Making room for bikes, walkers on MN streets
A parade of Minnesotans who want Minnesota's streets to be friendlier to pedestrians, bicyclists and people with limited mobility will deliver postcards to Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Monday urging his support for legislation that aims to do just that.
The group of 50 supporters of the so-called "Complete Streets" bill, which passed the House of Representatives 92-37 on Wednesday, plans to deliver 5,000 postcards asking Pawlenty to support the bill if it reaches his desk.
The House bill, HF 2801 from Rep. Mike Obermueller, DFL-Eagan, would require the Minnesota Department of Transportation to take into account the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists and people with limited mobility as well as motorists when they design new streets and street improvements.
Its companion bill in the Senate, SF 2461 from Sen. Tony Lourey, DFL-Kerrick, awaits a floor vote.
More than 500 pedestrians and bicyclists have been killed and 20,000 injured in the last decade on Minnesota roads, according to the Minnesota Environmental Partnership, which is leading the campaign to win Pawlenty's support.
Implementing the Complete Streets policy could result in safer crossing points, more bicycle lanes, more sidewalks and other design elements that would encourage alternate transportation use.
The bill encourages, but does not require, local governments to participate as well as the state.
The group plans to leave from the MEP's office at 546 Rice Street in St. Paul at noon and walk to the Capitol to deliver the postcards to the governor's office.
Crossing guards from Red Pine Elementary School in Eagan will lead the parade, and school children from a sixth-grade class at St. Paul's Franklin Elementary School will also participate.
Minnesota State Capitol
75 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
St. Paul, MN
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Lawrence Schumacher (lawrence@tcdailyplanet.net) is a freelance journalist with 12+ years covering Minnesota communities, government, politics and elections.
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