6.3. SR 03-20-2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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52.More trails the better! 53. love the bike trails and parks near our home. Big part of why we live in Elk River 54. A bike path along side of hwy 10 from Steve's nursery to down town elk river would be great, also connecting to parks 55. Need more bike trails in Elk River 56. Sidewalks and paved bike trails are great for walking, and some biking, and a good start. But there is a lot more that could/should be done to make Elk River an easier, safer place to get around for pedestrians and bicyclists, while not inconveniencing drivers. My focus is primarily on biking. Studies have shown that on-road bike lanes are often safer than off- road bike trails. Motorists often aren't expecting to see bicyclists when they need to cross or enter a roadway from a trail. Also, a public education program would help tremendously out here, I believe. I bike frequently from March to November and I cannot count the times I have been exposed to harassing, dangerous behavior from motorists in the Elk River area. I feel much safer biking in the Twin Cities than I do near home, primarily because there is better infrastructure to support biking. I think there is also a critical mass of bicyclists so motorists have learned watch for us and accept that roads are not for cars only. Up here, I have been honked at, told to "get off the road," or "get on the sidewalk where you belong" (which is actually illegal in most municipalities). I have had cars swoop over to pass within inches of me in an intimidating manner. I have had things thrown at me. I have almost given up on biking around town. Locally, I also often see bicyclists riding in ways that are not safe or legal (e.g., riding on the wrong side of the road instead of with traffic, not stopping at stop signs) so a good public education effort would be aimed at everyone, motorists AND bicyclists so everyone knows their rights and responsibilities. I love seeing the Elk River police officers out on their bikes! Maybe increasing their presence would help? It would also be helpful to offer some kind of incentive for businesses to provide bicycle racks. I try to commute and do as many of my errands as possible on my bike instead of driving (again, March to November) and a common deterrent is my inability to safely lock my bike up at my destination. I always try to be respectful and not just lock it up to a railing or something else the business owner might not appreciate. There are all kinds of interesting racks available, so a business could find a design that makes an design statement, if they didn't want just a basic, utilitarian rack. (I think Dero, is a Minneapolis-based manufacturer, for one). Also, I know cities can earn a "Bicycle Friendly Community" designation through the League of American Bicyclists (www.bikeleague.org). They have staff who can provide technical support on what kinds of things need to be in place. I think it would be a worthwhile goal for the City of Elk River to earn this designation. It would be a great way to tie in with the city's "Powered by Nature" tagline. What would be better than encouraging people to power their own transportation by walking and biking? Thanks for doing the survey and for providing an opportunity for input! 57. Please add a path on Mississippi Road between Denver and Orono Pkwy before someone gets hit while walking, running or biking.