Attend the Final Public Meeting!

These are the final public meetings on the Bike Master Plan and Pedestrian Master Plan before Council takes them up for voting. They've been in development since the walking summit and the last bike summit. They've been evolved through a ton of public input and dogged determination on the part of Metro government (Thanks!). They should be adopted!

If you have ideas on how they can be improved, this is your last best chance. They'll have a host of interactive displays and developers on hand to explain and answer.

If you want to show political support for bicycling and walking, we're fairly certain that Council (and the new Mayor) will be setting priorities in part based on public turnout and support for these plans. So come to the one closest to you. Heck, come to two or three - can't hurt, can it? :)

• Pedestrian and Bicycle Public Forum Dec 6, 3110 Lexington Road
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Public Forum Dec 7, 6104 Bardstown Road
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Public Forum Dec 9, 460 Northwestern Parkway

More information at the links above.

The Ped Summit has been realized. A big round of applause for the Built Environment Committee and especially Nina Walfoort for seeing this through.

Now brace for random rambling...

During the course of the many break out sessions, I finally realized something about the "public participation process", which is the most important part of the process is not the power-point, or the brainstorming. The most important part is making lateral personal connections at water fountains and doorways. Many such opportunities arose today.

Another big advantage we had today was getting officials to sit down and listen to Mark Fenton gently nudge them in the right directions on stuff. He's good with language and speaks with experience that more insular residents of Louisville can't summon.

9AM-3PM, Gheens Academy, 4425 Preston Highway. It sounds like there were a lot of cancellations, so you might be able to squeeze in even if you didn't have a ticket.

The Kick-off Reception with Mayor Abramson is on Friday, May 9 at the Kentucky International Convention Center from 5:30-7pm. This reception is free and open to the public, and will take place in room 110; enter off of Third St. in the Trackside doors.

Whether you are attending the Summit or not, please join us for this informal celebration of walking, running, and rolling in Louisville!  Share your ideas with Mayor Abramson and other officials, get a preview of the Summit, and enjoy refreshments and a cash bar.

A pedestrian-friendly community is one that accords the same priority and respect to pedestrians as to other travelers. Walking is transportation, and it is a vital part of our economy and our city. The time of considering pedestrians as second-class citizens on our roads should end now.

Ped summit registration is full. To be placed on the waiting list, call 574-6209.

Jonathan Villines writes:

Registration for the Pedestrian Summit on May 10 is still open, but there are only about 40 23 spots left. If you plan to attend, please sign up today at www.louisvillepedsummit.com. 

The city did a good job on the ped summit workshops. Here are some observations:

Disabilities & Older Adults

This was the best-attended session. It was located off Frankfurt Ave.

This was also the session where Light Rail kept on popping up. If CART wants to locate a base of support for transit, it need only take a few steps out it's front door. I should have brought information about CART to the meeting - now most of those people I'll have to re-contact through nets of personal connections - if I can even remember.