Two ways to grow bike routes

Here's the tale of two cities and two strategies for making paths for bicyclists and pedestrians. South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg said he indeed wants to grow the network of about 60 miles of bike routes in South Bend that he inherited from his predecessor, Stephen Luecke, but admits that the limiting factor is funding. “Everything we do has to be paid for,” he said. “That won’t change.” His administration’s strategy, Buttigieg said, is to look for opportunities to add amenities for pedestrians and cyclists whenever streets have to be repainted, rebuilt or otherwise torn up. The route system so far offers 13.8 miles of multi-use paths apart from the streets, 16.4 miles of bike lanes painted on the streets and 29.7 miles of other routes, mostly streets that have simply been marked with “Share the Road” signs, the city reports. Efforts like these, with a lot of collaboration from local bicycling advocates, have earned South Bend the title Bicycle Friendly Community from the League of American Bicyclists. Here’s what’s coming this year. Linking South Bend, Mishawaka: South Bend began work this spring to build a 1.2-mile multi-use path to link an existing one, the Northside Trail along the St. Joseph River, with Misha-waka’s Riverwalk. The new path will stretch between 21st Street and Logan Street and run alongside Northside Boulevard/Pleasant Street and 26th Street. Work is expected to be done this fall. The trade-off is that South Bend will vacate— and cut off car traffic to — Northside between 26th and 27th streets and the single block between 36th and Logan streets. Chippewa Avenue: “Share the Road” signs will be added this summer from Gertrude Street to Keria Trail, said Chris Dressel, the city’s bicycle coordinator. Chippewa: Bike lanes will be painted from Keria to Main Street. Gertrude/Linden Road: “Share the Road” signs will be posted from Prairie Avenue to the St. Joseph Valley Parkway.  

Problem spots for safe cycling

If you would have told Steven Carey there was a safer alternative to bicycling on Indiana 23 - where he was killed in February - he may never have taken it, his brother Russ said.  

Procession aims to show how bikes, cars can co-exist

SOUTH BEND — Bicyclist Steven Carey’s death on Feb. 19 sparked advocates to create a procession that will usher cars and bikes — together and without police escort — down Indiana 23 at just 10 mph Wednesday.