Temporary installation on Michigan Street between 3rd Avenue West and 6th Avenue West in downtown Duluth.
June 30—August 4, 2017
The Michigan Street Protected Bike Lane Demonstration Project will offer an opportunity to see how a protected bike lane looks, feels and works in this location. We will be holding special events, collecting usage data and conducting surveys.
Look for the MIC’s display at the Downtown Sidewalk Days Festival. People ages 6 and older will be able to borrow a bicycle and bike helmet from the YMCA’s bicycle fleet to ride through the protected bike lane with a MIC staff member.
The protected bike lane is located one block away from our display on Michigan Street. Participants will ride along the 3-block installation from 3rd Ave West to 6th Avenue west and back again. Complete the online survey at that time and get some great bike schwag (a clip-on hat brim light or reflective pant leg strap) !
Look for the MIC’s display at the Downtown Sidewalk Days Festival. People ages 6 and older will be able to borrow a bicycle and bike helmet from the YMCA’s bicycle fleet to ride through the protected bike lane with a MIC staff member.
The protected bike lane is located one block away from our display on Michigan Street. Participants will ride along the 3-block installation from 3rd Ave West to 6th Avenue west and back again. Complete the online survey at that time and get some great bike schwag (a clip-on hat brim light or reflective pant leg strap) !
Look for the MIC’s display at the Downtown Sidewalk Days Festival. People ages 6 and older will be able to borrow a bicycle and bike helmet from the YMCA’s bicycle fleet to ride through the protected bike lane with a MIC staff member.
The protected bike lane is located one block away from our display on Michigan Street. Participants will ride along the 3-block installation from 3rd Ave West to 6th Avenue west and back again. Complete the online survey at that time and get some great bike schwag (a clip-on hat brim light or reflective pant leg strap) !
The Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council (MIC) will be holding a news conference about the Michigan Street Protected Bike Lane Demonstration Project on July 11 at 10:00 a.m. as part of the DTA’s re-opening celebration of the Michigan Street facility.
Duluth Transit Authority Manager Dennis Jensen will be joined by Joel Sipress (Duluth City Council), Kristi Stokes (Greater Downtown Council), Josh Gorham (St. Louis County Public Health), Ron Chicka and James Gittemeier (MIC) and commuting cyclist Aaron Bransky (Andrew & Bransky, P.A.) to speak about the intent and goals for the temporary installation of the area’s first on-street protected bike lane.
A link to a community survey about the project will be introduced, as well as an invitation to stop by the MIC’s display at the Downtown Sidewalk Days Festival on July 12, 13 and 14 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. People ages 6 and older will be able to borrow a bicycle from the YMCA’s bicycle fleet to ride through the protected bike lane with a MIC staff member.
Planning efforts are underway to develop safe and accessible bicycle routes to and through downtown Duluth.
A gap currently exists for people who bike from the new Duluth Transportation Center on Michigan Street at 3rd Avenue West to the Cross City Trail at 6th Avenue West. This will be the location of a temporary two-way Protected Bike Lane from June 30 – August 4, 2017.
Project Background
The MIC, in partnership with the City of Duluth, applied for and received financial support from the Center for Prevention at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota to implement an “Active Places” demonstration project.
Community engagement is a central part of this Project. We will be seeking to involve all community stakeholders — bicyclists, motorists, elected officials, planners, engineers, downtown commuters and business owners — in trying out the protected bike lane and in giving feedback.
Why are we conducting this demonstration project?
The basis for this project is the community’s recognition that a safe and accessible route is needed to bicycle to and through Duluth’s downtown central business district.
In late 2015, the Duluth City Council passed a Resolution to study Michigan Street as the location for an on-street bike route, to determine its feasibility and likely level of usage. In addition, the Greater Downtown Council provided financial support for a professionally-produced protected bike lane design along this corridor.
On a broader level, recent Community Health Needs Assessments conducted by both local hospitals identified “obesity, physical inactivity and nutrition” as top priorities to be addressed in the Duluth area.
Goals for this Project
Ultimately, with this project we hope to take another step toward implementing an on-street protected bikeway network city-wide to encourage bicycling as a safe, comfortable and accessible transportation option for all ages and abilities.
This Project offers an opportunity to:
What is a Protected Bike Lane?
Protected Bike Lanes are on-street lanes that are separated from motor vehicles by curbs, planters, bollard posts, public artwork, or even parked cars, and meant specifically for people riding bikes.
Protected bike lanes are a ‘best practice’ for on-street bicycle facility design, creating a more comfortable environment for people on bikes, as well as for those walking and driving nearby.
PDF: Why Protected Bike Lanes?
