Just found this thread - read the whole thing the first time start to finish. What a happy surprise ending!

And, I am SO glad people spoke up about this - sure $15 won't break the bank, but ticketing cyclists on a commuter path sends a very discouraging message!!

Way to stay on top of things, folks, I thank you.

I agree, hereNT ("Nope, four pages of debate and it got fixed"). Even if it was a mistake, a whole lot of people heard that there is strong support for bikers using roads and "commuting paths" for regular transportation.

I like how both Steve Clark and Don Pflaum realize that these paths in question are considered COMMUTER bikeways.



If nothing else, visibility was raised in a positive way. Thank Scot G. and others for the communications on this.

In reading this forum and posting a question about speed limits on an international forum, I've learned that Minneapolis is very unusual in having a 10 mph limit. The Feds apparently endorse a 15 mph limit for multi-use paths, and hardly anybody reports speed limits below that. Nobody has a 10 mph limit on paths that are one-way and separate from the pedestrians. If the Minneapolis parks are way out of line on this, you'd wonder whether the limit would stand up to a court challenge.

A 20 mph limit would make more sense. If 15 mph is safe enough for multi-use, two-way trails all over the United States, 20 should be okay for one-way separated bike paths. There could be slower zones near intersections and where narrow right-of-ways force the bikes and pedestrians to share the pavement.

Every time we've had a Park Board primary in the last 6 years or so, I've asked all the candidates where they stand on the parkway bike speed limits, and I've supported the ones who are pro-bike. It would be worth having a section on the forum for candidate responses to questions about cyclists' rights. It's in the primary elections that we have a chance to choose candidates with reasonable views. By the general election, the pro-bike candidates may have been eliminated on both sides if we don't support them.

they can't revoke my license. i don't have one!

Does a 10 mph speed limit on bike paths lead to highway deaths?

It's not too far-fetched. If we train our kids to ignore speed limits on bike paths -- because they are irrational and unenforceable -- will they be more likely to ignore speed limits on our streets and freeways?

I'm obsessive about not exceeding the limit when driving. On 50th, in South Minneapolis, I don't go over 30 -- while everyone else speeds past at 40 or more. I've experienced road rage on I-94 and I-35 when I stayed at 55 through the city. Yet, I couldn't bring myself to set a law-abiding example for my kids on the Minneapolis bike paths. Yes, I ride 10 mph when there are crowds, kids, or other conditions that call for low speeds, but when conditions call for 15 or 20 mph, that's what I'm going to do.

My kids don't drive, but if they did, how well would this have taught them to respect highway speed limits? We need rational speed limits on the bike paths -- to save lives on the road!

Lisa Goodman has this advice, which I couldn't resist posting for the irony value:



This is the Council Member who responded to my initial expression of concern with a dismissive little note that basically said this wasn't her problem because the Midtown Greenway wasn't in her ward.



Granted, my reply reflected my considerable irritation that she didn't even know the Greenway ran through her ward (by a narrow margin, granted, but I checked the map, and it's there) and that she would blame the bike advisory committee for a ten mile per hour speed limit, but I don't think that she is in any position to be giving etiquette or geography lessons in a know-it-all tone, and if she thinks that her constituents don't care about biking or the Greenway, she probably shouldn't be representing the 7th ward.

what a straight up bitch.


let's leave flaming poo on her doorstep.

wow, and this is someone who's job is dependent on votes? unbelieveable.

If anyone doesn't know where the 7th Ward is check out this PDF Map of its boundaries.

And if you are in it... maybe you could start researching council member GUDman and decided how to vote next time around.

The Honorable Lisa Goodman wrote:



The CM is wrong once again. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has absolutely nothing to do with the Midtown Greenway. The Midtown Greenway is owned by the Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority and it is maintained by the City of Minneapolis Public Works Department as a transportation oriented commuter trail that is lit at night and plowed in the winter by City of Minneapolis Public Works staff.

Perhaps the CM should expand her focus outside of the downtown corporations and their throngs of car commuters. Those are the "constituents" she speaks of, not Minneapolitans.

Quel horror!

or how 'bout painting over them? Maybe with some more stencils of sea food riding bikes (sorry I don't have any photo for illustration).

Hee hee, I love those stencils, and it's nothing short of a
miracle that I don't have a picture of them.

But now it's moot, since the speed limits are going buh-bye. Woo!

They were painted over yesterday morning. Beautiful black rectangles now grace the trail.

P.S. Anyway ride the Keniworth? A few trees have turned and dropped their leaves, feels like Fall!

Feck you.

I saw the squares this morning on my way in as well. Black squares are better than doofus limits.... Yeah, I noticed the trees, too. While it does give that 'fall feeling', the drought is turning into a real drag and i don't like to see the tress all stressed (along with all the other crops in the state).