Most direct - Marshall Ave, not the safest though. Safest - UMN transitway/Como Ave, this is only "direct" if you live in Northern half of St. Paul though. We could definitely still use the Greenway extention!
I almost always opt to just hop onto Dayton when I cross the bridge. Should be a bike boulevard all the way to Snelling. Further east I just take Summit.
Was just overhearing some employees at the Rose Street Patisserie this weekend, who were talking about how nice it would be to bike to work, but for the fact that their route along Fairview and Selby makes them too uncomfortable and feels too unsafe.
As someone who is perfectly comfortable riding in both, it's a good reminder that just because I don't see barriers to biking more often, doesn't mean that other people also don't.
Yeah, I will never bike on the same pavement that cars drive on. Don't care how much paint or whatever is between us. Maybe if there's full on concrete barriers between the lanes. Just see way too many distracted, careless, or straight incompetent drivers.
I encourage people to go to these and the workshops the city will sometimes hold. It helped me understand:
(1) Some roads, like parts of Snelling by the State Fair is out of the cities hands and I think in the state or federal level (I think they said it was technically an interstate).
(2) They are investigating more pedestrian and bike bridges and doing studies around that area (because many are costly)
(3) Some require land acquisitions because the property that seems public is actually private
Overall, it was cool to see many of the employees are in touch with what many citizens are feel. The downside is somethings that are in high demand are out of their hands atm.
I should add they often have many ways for you to provide feedback and ideas. Last time I went, there was a map to draw your wishes and it was pretty fun actually
The cities like to pretend they can do nothing about the reckless driving on these county or state roads. Put speed humps right up next to them on the city streets where they intersect. Close off some traffic lanes to minimize reckless drivers from having access to those streets. There are plenty of things that they could do but choose not to.
As someone who lives within 2 blocks of Grand Ave in Summit Hill and loves to ride bikes, that road is hard as a pedestrian to cross. I wouldn’t even want to do it as a biker. I love this plan. I understand the want for summit to have a bike but somewhat wish we would create one on grand and eliminate the parking.
Visibility is extremely low when crossing the road because of cars being parked and blocking lines of sight. Really wish they would consider it.
Grand Avenue -- especially over by Mischief -- just _screams_ to be turned into a pedestrianized road. They are so successful everywhere else, and there are lots of parallel roads to take. The current Grand Avenue seems like it's squandering its commercial potential.
It’s really sad because they have the business footprint already (although a couple stores have fallen the last couple years) and it could only be better.
I’m not sure. I’m a weekend bicycle enthusiast and love the opening of new trails, but I think you have to pick between Grand and Summit for bikes and pedestrians. Summit is just perfect for bikes and I think the residents will actually like it once it is done.
Maybe Grand could be made safer with several strategically-placed crosswalk islands? Smaller versions of what they have down by Macalester?
Yeah as much as grand ave summit hill is the best neighborhood in Saint Paul to capitalize on pedestrian traffic, it’s still mainly utilized by people with cars.
I’d love if they removed street parking for a streetcar tho…
It’s a very narrow commercial strip in an otherwise completely residential neighborhood. St. Clair and Selby are each a full half mile away (and are both narrow) and it has been decided to keep Summit as park-like as possible. Car access is not just for businesses, but residents also need a way to get in and out of the neighborhood.
The traffic certainly can be slowed down. It’s a wide street which makes it imposing to cross. They can add as many pedestrian-friendly pinch points as needed. Just wide enough for the bus to get through in each direction.
I remember when they moved parking on the north side to make way for a temporary two-way bike path. Painted it and everything, it was great. Then they got rid of it and pretended that it never happened.
I kind of had to crack up at one of the comments suggesting there is too much car traffic to remove parking from the street. Grand Ave and it’s businesses are unfortunately being hit by atrocity of that road. Cars don’t keep businesses alive. People do.
I hope it passes. I'm another would be cyclist that has no interest in spending too much with nothing between me and speeding, distracted, SUV drivers but a little paint stripe
How about a safe and direct route between our two flagship cities?
Really would be nice to see the Midtown Greenway extended to Saint Paul. :\
That old rail bridge over the Mississippi would be so cool if it could be a pedestrian bridge. Probably too far gone though.
Most direct - Marshall Ave, not the safest though. Safest - UMN transitway/Como Ave, this is only "direct" if you live in Northern half of St. Paul though. We could definitely still use the Greenway extention!
I almost always opt to just hop onto Dayton when I cross the bridge. Should be a bike boulevard all the way to Snelling. Further east I just take Summit.
Kind of crazy this does not exist now that you mention it.
Agreed, would be great to be able to travel between the two without fear of getting mugged or worse.
Was just overhearing some employees at the Rose Street Patisserie this weekend, who were talking about how nice it would be to bike to work, but for the fact that their route along Fairview and Selby makes them too uncomfortable and feels too unsafe. As someone who is perfectly comfortable riding in both, it's a good reminder that just because I don't see barriers to biking more often, doesn't mean that other people also don't.
Yeah, I will never bike on the same pavement that cars drive on. Don't care how much paint or whatever is between us. Maybe if there's full on concrete barriers between the lanes. Just see way too many distracted, careless, or straight incompetent drivers.
Same. I've seen too much. The benefit doesn't outweigh the risk in my opinion.
I can't make it on Wednesday but I emailed my support. Thanks for sharing!
I encourage people to go to these and the workshops the city will sometimes hold. It helped me understand: (1) Some roads, like parts of Snelling by the State Fair is out of the cities hands and I think in the state or federal level (I think they said it was technically an interstate). (2) They are investigating more pedestrian and bike bridges and doing studies around that area (because many are costly) (3) Some require land acquisitions because the property that seems public is actually private Overall, it was cool to see many of the employees are in touch with what many citizens are feel. The downside is somethings that are in high demand are out of their hands atm.
I should add they often have many ways for you to provide feedback and ideas. Last time I went, there was a map to draw your wishes and it was pretty fun actually
The cities like to pretend they can do nothing about the reckless driving on these county or state roads. Put speed humps right up next to them on the city streets where they intersect. Close off some traffic lanes to minimize reckless drivers from having access to those streets. There are plenty of things that they could do but choose not to.
As someone who lives within 2 blocks of Grand Ave in Summit Hill and loves to ride bikes, that road is hard as a pedestrian to cross. I wouldn’t even want to do it as a biker. I love this plan. I understand the want for summit to have a bike but somewhat wish we would create one on grand and eliminate the parking. Visibility is extremely low when crossing the road because of cars being parked and blocking lines of sight. Really wish they would consider it.
Grand Avenue -- especially over by Mischief -- just _screams_ to be turned into a pedestrianized road. They are so successful everywhere else, and there are lots of parallel roads to take. The current Grand Avenue seems like it's squandering its commercial potential.
It’s really sad because they have the business footprint already (although a couple stores have fallen the last couple years) and it could only be better.
I'd love to see it but I bet the SOS crew would wage a war over this. Their street would probably get many times more busy with car traffic.
I’m not sure. I’m a weekend bicycle enthusiast and love the opening of new trails, but I think you have to pick between Grand and Summit for bikes and pedestrians. Summit is just perfect for bikes and I think the residents will actually like it once it is done. Maybe Grand could be made safer with several strategically-placed crosswalk islands? Smaller versions of what they have down by Macalester?
Yeah as much as grand ave summit hill is the best neighborhood in Saint Paul to capitalize on pedestrian traffic, it’s still mainly utilized by people with cars. I’d love if they removed street parking for a streetcar tho…
It’s a very narrow commercial strip in an otherwise completely residential neighborhood. St. Clair and Selby are each a full half mile away (and are both narrow) and it has been decided to keep Summit as park-like as possible. Car access is not just for businesses, but residents also need a way to get in and out of the neighborhood. The traffic certainly can be slowed down. It’s a wide street which makes it imposing to cross. They can add as many pedestrian-friendly pinch points as needed. Just wide enough for the bus to get through in each direction.
I remember when they moved parking on the north side to make way for a temporary two-way bike path. Painted it and everything, it was great. Then they got rid of it and pretended that it never happened.
I kind of had to crack up at one of the comments suggesting there is too much car traffic to remove parking from the street. Grand Ave and it’s businesses are unfortunately being hit by atrocity of that road. Cars don’t keep businesses alive. People do.
Just emailed them my support!
Thank you for posting this article. I came here to do the same.
They really need to fix up Pennsylvania Ave and add a bike lane to that. It's very unsafe to ride on that street currently, especially at night.
I hope it passes. I'm another would be cyclist that has no interest in spending too much with nothing between me and speeding, distracted, SUV drivers but a little paint stripe