Got Bike Culture?

[drakedsm]

I've noticed that Des Moines seems to be developing quite a little bike culture. I attended a public meeting yesterday that the City of Des Moines hosted and it was packed over the lunch hour. They are working on a bicycle master plan to encourage people to bike on trails and on the streets. I was an interesting presentation talking about bicycles and how Des Moines can become a much friendlier for bicycles. At the meeting one of the presenters guaranteed that we would see at least three bikes on our way home, sure enough I saw about 50. They are taking comments and input on their website. http://www.dmbikeplan.com

It got me thinking about Des Moines and could it be bicycle friendly, so I dusted off my bike this afternoon and rode around town and started to look a little closer and noticed that there are a lot of people on bikes and there are a lot of things going on that doesn't seem to get a lot of press...

East Village Bicycles - there is a little bike shop across the street from Smash in the live/work units and the guy does repairs and fixes up old bikes we have in our garages.

Des Moines Bike Collective - This non-profit group is housed in the parking garage at 6th & Grand they take donated bike and fix them up and sell them are really reasonable prices. They had some nice bikes for under $100. I think they also do a lot of education, they guy there told me more things than I can remember.
http://dsmbikecollective.org/

Trails - There seems to be trail construction all over town and it looks like a major trail at 56th St and I-235.

I think I am hooked after riding around today, but makes me wonder is Des Moines the next Portland, Boulder or Madison with all these bike things going on?

[DMRyan]

We've got a great start going on here and bicyling does seem to be somewhat intertwined in our culture between RAGBRAI and all the other organized bike rides like the BRRR ride in Feburary. Iowa could use a trail ot two that criss-crosses the state from one river to the other though.

I think the biggest impediment to promoting more of a bicycle culture in Des Moines is the climate and drivers on the roads which are slow to learn about bike-car on the road sharing etiquette. Things will get better here for the biking community even if there aren't a tremendous amount of bike lanes. Thanks for the great post drakedsm and for pointing out a few bike attributes that few knew about.

[Better Life dude]

I think I am hooked after riding around today, but makes me wonder is Des Moines the next Portland, Boulder or Madison with all these bike things going on?

I think the biggest thing lacking in the Des Moines metro is the dedicated bicycling lanes on streets that would become routes into downtown and that could connect the various existing trails. It would be so (relatively) easy to make them. I would compare it to the continuous dedicated center turning lanes you see on so many busy streets around the metro. Those weren't there just a few years ago and now they seem ubiquitous. It seems like such an easy idea to implement.

I don't buy into the idea of crappy winter weather holding people back from making this even more of a bike town. Even in the winter I see people riding their bikes trying to get to work.

[spacebetween]

Keep in mind that the 50 people you saw riding last night is up about 90% from the norm due to RAGBRAI next weekend. I rode the usual trail out west to Adel last night and saw about 98% more people than I usually do, which is not bad, just stating the point. That said, I also had to swerve, slam on my breaks, and other wise slow down due to drivers crossing the trail on their approach to Hickman. That was on the trails, I would have to have seen what I would have had to do on the streets. I am all for an increased bike culture in DSM and I think that is a natural approach as we grow and become a more dense city.

[QuadCityImages]

Iowa could use a trail ot two that criss-crosses the state from one river to the other though.

I'm guessing you mean entirely off-highway, as the American Discovery Trail already winds through Iowa (and the rest of the US). Davenport's "pushpin" idea of a few years back was to mark the intersection of the American Discovery Trail and the Mississippi River Trail.

[DMRyan]

Definitely off road, something like the Katy Trail in Central Missouri, on a former rail bed. It's spurred a little mini-tourism industry for all the towns on the trail and since it was a railway, it cuts right through the middle of towns.

[Philby]

I hope the Bike Culture here continues to grow, even if it is only for the couple months a year that its nice out.

I will say that both bikers and drivers need to learn to pay a little more attention to each other. I've seen 2 near bike/car accidents in the past 3 weeks. The first I'm not sure who was at fault but it occurred at a 4 way stop sign. The other was clearly the bikers fault because he came screaming down the middle of the road downtown while I was stopped at a red light on 10th at Locust. He turned left while the light was still red (and w/o even slowing down or seeing if the intersection was clear) and almost got "T-boned" by a car who had the right of way and was turning left from Locust onto 10th.

Obviously many bikers follow the rules but the one or two that you see blatently ignoring stop signs and red lights really reflects badly on bikers as a whole.

[RyDW]

Obviously many bikers follow the rules but the one or two that you see blatently ignoring stop signs and red lights really reflects badly on bikers as a whole.

I'm all for increased biking as well, but this situation has to be addressed. At least in CA, bikers do not follow the traffic laws. They speed right through red lights and stop signs as if they're immune and then seem upset when cars nearly smash them. If bike lanes are added in Des Moines, police must enforce the traffic laws against bikers as well, or they will simply been seen as a menace leading to reduced public support and annoyance for all. If bikers can get it through their heads that a red light means stop when you're on your bike, as well as in your car, more biking would be great (on the 180 days a year when its feasible).

[Mulder.DSM]

What's going on with the bike rentals at Benton Skating plaza? Everytime I go by there they are closed and I would love to rent a bike some evening and ride on the trails down to Gray's Lake?

[Mototail]

Here's an update for mixing bicycle culture with the auto culture. It's called the B-Cycle system.

Bike Rental Program May Come To DM
B-Cycle System Compared To Red Box Videos

"This is the kind of bike they have in Paris all over the city and we think we'd like to see them all over Des Moines," Lane said.

He said the bikes are built to fit anyone.

"The seat will accommodate somebody who's very short or very, very tall," Lane said.

The B-Cycle racks would be stationed at 10 spots around town and users can rent the bikes at one location and return it to another. The first half-hour of use is free and every hour beyond that will cost a buck or two.

http://www.kcci.com/news/21109398/detail.html

This is an awesome idea and I would definitely use it.

[Mulder.DSM]

This is awesome! Does anyone know the specific locations yet? or have any photos of the units that I can share on my blog?

[hawk61401]

Another awesome idea for our progressive city. In Paris, it's called "velib", meaning bicycle freedom. It became so popular, bicycle riders doubled in 6 months.

750 stations in Paris .. here's how it works.

[hawk61401]

a great thing to try .... go to http://bcycle.com/

click on "B-effect" and put in your Des Moines zip code. You will see how B-cycle will improve Des Moines.

Andrew Davison, the Chief Marketing Officer of B-cycle in North America, will be in Des Moines for a presentation on October 2nd. http://www.bikeiowa.com/asp/hotnews/new ... ewsID=4141

[Ingersoll1978]

The B Cycle website is very interesting! Tell them you want it! http://bcycle.com/who_wants_it_more/

[hawk61401]

The B Cycle website is very interesting! Tell them you want it! http://bcycle.com/who_wants_it_more/

The Big O is beating us. We are thrashing Minneapolis.

C'mon Des Moines. You don't rrrrrreally wanna keep that big butt do ya? http://www.flickr.com/photos/41256758@N03/3801597171/

[Better Life dude]

The B Cycle website is very interesting! Tell them you want it! http://bcycle.com/who_wants_it_more/

I voted.

The ONLY problem I can see with this bike rental program is the lack of bicycle helmets for the riders.

Places around town I'd like to see the B Cycle stations:
1. Somewhere in the East Village
2. Court Ave at that new kiosk that will be built this coming year on the Principal Riverwalk
3. Somewhere in the downtown business core - near a hotel like the Marriott or Savery.
3. Gateway Park area -near the library.
4. Gray's Lake at the boathouse
5. Ingersoll Ave somewhere near Des Moines University or Dahls
6. Beaverdale shopping area near Urbandale Ave & Beaver Ave.
7 Drake University campus or Dog Town
8 Valley Junction shopping district

Can anyone name some other high traffic areas near trails? Some places on the East side or South side? The suburbs? The shopping centers? Remember: connectivity is important.

[BriGuy]

The city bike concept has been around awhile, originating in Copenhagen over a dozen years ago. In fact, the city bikes have become somewhat of a Copenhagen landmark, and the city's example has spread to many other cities all over the world, including Paris. President Clinton was presented with City Bike One as the city's official gift during his official visit in 1997. It was specially designed with the presidential seal on its wheels.

[mirage1]

The B-cycle concept sounds great until you get to the details listed in the paper today.

Even though it seems the start up costs are only around $100,000 (according to the paper), the individual that is touting and wants to run this venture seems NOT to have the capital to begin it. You could not get past the first couple paragraphs without him holding out his hand for "public and private" investors.

Bluntly, it seems to me that if there is interest in this system, someone on their own (that has a little prior success in business ventures) needs to capitalize and run this project. I would be concerned about the long term viability of something run by someone that cannot come up with this amount of funding on their own to run their own "small business".

While I am supportive of bike friendly initiatives generally, taxpayers need not own every little venture.

[hawk61401]

The B-cycle concept sounds great until you get to the details listed in the paper today.

Even though it seems the start up costs are only around $100,000 (according to the paper), the individual that is touting and wants to run this venture seems NOT to have the capital to begin it. You could not get past the first couple paragraphs without him holding out his hand for "public and private" investors.

I wish Tim Lane the best for his vision to succeed and I bet it will. He, as others have done, can help make Des Moines a better and more livable city. Shall we say "hip?" John Pappajohn had a vision when he drove by a large patch of grass in the western gateway.

Zachary Mannheimer, Des Moines Social Club founder and director, toured the country until he found the right city. Des Moines is much richer because of his vision. His interesting story can be heard on blog talk radio http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Zane-Safri ... d-director and about the challenges of startups and small business.

The green revolution is coming to Des Moines in bits and pieces. There's a thousand cities in the world that have car sharing. More American cities are allowing high-rise condo developers to reduce their underground parking requirements if they agree to provide on-site spaces for nonprofit car-share companies.

It's much more than a lunchtime activity. It's about making biking normal for everyone.

[hawk61401]

More goood press for Des Moines.

More Progressive than St. Louis is Des Moines: http://www.stlurbanworkshop.com/2009/09 ... -des.html#


And, bad press for Des Moines: http://popprog.blogspot.com/2009/09/des ... rious.html

Get on that bicycle!

[Mulder.DSM]

It hasn't turned out good.

French Ideal of Bicycle-Sharing Meets Reality

Paris’s bike-rental system has inspired a new urban ethos, along with
some old urban curses: vandalism and theft.

http://s.nyt.com/u/WK8

[Mototail]

Here's another blog from the DMR about the Ingersoll bike lanes.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/ ... ernment%29

[dogbo]

They've now added bike lanes all along Beaver Avenue from Dahls (at Franlin Ave) to Douglas Ave. They will eventually keep going north to hook-up with the Trestle to Trestle trail (near Bob Lenz Landscaping). The extention north will take a little while because first they need to finish Beaver Ave (widen, add curbs, drains, etc.) which I believe is scheduled to start soon.

[dogbo]

For those that have taken a ride along the High Trestle Trail, you've seen businesses popping up along the trail. A great boast to this small towns north of the metro. Even more proposed:

http://www.kcci.com/money/29678201/detail.html

[econboy]

For those that have taken a ride along the High Trestle Trail, you've seen businesses popping up along the trail. A great boast to this small towns north of the metro. Even more proposed:

http://www.kcci.com/money/29678201/detail.html

While this will be a nice boost to Woodward and the property owner it's going to cause some friction for a while. Lower income people being booted out for a new flashy development in a small town. Get ready......

I think woodward will take it but there will be some bitter chit chat amongst certain locals for a while. Lamenting the new trail that draws the city people and outsiders, etc.

[DMRyan]

Not sure where to stick this, but we'll put it here. The Big Yellow Bike has arrived in Des Moines and will be for hire in downtown during the summer months. This is apparently a 16-passenger bike that will shuttle you and yours around town. Not sure if you can drink on it, like what is kind of shown in the photo example from Columbus, Ohio below.

[Mulder.DSM]

Not sure where to stick this, but we'll put it here. The Big Yellow Bike has arrived in Des Moines and will be for hire in downtown during the summer months. This is apparently a 16-passenger bike that will shuttle you and yours around town. Not sure if you can drink on it, like what is kind of shown in the photo example from Columbus, Ohio below.

Does this guy have a website or facebook page?

[casbern]

Not sure where to stick this, but we'll put it here. The Big Yellow Bike has arrived in Des Moines and will be for hire in downtown during the summer months. This is apparently a 16-passenger bike that will shuttle you and yours around town. Not sure if you can drink on it, like what is kind of shown in the photo example from Columbus, Ohio below.

Does this guy have a website or facebook page?

They list his business address here: http://www.dmgov.org/government/CityCouncil/Resolutions/20120423/35.pdf

515-334-3299

[DMRyan]

Des Moines has moved up the rankings of bicycle-friendly cities and is now deemed to be one of the top 50 most bike-friendly places in the US according to "bicycling.com".

44. Des Moines, IA

Population: 203,433

Claims to Fame: A 42-mile trail system leads to a 550-mile regional network, and a new municipal plan calls for bicycle lanes on arterial streets and a downtown bike-share system. The 41 rotated steel frames on the 13-story High Trestle Trail Bridge—which spans the half-mile-wide Des Moines River Valley and is open only to cyclists and pedestrians—create a kaleidoscope-like effect.

Biggest Challenge: The city acquired funding for milestone projects like the 14th Street bike boulevard but still lacks a budget for a full-time bike-ped coordinator.

http://www.bicycling.com/ride-maps/feat ... -moines-ia

[dogbo]

This is good to see (especially see bolded)...

DM-WDM TRAIL LINK COMPLETED West Des Moines and Des Moines elected officials and city staffs celebrated a long-awaited trail link with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting Wednesday afternoon. Cutting the ribbon (center) are Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie and West Des Moines Mayor Steve Gaer. The recently completed trail connection links the two cities at 63rd/1st Street on city boundaries. It's not exactly the Grand Rounds in Minneapolis, but you can now ride trails from Gray's Lake in Des Moines to Blue Heron Lake in the Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines. The route is especially popular with West Des Moines cyclists commuting to downtown Des Moines jobs.

One of the challenges the cities faced was with rail officials to assure as safe and smooth crossing of railroad tracks (near the Quick Trip on 63rd).

Source: http://e2.ma/message/96mkd/dq028

As someone who regularly bikes to work downtown (and takes the bus back home after work utilizing the bike racks on DART), I'm glad to see additional bike commuter routes open up.