Clearly, You All Have Thoughts About Cycling in Dallas. City Hall Really Wants You To Share.

So, speaking — or shouting — of bicycling in Dallas …

A couple of weeks back I mentioned that on May 27, the city and the North Central Texas Council of Governments are holding a 2011 Dallas Bike Plan Open House from 5 to 8 p.m. at Dallas City Hall, during which reps from Toole Design Group will find out what you (yes, you) want in the updated Dallas Bike Plan for which we’re paying $375,000. (So get your money’s worth, if nothing else.) Today, Max Kalhammer, the city’s senior planner and bicycle coordinator, and NCTCOG Principal Transportation Planner Karla Weaver send along some further details, which follow after the jump in the form of a press release-slash-invite.

But long story short, this is what they’re hoping for at next week’s meeting:

Participants will have an opportunity to:

• Prioritize goals and objectives
• Provide ideas for future bike routes
• Identify barriers to bicycling (e.g. – access across a river or freeway)
• Develop ideas for designing effective education programs
• Suggest improvements for better bicycle access to rail stations
• Submit ideas for what should be included in the plan

So put on your thinking helmets and hop to. And stop arguing, for God’s sakes. Why can’t we all just get along?

Residents invited to May 27 open house for 2011 Dallas Bike Plan update

DALLAS – Residents are encouraged to share their ideas and priorities
for the 2011 Dallas Bike Plan at an open house from 5 to 8 p.m.
Thursday, May 27 at Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St. The open house
will be in the Flag Room, 6E north. The event will include a 6 p.m.
presentation about how the 2011 Dallas Bike Plan relates to city and
regional transportation goals.

When complete, the bike plan will identify key routes and facilities,
prioritize project implementation areas for future funding, and outline
design criteria for consistent bicycle infrastructure. Representatives
from the City, North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), and
new citizen-based Bicycle Advisory Committee will listen to ideas for
making Dallas a ‘bicycle friendly’ city.

Participants will have an opportunity to:

* Prioritize goals and objectives

* Provide ideas for future bike routes

* Identify barriers to bicycling (e.g. – access across a river
or freeway)

* Develop ideas for designing effective education programs

* Suggest improvements for better bicycle access to rail
stations

* Submit ideas for what should be included in the plan

The Plan, envisioned to be a regional guide or template for other North
Texas municipalities, will include a detailed map of the Dallas Bikeway
System, generic facility type descriptions and designs, prioritized
projects, as well as an overall implementation strategy. This plan will
serve as a leading component of Dallas’ “Complete Streets” Initiative
aimed at creating a roadway system that serves all modes of
transportation.

Registration/sign-in for the open house will be at the west entrance to
the Flag Room (6E north) accessible via the green elevators. Bicycle
parking and a limited number of visitor parking spaces will be available
in the City Hall Garage on L1; accessed from the Young Street entrance.
Metered parking (free after 6 p.m.) is available in the semi-circular
lot on the south side of City Hall. Access to City Hall will be
available through the automatic sliding door, also on the south side of
the building and located close to S. Akard St. Attendees should proceed
through the lobby to the green elevators.

For special accommodations due to disability or language translation,
contact us at 206-200-9535 or plagerwey@tooledesign.com at least 48
hours prior to the meeting. Reasonable accommodations will be made. For
more information and to receive regular updates on the 2011 Dallas Bike
Plan, register for the contact list at www.dallasbikeplan.org