GCC Members,

I recently attended and spoke at the Alachua County Commissioner's
meeting concerning the future of 16th/23rd Ave.  Following a
presentation by city engineers and staff, I supported the consensus
decision on "Option 4," discussed this summer on this list, which
yields a full bike lane (ideal) in favor of a widened and levelled
gutter with a solid painted 3.5' lane and bicycle safety signs on the
side of the road (do-able).  Option 4 was arrived at with the input of
several GCC members, Bike Ped Advisory Board members, and a
representative from a neighborhood group at a summer planning meeting
(to be fair, some BPAB members changed course, see below).  The
Commission approved moving forward in portions (called a "30%" motion)
with this and other aspects of the plan, none of which are ideal, but
most of which seem well-researched and doable.  One big thing that
will happen is a joint city and county meeting on the issue, at which
we hope to organize attendance.

There is clear miscommunication between GCC advocates, a portion of
the BPAB members, and County Commissioners on certain issues.  I think
cycling advocates should and are taking responsibility for this matter
(such as the formation of the GCC Commuter Group, see my prior post).
In particular, BPAB reversed course and proposed a multi-modal
two-lane transformation of the corridor, the most radical, and in my
opinion desirable, outcome of any redevelopment.  Commissioners,
including Chairperson Cynthia Chestnut and Commissioner Pinkoson,
refused, as the BPAB and all of us I think expected, to even consider
this proposal.  It has long been known as a deal breaker.
Unfortunately, at this point, I don't see that we as a cycling
community are speaking with a united voice on planning.  I spoke after
the meeting to some BPAB reps about this, and we aim to communicate
more effectively in the future.  Make no mistake, though, the small
advocacy portion of the cycling community is fractured in how to
approach the Commission and its staff.  It is something we will have
to work on in the future, and an important reality to address if we
are to make some progress in getting a good comprehensive plan
realized.  It is the old challenge of how to make radical and
necessary changes (like the BPAB proposal) inside a fundamentally
conservative bureaucracy (in which even the most progressive governing
bodies operate).

One thing I knew already, and had confirmed, is that it only takes one
or two people speaking before a county or municipal group to influence
policy.  For good or ill, this fact suggests the need to better
organize ourselves at the County and City meetings, a task the
Commuter group may likely undertake.

In Solidarity,

James Thompson
Adv Director, GCC

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