 24th, 2007. The MPO is particularly interested in receiving comments on the relative ranking of the projects – not the application of the ranking methodology.

There will also be a public hearing on the draft Regional Priority List at the TAC meeting on October 10, 2007. This meeting will be held at 7pm in the Committee Room on the second floor of Durham City Hall (101 City Hall Plaza). The final Regional Priority List is expected to be approved by the TAC on November 14, 2007.

Thank you,

Ellen Beckmann
Transportation Planner
City of Durham / DCHC MPO

919-560-4366
ellen DOT beckmann AT durhamnc DOT gov

 
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everyday cyclist

by: Phillip Barron - October 12th, 2007   Filed under: Uncategorized Add Comment

bike lane sm.jpg

 
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