This is my neighborhood. I am trying to figure out what I can do to voice to the city (or anyone who will listen really at this point), that there are people in the neighborhood who support bike paths. This path would make it possible for me to commute nearly the entire way to work on either a bike path or bike lane. My kids, and the kids of many of the people who oppose the path, also currently ride on this street down to the neighborhood shopping center. Our neighborhood currently has about the fewest miles of bike paths of any area in the city. I certainly don't want to see more trees than are absolutely necessary removed to install the path, but I think there is enough green space in the parkway to accomodate both bikes and trees. Any ideas are welcome.

This is the opposition group's website: http://www.savestinson.org/

Insult their greenie sensibilities by asking them how many trees lost their delicate lives with the building of the roads and expressways for their vehicles. Then proceed to point out the eco-evil that lies in them not encouraging the use of gas-alternative transportation.

That should get them. Either that or take it by force, Khan.

Link their opposition to socialism. It always works for me. The truth is, you can link just about anything to socialism and make them look like Nazi's and have them change their minds so they don't look bad.

Interesting suggestions so far...

How about involving your statewide bicycle advocacy groups? Here in WI we have the Bicycle Federation of WI who does a great job advocating for bike lanes, paths, etc. At the very least write some letters to your city and county representatives, as well as reps at the State level to let them know that the whole community will benefit from a bike path in your area. Make it clear that you envision it as a benefit for families, not individual cycling enthusiasts.

You may get more info if you posted in the Safety and Advocacy forum.

Thanks all for the suggestions. I have contacted the city, the parks department and my legisislators. I also belong to a local group that supports bike/walk and public transit initiatives to see if they can help.

I am most bothered by their claims about safety. There aren't nearly enough safe places in our area to ride and this street is particular is a problem.

Sounds like its just a bunch of NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) Or front yard as one of the letters stated (who puts a house facing AWAY from the street???? (only thing I can think of)....

About the tree removal, I bet it wouldnt be hard to get pro-path orgonizations to agree to plant (from donations, not tax dollars) two trees for every tree removed..... Kinda kills that option.

I take it that the path is supposed to go on public land.... Why do these people care? It dosent appear that it would go through their property.... Any mention of Eminent Domain being used?

I wonder if there is a fear of crime being generated..... The cops are probably worried that they would be forced to exercise instead of sit in their cruisers and eat donuts :p

JMHO
Billy

NIMBY is probably a huge part of it. Change=bad.
I also wonder how much they're inferring from the crime problems on the Greenway. After all, that was hailed as great leap forward and "bicycle freeway" and it's not exactly worked out that way.
Lastly, while Stinson is indeed not a great place to ride (industrial feeder street), I wonder if there isn't a better way to solve the problem, because the solution I see looks damned expensive.

Then again, I don't fully understand the problem.