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Today's Poll!Officials take a spin on new bicycle bridge
In celebration of 2011 Bicycle and Pedestrian Day at the Capitol, people were invited to ride across the just-opened bicycle/pedestrian lane attached to the Missouri River Bridge. Photo by Julie Smith.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
After its first weekend open to the public, the new bicycle/pedestrian bridge welcomed officials who were instrumental in completing the project.
As part of the 2011 Bike and Pedestrian Day at the state Capitol, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, legislators, and officials from the Missouri Department of Transportation, Missouri State Parks, the Department of Natural Resources and Jefferson City rode from the Capitol steps across the bridge to the North Jefferson City Trail Head at the Katy Trail on Monday.
The ride has been done in the past, “but never have we been able to ride from the steps of the Capitol to the Katy Trail,” said Brent Hugh, executive director of the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Foundation.
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Comments
TheRickster 2 years, 1 month ago
All that is going on and we are paying them to ride their bikes??? Posturing and smile for the camera. Sad day when one day it is critical for every dime and minutes count. Then one day it is out for a joy ride. Sickening for me. They get days off and weekends. Use them.
bluesfan13 2 years, 1 month ago
Which ones were you referring to? The elected officials get paid 24/7. They get paid to sleep. They don't get vacation, sick leave, etc., because they're always on salary and get paid whether they work or not.
tonto 2 years, 1 month ago
Please reconsider. The more time off they take, the less damage they can do to us. Let them go ride their bikes!
JCLifer 2 years, 1 month ago
How many jobs will this bridge create?
Huge waste of tax dollars.
just2cents 2 years, 1 month ago
Didn't the "bike-bridge" create a lot of jobs? For out of state contractors that is. Maybe I'm wrong on that one. Let me know if I am. I do agree that it was the worse possible time to spend that amount of money for something like this. Actually, I can't see spending that amount of money on something like this even in great economic times! But something bothers me that relates closely to this topic of bicyclists, and even pedestrians. First off, I do ride my bike on the Katy Trail, so I'm not "anti-bicyclist". But how is the law written when it comes to right of way and using sidewalks? Example: Many areas, such as W. Main for one, has sidewalks running on both sides. Why do walkers and joggers insist on using the road instead of the sidewalks? If a jogger is running in the road, while a perfectly good sidewalk is present, am I, the driver of a 2-ton vehicle, responsible for driving into the opposite lane so I don't hit this person (who for some reason doesn't even feel compelled to jog close to the edge of the road, instead they have to get as far in the lane as possible). Would I get a ticket, such as I would in Columbia, for honking at this yahoo who doesn't have the common sense to stay clear? The same goes for those groups of bicyclists (you know who you are, in your spandex and shiny, pointy helmets) who insist on not riding single file, but choose to ride 2, 3, or more side-by-side, in the CAR lane. Speed limit is 45, I have slow or stop and wait for oncoming traffic to pass just so I can get completely out of my lane and drive around this group. Where is the common sense in this??? Drivers must always be on the look out for pedestrians and cyclists in residential neighborhoods, I'm a firm believer in that. Especially with children who often are too involved in the fun they are having while riding a bike or playing. I will always keep an eye out for those situations. What bothers me are the supposed grown-ups who should know better by now that you DO NOT ride, walk, or jog in a car lane! And if you insist on doing so, please stay as close to the edge of the road as possible. Don't rely on the false notion that every driver is NOT texting or paying attention and will see you. Again, I'm a bike rider and avid walker. But I don't do so in areas where I interfere with vehicles. It's not worth the risk to myself or them.
jeffcitygirl 2 years, 1 month ago
Probably because the sidewalks on that end of town are awful. Full of cracks and uneven. Jogging or even walking on them is taking a risk of tripping and falling every ten steps. Fix the sidewalks so people may actually run on them safely.
tonto 2 years, 1 month ago
Ooooh! Where to start?
The president of the MISSOURI company that built this pedestrian bridge spoke at the dedication Saturday. He brought some of the real people with him that actually worked out there in the cold and snow to put it together. The steel and other component parts were fabricated in Fulton.
The law regarding pedestrians and bicycles on public streets is right in your drivers license manual, the one you should have studied to get a license. Bicyclists are obligated to follow the same laws as cars and entitled to use the roads, except for the interstates where they are prohibited.
3blindmice 2 years, 1 month ago
because the sidewalks in jefferson city look like the ones in sierre leone
muleman 2 years, 1 month ago
Didn't your momma ever tell you not to play in the street ?
HorseGlue4u 2 years, 1 month ago
Nicely said, Just2cents. Perhaps these folks had no upbringing, you know, like "timeouts".
just2cents 2 years, 1 month ago
Thank you HorseGlue. As far as comments from the others, well, thank you too! It's good to see passion about things, whether I agree or not. But....I have read the drivers license manual, and yes bicyclists are to follow the rules as well. My only argument is that many don't. Just as many bad drivers continue to text, drink.....while driving. It's a common sense thing. 80 pound bicycle traveling 8mph on a 30mph road. Riding in the middle of the lane. I look out for these folks and am cautious as possible. Not everyone is. 80lb bike, 2 ton car. The math is pretty simple. But I'm not trying to outlaw bikes or condemn every bicyclist. Let's just move them over and stop riding 2 or 3 wide on a two lane busy road. Is there a problem with riding single file????
One thing I am not sure about is the riding of bicycles on sidewalks. Is that frowned upon, or illegal? Just seems it would be safer. And A LOT easier for walkers/bicyclists to avoid each other on a sidewalk than it is for the bicycle/car scenario.
And I do agree, the sidewalks in many areas are in bad shape. But I typically lift my feet and watch where I'm going when I walk. Sorry, had to be sarcastic.
One last note, since bicyclists DO use the roadways, shouldn't there be a road tax on purchased bicycles???? Makes sense to me. And I would actually not have a problem with that when buying my next mountain bike. I would imagine that taxes on bikes would have covered a big portion of the bill for adding the bike bridge.
JCLifer 2 years, 1 month ago
The pedestrian bridge is essentially a sidewalk, so shouldn't bicyclists continue to use the roadway, according to the law?
tonto 2 years, 1 month ago
Common sense is an illusion when you are just reasoning with yourself. What you come to believe is sensible is what suits your own convenience. That's not good when someone else's safety is put at risk.
You suggested: "Let's just move them over and stop riding 2 or 3 wide on a two lane busy road. Is there a problem with riding single file????"
Yes, there is a big problem with riding single file at the right side of a two lane busy road. Cars will pass without even pulling over. You haven't lived until you've felt a rearview mirror slide by your shoulder.
It is not legal to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk. It might look safer when you are driving a car, but for someone walking a dog or for little kids it is not safe at all. Dogs and little kids do not always behave predictably - that's how things can go wrong quickly.
Same comment about what makes sense to you - it does but maybe not so much to someone else.
There is a sales tax on purchased bicycles. Sales tax in Miissouri is allocated under a complex formula. You can thank MODOT for that.
just2cents 2 years, 1 month ago
I thought they made the bridge primarily for bicyclists? That's how they advertised it anyway. But yes, it seems like it is essentially a sidewalk. But that was a question I had, are bicyclists supposed to use the sidewalks or is that illegal? It just seems more like a safety issue than anything else. Good point though JCLifer.
tonto 2 years, 1 month ago
A good question. The so-called bicycle bridge really is just a good sidewalk and one that was badly needed. It's like the Katy Trail, it has to serve several different types of users. It took the statewide bicycling community, MODOT, the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Department, the state Department of Natural Resources, and private donors to hammer together the money for that structure. Then they built the best compromise bridge they could design. It is what it is.
JCLifer 2 years, 1 month ago
Maybe we need to build a pedestrian walkway on the other side of the bridge so that both walkers and bicyclists can each have their own safe route across the bridge. Making both types of folks share one narrow little scaffold seems to be a huge safety issue.
sillyrabbit 2 years, 1 month ago
Why are all these people wearing helmets? Do they seriously think this is the Tour de France and they're going fast enough to cause brain damage?
sillyrabbit 2 years, 1 month ago
I have fallen on my head plenty in my day thank you very much!
sillyrabbit 2 years, 1 month ago
It must have been a banner freakin' year for the old Gardener family.
JCLifer 2 years, 1 month ago
Good point. Didn't the legislature repeal the helmet law last year to encourage more tourism in our state by bikers?
tonto 2 years, 1 month ago
That was for motorcyclists, and it means more former motorcyclists in the head injury unit at UM Hospitals.
just2cents 2 years, 1 month ago
Tonto, all good points, but I think when it comes to safety the "common sense" is shared by more folks than just myself. You said even riding single file is unsafe because cars won't move over and I'm sure getting swiped by a mirror wouldn't be pleasant. But that is exactly my point: Bicyclists and pedestrians are obstacles to drivers. I'm not saying that we, as drivers, shouldn't move over and share the road, but I would not risk my safety riding on 99% of the roads around here. There are entirely too many accidents, close calls, texting while driving, people in a hurry......that split second mistake isn't worth it to me. I'll stick to the Katy Trail.
Thanks for clarifying the legality of riding on the sidewalk. I wasn't sure on that one. But on your point about "things can go wrong quickly" it's seems SO much easier for a bicyclist to avoid kids/pets on a sidewalk going 8 mph than it would be for a large vehicle-vs-bicycle scenario.
Just my opinion, but I still think the roadways are not the ideal place for joggers/bicyclist. But as I mentioned earlier, I will stay alert and share the road. Hopefully others will as well. Thanks for the info Tonto.
tonto 2 years, 1 month ago
Just2cents, that makes you one of the more considerate and careful drivers out there.
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