September 11, 2012, Oxford Jimmy Lee Recreation Center
In attendance were Ed Lehr, Jeff Zaayer, Deb Alper, Chris Budel, Steve Bergman, Paul Nelson, Jay Thacker, Peter Grasse, Danny Sarasti, Matt Cole, Andy Singer and, at post-meeting beer, Phil Moody. We discussed recent events in the city and looked at a map of MnDOT roads and bridges that was given to us by Mary Jackson at MnDOT. We came up with a list of suggested improvements for some of them. If you didn’t make it to the meeting, look at a map of Saint Paul, and examine all the state highways (as well as the Interstates) and send us your suggestions of areas on these roads and bridges that need improvement– either bike/ped access or better bike/ped crossings, crosswalks or whatever. Keep in mind that MnDOT’s roads and bridges in Saint Paul include ones like 7th Street and East Minnehaha (Highway 5), The High Bridge and its access roads (Highway 149), Snelling Avenue (Highway 51) and Roberts street (north and south) and the Roberts Street bridge.
There will be a Mac/Groveland neighborhood panel discussion next Wednesday, September 19th, 6:30pm at Macalester College, 1600 Grand Avenue, Old Main, 4th floor. We’ll discuss how pedestrian and bike friendly our community really is and what we can do to improve it. Come join the conversation.
There have been several recent pedestrian deaths in Saint Paul and Ramsey County– http://www.startribune.com/local/169120506.html?refer=y
In response, one of our members, Bill Lindeke, wrote a great piece for Minn Post on the need to design streets and roads for pedestrians and cyclist safety rather than just the safety of motorists. See– http://www.minnpost.com/minnesota-blog-cabin/2012/09/‘forgiveness ’-just-auto-drivers
Our next meeting will be Tuesday, October 9th, 7pm, at Oxford/Jimmy Lee Recreation Center