Plans for new bikeway in St. Paul unveiled

Noah Raaum, Staff Writer|November 2, 2016

Although+they+are+only+planning+on+building+a+small+section+on+Jackson+street+in+2017%2C+many+students+like+Isabel+Dieperink+are+excited+about+this+addition+to+St.+Paul.+%E2%80%9CMaking+bike+paths+more+available+and+safe+will+be+really+helpful+for+everyone.%E2%80%9D+

Image from Capital City Bikeway page, City of Saint Paul website

Although they are only planning on building a small section on Jackson street in 2017, many students like Isabel Dieperink are excited about this addition to St. Paul. “Making bike paths more available and safe will be really helpful for everyone.”

The city of St. Paul unveiled plans for the Capital City Bikeway on Oct. 6, an expansion of the cutting-edge bike paths. A huge improvement from the current bike system, the city is hoping to get everyone on the paths. Their goal is to install these paths on every major street in downtown to make it easier to get in and out of the city.

Bill Lindeke is an urban geographer who specializes in sidewalks, streets, and bike paths. He has spent the last 6 months developing a plan for the bikeway which was approved by the city earlier this month. 

“We want to get more and more people on the paths… older citizens, families with children, everyone” Lindeke. 

That’s why these bike paths are uniquely designed to be accessible for all people and what makes people comfortable when ridding through downtown. After doing surveys, they came to the consensus of what type of path was safest and most comfortable for bicyclists.

“There are definitely places that need a lot of improvement…” Sophomore Isabel Dieperink explains.

Dieperink competes in road and mountain bike races, and bikes frequently around the St. Paul area.

“

We want to get more and more people on the paths… older citizens, families with children, everyone.

— Bill Lindeke

There will be two-way paths separated from both the sidewalk and cars by a curb. These paths were inspired by the design of bike paths in Copenhagen, Denmark . They will construct them by shaving down parking and driving space, and incorporating the divided paths after the streets are later remodeled. The estimated cost of the Capital City Bikeway is $27 million.

Currently, the very few paths in downtown St. Paul are simply narrow bike lanes crammed onto the edge of the street.

“The bike lanes that St. Paul has are not very safe, and the sidewalks are often too busy to bike on” said 9th grader Evan Barnes.

Barnes bikes to school as often as possible, and enjoys biking for recreation on the weekends.

“It’s dangerous for everybody regardless of whether you’re a biker or a pedestrian on the sidewalks” Lindeke explained. 

Although they are only planning on building a small section on Jackson street in 2017, city planners are hoping to see a large and convenient network of bike paths in the near future. The next step is for the city of St. Paul to find funding for this project. They have received enough to construct the Jackson street portion, but will keep searching for funding to continue construction on other portions. Many students like Isabel Dieperink are excited about this addition to St. Paul. “Making bike paths more available and safe will be really helpful for everyone.”