The good and bad of St. Louis’ first Open Streets event

This past Saturday I participated in the first of four planned “Open Streets” events in St. Louis.  I went from my loft at 16th & Locust to Forest Park.  Most doing the route were on bikes.  Some were jogging while others were walking, some pushing strollers.  I did the 10-mile round trip in my power wheelchair.

I had a good time, took 140 pictures and saw many people I know but I have mixed feelings about the event.

The Good:

• Hundreds, if not more, participated in the event.
• People got out and biked in the city, exploring areas they might not have seen otherwise.
• People were active and physical.
• I met and talked to strangers.

The Bad:

• Reinforces the false notion that you can’t bike safely on urban streets with cars.
• The city is off the hook for the poor condition of the sidewalks and a lack of accessibility.
• Much of the route has very little traffic most weekends anyway.
• Cars got through in too many places so it wasn’t truly car-free.
• At Sarah & Lindell the traffic signal remained on it despite the fact cars had only one option. The signal should have been placed on a all red flash.
• In the past such events led to the creation of pedestrian malls where cars are banned 24/7 and people usually stayed away as well.

The remaining three will be:

• June 13, 2010
• September 19, 2010
• October 9, 2010

For more information see http://stlouis.missouri.org/open-streets/

– Steve Patterson

Locust, Lindell, other streets go car-free Saturday May 1st

Saturday May 1, 2010 from 8am to 1pm several streets in our city will be car-free:

This first of four events opens five miles along Locust and Lindell for you to enjoy. That’s right, car-free City streets!

Open Streets is a FREE community event. You’re invited to take to the streets to walk, bike, visit other neighborhoods, rediscover the City and experience the Great Rivers Greenway’s Bike St. Louis routes.

Three activity hubs located along the length of the route host a variety of fun activities – aerobics, zumba, hula-hooping, yoga, walking tours and safety and health demonstrations.

Open Streets promises to be interesting. I’ll participate –seems silly not to given that I live on the route:

My concern is events like this will lead to calls for the creation of new car-free pedestrian malls.

– Steve Patterson

Poll results on new Mississippi River bridge

The following are the results of the 200 votes in the weekly poll last week:

Q: The ground breaking for the new Mississippi River Bridge is this week. Which of the following best describes your thoughts on the $640 million dollar project?

1. This makes removing the highway from the PSB to Cass possible 102 [48.57%]
2. Another bridge is good for the region 35 [16.67%]
3. Seriously, the Ronald Wilson Reagan Memorial Bridge? 28 [13.33%]
4. It should be a toll bridge 14 [6.67%]
5. More highway bridges encourages more driving 11 [5.24%]
6. Wow! How much? 10 [4.76%]
7. Other answer… 10 [4.76%]

The largest group obviously likes the City to River concept of removing a 1+ mile stretch of highway after the bridge opens.

The ten other answers were:

1. Why is it only 4 lanes?
2. Need new bridge or 100 more miles of Metro track and a tram system to feed it
3. this bridge isn’t needed
4. cant we spend on public transit options in stl
5. Investing in infrastructure in the urban core is a good thing.
6. disappointing design
7. I’d prefer it had a more locally significant title
8. good for development but they could’ve done things differently, expand mayb
9. environmental and social impacts, including generating more driving
10. If it includes bike lanes I’m happy. If not, I’m mad.

This bridge is an interstate bridge so no bikes or pedestrians.  Other bridges such as the Eads can be used to cross the river on foot or bike. It is four lanes because of the budget.

– Steve Patterson

Even a simple bike rack confuses some

This bike should be parallel to the curb, not perpendicular.

– Steve Patterson

Gravois is better with fewer lanes

Crews have been busy replacing the surface concrete on bridges on 12th and Gravois.  In doing so they’ve reduced the number of lanes to what they should be all the time. Gravois feels less like a highway with fewer lanes.

– Steve Patterson