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2010 Legislative Agenda
Complete Streets: Complete Streets policies at the state and local level would mean that our
streets and roadways are planned, designed and operated to be safe and accessible for bicyclists, pedestrians, transit riders and drivers – all users, regardless of age or ability. BikeMN, as a member of the Minnesota Complete Streets Coalition, supports legislation that would make Complete Streets the policy of the state, involves stakeholders in its implementation, provides for a design flexibility pilot program and encourages local governments to consider Complete Streets policies.
State Trails: State Trails are an essential component of Minnesota’s tourism economy and an
important community asset to every town they go through. Trails are also widely recognized by public health officials as infrastructure that is critical an active lifestyle and the related individual health benefits. BikeMN also supports well thought out proposals for new asphalt corridor trails that are supported by their communities. The Mississippi Crossroads Trail is such a proposal. In addition to being an important asset to many central Minnesota communities it will also provide a link in the Mississippi River Trail, a world class bicycle route from the Headwaters to the Gulf. BikeMN supports the $38.793 million capital bonding 2010 Trails initiative presented by the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota. BikeMN also supports HF 2460, the authorization of the Mississippi Crossroads Trail in Crow Wing, Cass and Morrison Counties as a state trail and an appropriation for right-of-way acquisition.
Red Light Exemption: Minnesota Statutes 169.06, Subd. 9 currently allows an affirmative defense, under certain conditions, when a motorcycle is stuck at an unchanging red light and forced to run the light in order to proceed. Bicycles frequently experience the same problem, forcing them to break the law or to make potentially unsafe and inconvenient maneuvers to proceed in the desired direction. BikeMN supports HF 2616 which would extend the current law that allows motorcyclists to stop and proceed through a red light under certain circumstances to bicyclists.
Cedar Avenue Bridge: The old Cedar Avenue Bridge provided a critical link for bicyclists and
pedestrians across the Minnesota River from the time the new TH 77 Bridge opened in 1979 until 2002 when it was closed because it had deteriorated into an unsafe condition. It has not reopened. Issues related to historic preservation, long term maintenance costs and the cost of restoration versus replacement have created a situation where the City of Bloomington, the current owner of the bridge, cannot move forward with replacement and will not move forward toward restoration even though more than $4 million has been allocated to the project. Other public agencies, including the DNR, Mn/DOT and the US Fish and Wildlife Service are interested in helping but have stopped short of accepting responsibility for the bridge. BikeMN encourages the Legislature to hold hearings on the old Cedar Avenue Bridge that focus on breaking the impasse related to the bridge’s ownership and funding. Two possible solutions include: 1. Creating a new state trail that links the south side of the Minnesota River with the transit station at the Mall of America; and, 2. Fully funding the cost of restoring the bridge to a usable condition.
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