End of Year Newsletter
Hey All ! Here is what’s going on in the Baton Rouge bike world:
Open Meeting - January 14, 6:00 PM, Carver Branch library
Come find out what Bike BR is up to, how you can get involved and maybe even make some new friends! (Click here for Facebook event page)
Light the night!
Through your membership fees and other donations, we were able to give out over 750 sets of lights in 2019! We hope to do even more in 2020! Please consider donating if you are able. And if you’d like to volunteer with the LIGHT THE NIGHT program, helping to distribute the light sets when the time comes, let us know.
New Legislation
Vulnerable Road Users Law - There is a renewed push to pass a vulnerable road users (VRU) law in Louisiana: LA HCR46. Here is an explanation of what a VRU law is and why we need one in Louisiana. There is more info about it on our policy page as well.
Please take a moment and contact your state legislators and urge them to pass this legislation.
S.20177 - Complete Streets Act of 2019 - this would help increase funding for “complete streets” projects, which means better walking and biking conditions.
Please take the time to contact your representatives and senators and urge them to pass this legislation.
Infrastructure Updates
LSU is becoming more bike-friendly by adding bike lanes. More on that here. Basically, they’re extending the Dalrymple bike lane from the traffic circle at Lakeshore to Highland Rd and adding a bike lane on S. Stadium from Nicholson to Highland. They’re scheduled to be in place by end of January! LSU is in the process of completing a long-term transportation and mobility plan, and these bike lanes are but the first steps. The plan isn’t public yet, but from what we’ve seen, it will be a massive step forward in terms of pedestrian/bicycle safety and accessibility.
The Downtown Greenway is deep into its Phase 2! The portion in the neutral ground on North Blvd from 8th to 9th street is being worked on as you read this, as is the brand new portion connecting North Blvd with Expressway Park to the South. Expect a ribbon cutting in the Spring!
Levee Top Path - The city/parish has begun work on the missing segment of the multi-use path that sits atop the MS River levee. Currently, the path extends from the Hollywood Casino, just north of the State Capitol building, south to Farr Park. There is another segment from Ben Hur Rd. to the L’Auberge Casino. The new segment will connect the two pieces, creating a 13-mile continuous path! Work is scheduled to conclude sometime in 2020!
BREC’s CAPP Health Loop - As part of BREC’s Capital Areas Pathways Project, a crucial missing segment of the “Medical Loop” was completed earlier this year. Located next to the new Ochsner’s medical center, the Ward Creek Bridge was “officially” opened, connecting two existing pieces of the Ward Creek Trail.
MOVEBR
Bike Baton Rouge is actively engaged with the MOVE BR [https://movebr.brla.gov/] process. This newest City-Parish program, spread out over 20 years and costing +1 $BILLION, is largely a motor vehicle capacity effort. That is, more roads on the periphery of the city and one or two fairly major projects within the city (Airline Highway being one of them).
As new construction, all projects should be constructed under Complete Streets guidelines. That is, using a context-sensitive view, all new construction should include sidewalks, bike facilities, mass transit stops, and other amenities, where applicable.
Bike Baton Rouge has at least one representative on the Move BR Technical Advisory Committee and we have representatives on the City-Parish Complete Streets Advisory Committee. Both of these committees provide input on the design of these projects.
In time, the "amenities" portion of the program will kick in. This is where all the sidewalks, bike facilities, street furniture, trees, etc., are found. Community input for these projects will be called for. Bike Baton Rouge will be paying particularly close attention to this part of the program. As this is the first new construction wave since the inception of the Complete Streets ordinance we look forward to discovering how things will work.
Get Involved!!
Mid City Gras!
With a Lawn Mower riding Squirrel for its mascot/totem, Mid City Gras (MCG) held its inaugural parade in February 2018. The Lawn Mower riding Squirrel will putter down North Boulevard for the 3rd year in 2020. Like most Mardi Gras Krewes, MCG holds a Grand Ball before the Parade. In 2020 the Ball takes place on Saturday, February 1st. The Parade follows on Sunday, February 16th.
Bike Baton Rouge has been there from the beginning providing volunteer assistance at the Ball and at the Parade in exchange for a slot in the parade. All members may ride in the parade for free!
Sign up for one or all of these!
Volunteer to help at the ball on February 1
Volunteer to help at the Parade on February 16
Ride in the Parade!! (Free for active members. Sign up here!)
BR Bike Fest - in partnership with BREC and others, Bike BR will host its first annual Bike Fest on April 4, 2020! We’ll celebrate all things Bike with races, games, info booths, etc. We’ll need some help organizing and working the event itself. Click here to volunteer!
Bike-In Movie!!!
We’ll be screening Motherload, a great documentary about super awesome bike-commuting moms! It will be Saturday, February 29 at 5:30 at Tin Roof Brewery, so mark your calendars! More updates to follow. Facebook event page is here.
Group Rides
Cold weather ain’t gonna bring us down…nor keep us inside! These group rides are still rockin’ and rollin’ (mostly rollin’). Be sure to check them out. They’re a great way to see the city, make friends and plan future rides together!
Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
#Yeahbike!!
