70TH/Cornelia Area Study

Here is a graphic indicating responses to a recent survey which demonstrates overall support for bike lanes on the street. This will promote active living, safety, encourage cycling, contribute to traffic calming, and it serves an important route for the Safe Routes to Schools. Bikeway improvements on West 70th Street align to the approved City of Edina Comprehensive Bicycle Transportation Plan.

For full information, visit the City's 70th Street site.

Questions on Commuter Bill?

Good info for Edina (and nation-wide) commuters. View the League's Bicycle Commuter Tax Provision: Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

Bicycle Commuter Act Passes House & Senate

This just in, from LAB: "Last week the U.S. Senate, amended H.R. 6049, the Energy and Tax Extenders Act of 2008, by passing several amendments which provide for clean energy incentives and extend expiring tax cuts. One of the amendments, which won Senate passage by an overwhelming vote of 93-2, was the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, which contains the bicycle commuter tax benefit provision we have been seeking for years. As last week’s Senate vote replaced the text of H.R. 6049, energy tax legislation approved in the House of Representatives earlier this year, we are currently waiting to hear if the House of Representatives will agree to take up the Senate’s amended legislation. Read the Senate Finance Committee release and summary here."

Photo by Kirk Johnson

Bike Plan Approved

This just in from one of our BETF members that attended the Transportation Commission work session this morning: "We were able to get the Bike Plan in full into the Comp Plan. It will be adopted by reference and included as an addendum or attachment." The full plan is linked at the bottom right of www.BikeEdina.org.

West 70th Street Support

September 22, 2008
Stephen H. Brown, Chairman
Greater Cornelia Area/West 70th Street SAC
Edina City Hall
4801 W. 50th Street
Edina, MN 55424

Dear Stephen H. Brown,

In regard to the Greater Cornelia / West 70th Street Study, the Bike Edina Task Force would like to state its support for the option that includes bike/multi-purpose lanes on both sides of 70th street. Having dedicated bike lanes increases the number of individuals commuting by bicycle, reduces and calms motorized traffic, improves bicycling safety and provides more opportunity for fitness and recreation.

West 70th Street is one of the direct routes on the Safe Routes to Schools, outlined in the City of Edina Comprehensive Bicycle Transportation Plan. This plan’s vision is a “progressive bicycle-friendly community where citizens can easily integrate cycling into their daily lives.”

This important east-west roadway also enables bicycle users of all ages and abilities to reach important destinations, such as commuting to work, shopping, places of worship, and connecting to other roadways: As you might know, biking and walking facilities were indicated as the most desired improvement for which households were willing to support funding (2006 Edina Parks and Recreation survey).

Thank you for your consideration for this option to improve the quality of life in our community. Please contact me if you have any questions or feedback.

Sincerely,



Larry Olson, 6808 Cornelia Dr, 952-920-8343, lolson01@yahoo.com
Bike Edina Task Force

Cc: Kirk Johnson, Bike Edina Task Force Chair

BETF Meeting

Our 4th meeting this year with the new group was held today at Edina City Hall in the Mayor's Chambers. The BETF is 16 members strong this year and guests are welcome. We had a visitor from Richfield (Joe H.) and a resident from Edina visit the meeting. This year we have many projects underway. Agendas are posted in our Calendar forum; we meet the 2nd Thursday of each month.

Annual Bike/Pedestrian Counts

This was our 2nd year counting. Why are bike/ped counts important? Counting traffic is essential for benchmarking and trends. Users of this information include profit and non-profit organizations, engineers, planners, task forces, residents, and others. This data is centralized and reported by Transit for Livable Communities. Questions? Please contact me.

The first two are repeats from last year; the last two are new this year! To see the details, click the thumbnails. Here is a summary:


1. 70th (at Cahill) (Dwaine) / 22 bikers; 9 peds

2. 44th & Brookside (Kirk) /
--2a: 44th east/west only: 24 bikers; 17 peds
--2b: Brookside north/south only: 19 bikers; 8 peds
--2c: Total: 43 bikers; 25 peds

3. Interlachen (at Blake) (Carl/Steve) / 17 bikers; 3 peds

4. Wooddale & 50th (Sarah)
--4a: 50th east/west only: 15 bikers; 42 peds
--4b: Wooddale north/south only: 28 bikers; 13 peds
--4c: Total: 43 bikers; 55 peds

Ride with the Mayor

We had a great ride with the Edina Major! 3 out of 4 Council Members were able to see us of (2 actually rode with us) plus our City Engineer, Dale Woodbeck from Three Rivers Park District, members of the Bike Edina Task Force, and several residents (nearly 30 people). Alice Hulbert and Kirk Johnson led the ride and it was a great experience, viewing examples of community gardens along the Midtown Greenway, proximity of rail road tracks to walk/bike trails, opportunities for traffic control improvements in Edina and SLP, the new Freewheel Bike Center (one of my favorite comments from a city leader was "How can we get one of those in Edina?", and the Martin Sabo Bridge.

Opportunities like these are excellent ways to get out, observe, be informed, think about possibilities, make friends, and have fun! Several requests to do it again. Visit BikeEdina.org and click on the Calendar to see events. Maybe you can join us next time.

Photos compliments of Alex J. and Wayne H.

Edina Morningside Rotary

Today we had an excellent exchange at the Edina Morningside Rotary. Thanks to an invitation to Mary Brindle, Rotary member, we had a dynamic presentation and question/answer session. Bike Edina Task Force attendees included Todd Brewer & Kirk Johnson plus presenting with us was Dale Woodbeck from Three Rivers Park District.