recent Idaho growth problems (Boise, Idaho Falls: best city, closing, dangerous)

[balto charlie]

Hi Folks: I am an east coaster wanting to return west. As an east coaster I have worked(volunteer) on bike transportation issues. I have tried to get bike access along roads, onto trains/buses/subways, bike paths etc. My main focus was to increase bike commuting. Because the eastern cities are so old our roads are very narrow, room for bikes is non-existent. I was wondering how Idaho is dealing with this. I see lots of growth problems being reported on this site like new traffic jams. Since you are having a huge growth spurt are bicycles being considered? When building roads it is very cheap to drop a bike lane/path along side the new roadway . It is much more expensive and difficult to do this later. I know people think that biking is a slow way of commuting but I find it has actually freed up my time. I no longer need to find an exercise time....it is my commute. Some folks think you can't bike in the winter, you can. Dry conditions like yours make ideal bike commuting year round. Kinda cold but there's good gear nowadays. OK I'll get off the soapbox
I would like to see if you are integrating bicycles in your development plans. Don't fall into the same problems as many eastern cities. What Idaho cities have bikes in mind? Thanks for your time, any city need a bike advocate Charlie

[Syringaloid]

Boise is a popular city for bikes and they are everywhere, there is a huge mountain bike culture here. Many major streets have bike lanes, the city is great with making sure there are bike racks dispersed around, and then there is the greenbelt, one of the longest in the nation at 30 miles. Boise has even been ranked as the best city for mountain biking several times too. Many Idaho cities are big into bikes, the Sun Valley area, Coeur 'd Alene, Sandpoint, McCall.
Here is a website for biking in Boise:
RIDGETORIVERS.ORG
www.cityofboise.org

[janab]

[quote=balto charlie;1091881]Hi Folks: I am an east coaster wanting to return west. As an east coaster I have worked(volunteer) on bike transportation issues. I have tried to get bike access along roads, onto trains/buses/subways, bike paths etc. My main focus was to increase bike commuting."
It's great that cities think of bikers and intergrate a path as they pave but also they should as a state on whole think about the people who enjoy biking on the highways ie: 12,13 etc. It's very dangerous for drivers and bikers. Let's get the bikers off the highways and give them a lane!! Ever meet bikers on your side and a Swift trucker coming at you? Not good mix
From one who drives highway 12 and 13 alot!!

[balto charlie]

Originally Posted by Syringaloid

Boise is a popular city for bikes and they are everywhere, there is a huge mountain bike culture here. Many major streets have bike lanes, the city is great with making sure there are bike racks dispersed around, and then there is the greenbelt, one of the longest in the nation at 30 miles. Boise has even been ranked as the best city for mountain biking several times too. Many Idaho cities are big into bikes, the Sun Valley area, Coeur 'd Alene, Sandpoint, McCall.
Here is a website for biking in Boise:
RIDGETORIVERS.ORG
www.cityofboise.org

Thanks for the links. Seems you have excellent mountain biking. I love western mnt biking! I just read the following on the thread about honest growth assessment:

• The design of the current growth does not support alternative transportation. If the design
and pattern of development doesn’t change, traffic congestion will increase significantly
because people will rely on cars to take them where they need to go.

It apparently comes from COMMUNITY PLANNING ASSOCIATION (COMPASS) - Idaho

This is exactly what my original Q was pertaining to. If any city planner are reading I hope they keep bikes in their minds(as well as mass transit with bike racks). Major cities(Paris) are closing streets and opening them to bikes.
Charlie

[balto charlie]

Originally Posted by janab

Ever meet bikers on your side and a Swift trucker coming at you? Not good mix
From one who drives highway 12 and 13 alot!!

Not a problem, unless the car passes inappropriately. I prefer a separate lane but this is seldom possible. Charlie

[AngID]

Centennial Trail runs along the Spokane River and right along Lake Coeur d'Alene. It's breathtakingly beautiful!

North Idaho Centennial Trail - Coeur d'Alene - Post Falls - Spokane

[CafeDelSol]

Originally Posted by balto charlie

I see lots of growth problems being reported on this site like new traffic jams. Since you are having a huge growth spurt are bicycles being considered? When building roads it is very cheap to drop a bike lane/path along side the new roadway . It is much more expensive and difficult to do this later. Charlie

I love biking and would use mine to commute if possible but Idaho Falls definitely does NOT have bikes in mind. There are a few token bike paths here and there but for the most part you're taking your life in your hands. Our city planners don't seem to have a clue how to handle most transportation issues. They can't even build enough lanes for car traffic, much less provide for bikes. For a city of only 60,000 we experience a massive amount of gridlock during peak hours. It's absolutely senseless and completely avoidable.

You also have to keep in mind the typical Idaho driver's contempt for cyclists (and pedestrians) in general. Most completely ignore you as if you have no right to be on the road and many would just as soon run you off the road if they have the chance. I'm not sure where this attitude comes from. It appears to be the worst in eastern Idaho. Contrast this behavior to Wyoming or Washington where traffic comes to a complete halt in every direction if a pedestrian or bicyclist looks like they're even THINKING of maybe crossing the street.

[CosmicWizard]

CafeDelSol

you wrote:

You also have to keep in mind the typical Idaho driver's contempt for cyclists (and pedestrians) in general. Most completely ignore you as if you have no right to be on the road and many would just as soon run you off the road if they have the chance.

Unfortunately this seems to be a nationwide attitude, not just limited to Idaho. I'd love to park my car and ride my bike to work, but the drivers freak me out, even here in Grand Junction, CO which is a bicycle mecca.

regards...Franco

[C_ferreira]

Originally Posted by CafeDelSol

I love biking and would use mine to commute if possible but Idaho Falls definitely does NOT have bikes in mind. There are a few token bike paths here and there but for the most part you're taking your life in your hands. Our city planners don't seem to have a clue how to handle most transportation issues. They can't even build enough lanes for car traffic, much less provide for bikes. For a city of only 60,000 we experience a massive amount of gridlock during peak hours. It's absolutely senseless and completely avoidable.

You also have to keep in mind the typical Idaho driver's contempt for cyclists (and pedestrians) in general. Most completely ignore you as if you have no right to be on the road and many would just as soon run you off the road if they have the chance. I'm not sure where this attitude comes from. It appears to be the worst in eastern Idaho. Contrast this behavior to Wyoming or Washington where traffic comes to a complete halt in every direction if a pedestrian or bicyclist looks like they're even THINKING of maybe crossing the street.

Well, many of Kootenai county's main roads have dedicated bike lanes if not their own separate trail. Up here most drivers will grudgingly swerve for a bicyclist, although there are those jerks that won't. If you are looking for a true bicyclist's town, go to Portland...wow...Nothing can even come close to the bike atmosphere there!!

[Syringaloid]

Originally Posted by CafeDelSol

I love biking and would use mine to commute if possible but Idaho Falls definitely does NOT have bikes in mind. There are a few token bike paths here and there but for the most part you're taking your life in your hands. Our city planners don't seem to have a clue how to handle most transportation issues. They can't even build enough lanes for car traffic, much less provide for bikes. For a city of only 60,000 we experience a massive amount of gridlock during peak hours. It's absolutely senseless and completely avoidable.

You also have to keep in mind the typical Idaho driver's contempt for cyclists (and pedestrians) in general. Most completely ignore you as if you have no right to be on the road and many would just as soon run you off the road if they have the chance. I'm not sure where this attitude comes from. It appears to be the worst in eastern Idaho. Contrast this behavior to Wyoming or Washington where traffic comes to a complete halt in every direction if a pedestrian or bicyclist looks like they're even THINKING of maybe crossing the street.

Don't categorize all of Idaho's drivers based on the drivers in Idaho Falls. Please don't
Boise is full of bike paths on and off of the streets and most people here seem to respect and "share the road". There will always be the drivers who are rude, but Boise really promotes and sells itself as a biking city and you are almost out of style here if you don't have a bike. It is funny that a lot of times, here in Boise, that when I notice an aggressive driver either they have Utah plates or 8B (Bonneville, Idaho Falls) plates. Maybe certain drivers in certain areas have issues? I can see in Idaho Falls that being a biker or pedestrian would be dangerous, but not here in Boise, or the rest of Idaho for that matter.