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Editorial: Our region wants bike trails
Published Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Southern Minnesota deserves bike trails, but it seems the state is focused on extending northern Minnesota trails. In southern Minnesota, we like bikes, too, and we have more year-round population, albeit fewer tourists.
We want a healthy population and we want to address our cardiovascular needs with high- or low-impact exercise. Trails offer this.
Many cycling enthusiasts in southern Minnesota, when looking at the map of Minnesota bike trails, are quick to point out the lack of progress made on trails in the south when compared to north. The state government — more specifically, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources — has a poor reputation to overcome.
And the lack of progress on the Blazing Star Trail — a DNR project that locals love love love and love some more — only expands that bad reputation. People in Albert Lea point blank want a trail that connects to Austin and to the Shooting Star Trail.
It is their long-term dream — and ours — that people can start in Albert Lea and someday ride a bicycle to the Mississippi River entirely by trails. Wow!
It is possible for the DNR to change its reputation. The Minnesota Department of Transportation’s neglected the roads in our region, especially any route connected to Austin. When people went north on vacations, they noticed a clear difference in highway quality.
MnDOT hasn’t totally solved that perception, but some of the highway repair in the past year or two has helped the local perception. The volume of complaining has decreased.
At the Hayward City Hall tonight, there is a meeting of the Blazing Star Trail Joint Powers Board. It starts at 6 p.m. Officials from the DNR and other stakeholders will be present. There will be an informational meeting at 7 p.m.
Like trails? Go to both. Let’s show a local presence tonight.
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Comments
Posted by mrthunder (anonymous) on February 18, 2009 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SOUTHERN MN TO NORTHERN MN. NO COMPARISON. really what is down here to look at.
Posted by Disgusted (anonymous) on February 18, 2009 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have mixed emotions about bicycle trails. The people that holler the most about having them are the same ones that ride their bikes on the main streets during the rush hour. The tax payers support dog parks, bike trails, etc that only a small percentage of them use. It is time for those that want are those who pay.
Posted by truthshallprevail (anonymous) on February 18, 2009 at 5:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would love to have the Blazing Star Trail finished, but with the state of the economy, I don't think it's feasible to do it at this time. That just doesn't make sense when schools are hurting and roads are in disrepair. We need to prioritize. Now... if northern trails are being extended, I think that is unfair... but we down here near Iowa have always been treated as second class citizens... nothing new!!!
Posted by Me2 (anonymous) on February 18, 2009 at 5:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hate to break it to you "Disgusted", but bicycles are legally able to be ridden on streets. This even applies to busy times.
Posted by Serafin (anonymous) on February 18, 2009 at 5:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would love to see Austin and AL connected with a bike trail. But I agree with mrthunder, I much prefer the landscape of the Northern half of the state, and it's a natural place to offer bike trails so I see why it has grown so much up there.
Posted by Disgusted (anonymous) on February 19, 2009 at 7:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Me2 - Thanks for reminding me of something that everybody knows. If bikers need a quiet and peaceful place to ride their bicycles then auto and truck drivers should be able to have streets where they don't have a bunch of bicycles to contend with.
Posted by baldeagle (anonymous) on February 20, 2009 at 1:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We don't "need" a bike trail from here to Austin, much less the Mississippi! C'mon! Get real! There are many more projects that need our attention way more than this! How many people would REALLY use a bike trail that long? And if you do use it, than you can pay for it as well!
Posted by Disgusted (anonymous) on February 20, 2009 at 7:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My comments have been the ones usually voiced by citizens who are not happy with bicycle riders. I thought these comments would get a big rush from all those bikers who supposedly need this trail. If they really wanted it they would have 3 feet of comments posted on this item. This is something that should be voted on. Let the citizens make the decision.
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