[BikeLongmont] Multi-Modal Transportation Plan: I WANT YOUR INPUT

[Richard Masoner]

The first meeting of the Longmont Multi-Modal Transportation Plan 
steering committee is this coming Monday. Craig Smith was selected to 
represent Bicycle Longmont in the steering committee. Craig is, 
unfortunately, out of town, so he asked me to fill in for him at the 
first meeting.

The purpose of the MMTP is identify specific transportation facility and 
service investments over the next 20 years.

I would like input from the group regarding what YOU want as far as 
bicycle transportation facilities go. Craig and I share the philosophy 
that bikes do just fine on the road, but I realize not everybody is 
comfortable riding on the road.

One thing I hear a *lot* is a desire for a system of interconnected 
paths. The path system in the Longmont Area Comprehensive Plan (LACP) 
shows what are essentially several isolated linear parks. There are 
several dashed green lines, but the lines don't connect with each other. 
These paths are not interconnected -- the only real way to get from the 
St. Vrain path to the McIntosh Lake path, for example, is by going on 
Hover Street, and the LACP does not show any future interconnection 
between the two except via an on-street bike lane on Airport Road.

My question: If the city actually spent $$$ on interconnecting the path 
system (taking the money away from other important projects), would the 
people who say they want interconnections actually use them? And would 
they use the interconnected paths transportationally? In other words, is 
another Boulder-style duplicate transportation grid something that 
Longmont residents are really willing to spend money on?

I frequently chat with people on the paths in town who are riding 
mal-adjusted Pacific Cycle bikes. Almost all of them drive to the 
trailhead and unload their bikes, in spite of the excellent on-street 
facilities (bike lanes) in this town. 44-foot roadways and 30 mph speed 
limits aren't good enough -- many people absolutely must have a 
completely segregated facility. I realize there are people on this list 
like this.  PLEASE let me know your thoughts, whether you're an 
occasional path rider on your Wal-Mart Mongoose, you're a wrong-way 
sidewalk cyclist, you're the experienced cross-country tourer, or you're 
a dedicated bike commuter.

Because there is no pedestrian voice on the steering committee, I'm also 
interested in any comments from that viewpoint.

I prefer email comments, but if you prefer you can call me at home at 
3O3 - 682 - 3206. I'll be home tonight after the Artwalk, and I should 
be home most of the day Saturday.

Richard Masoner

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