[IndianaTrails] Cyclists advocate new bike lanes

[Robert J. Matter]

http://www.tribstar.com/news/local_story_340215913.html?keyword=secondarystory

Published: December 06, 2006 09:59 pm

Cyclists advocate new bike lanes
By Austin Arceo
The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — Attorney Bill Drummy tries to take advantage of nice 
weather on his lunch hour.

Weather permitting, he leaves his law office on Fourth and Ohio streets 
in Terre Haute and rides his bike to Twigg Rest Area and back — a 
distance of well more than 10 miles.

Drummy also supports the city’s efforts to create more bicycle lanes, 
and he voiced his support at a public meeting Monday night in which city 
officials discussed long-term plans for trail development in Terre Haute.

City officials also discussed the creation of bicycle lanes on Ohio 
Boulevard, which created some controversy after some area residents felt 
ignored during the decision-making process and others were concerned 
about cyclists’ safety. But cycling advocates support the new lanes.

“I have many, many clients who are from out of town who come into the 
office,” Drummy said, “and they’re all very positively impressed by the 
fact that Terre Haute, which never had anything progressive in the past, 
seems like now has this beautiful bike trail.”

The city is looking to create several trails within the next few years. 
Terre Haute currently has more than 10 miles of trails, which includes 
bicycle lanes, and hopes to have more than 35 miles of trails within the 
next two to five years.

“That’s a somewhat ambitious goal,” said Pat Martin, chief planner for 
Terre Haute, “but nonetheless we’re fairly confident that we can achieve 
the goal simply by the projects that we already have under design.”

Officials hope for Terre Haute to become one of a handful of Indiana 
communities designated a “bicycle friendly community” by the League of 
American Bicyclists. The organization’s Web site lists Bloomington and 
Carmel as the only two Hoosier cities with that distinction.

“I think anytime we can broaden our appeal to more and more 
demographics, it improves our competitive position when it comes to 
growth and prosperity,” Terre Haute mayor Kevin Burke said, “and I view 
cities like Bloomington, Carmel, Lafayette [and] Fort Wayne as our 
competitors, so I not only want to compete with them, I want to surpass 
them.”

Last month, the Terre Haute City Council approved a partial-park ban 
along Ohio Boulevard to make way for a bicycle lane. But some area 
residents questioned cyclists’ safety if riding along the corridor.

City officials believe the marked bike lanes would actually make cycling 
along the street safer since there would be a specially designated area 
for cyclists to ride.

Some opponents of the Ohio Boulevard lanes did not necessarily oppose 
the lanes themselves, but they felt like they had a lack of input on the 
decision.

“I pay taxes, and I’m not going to put up with being told that I’m 
insignificant…,” Charles Parks, president of the Trinity Lutheran Church 
council, said after city engineer Pat Goodwin explained the city’s plans 
Monday night.

“It’s just the idea that his plan hurt people I care about, and I didn’t 
appreciate that,” Parks said.

Goodwin said that the Ohio Boulevard bicycle lanes would not be created 
until early spring 2007.

Austin Arceo can be reached at (812) 231-4214 or austin.arceo at tribstar.com.