One of my children is of the observant type, and could tell me, turn by turn, how to drive to the library from my rural home by the time she was in preschool…

On the topic of bike safety and training, I can say - as a member of the newly minted committee which will help administer the community’s PaTHS grant (from MnDOT’s “Safe Routes to Schools” program) - that better training of children AND adults is part of our plan. As I understand it right now, members of the committee, or other concerned citizens, will attend “train-the-trainer” style workshops, then impart their new skills to young bike riders and adult riders and drivers.

And speaking as a private citizen, I sure wouldn’t mind if a few stop sign-running bicyclists got moving-violation tickets from the NPD - say, in front of Bridge Square. I bike every day, and more days than not I see some (usually helmetless) fool blaze through a stop sign on his or her bike. A few well-placed tickets might help slow biking speeds downtown, keep bikers off the sidewalks, and prevent the inevitable tragedy that will happen when Biker A meets Driver B.

bright@beautywood.com

Bike and Pedestrian access IS currently possible.

You can currently get to the location by the use of the crosswalk and light at Highway 3, or you can use the pedistrian/bikepath under the bridge at the river on Highway 3.

I know it is being used, as I see bikes parked in front of the Athletic club, as well as down at the ballfields behind Tacoasis.

It is NOT fantastic, and there are no sidewalks on Woodley, but you “could” get there.

The safest method currently would be to call Northfield Transit, put your bike on the front, and get dropped off there.

I do not see families with small children being able to access the site a this point. Not enough safety margin in the crosswalk timing.

There is the occasional Bike Safety Rodeo put on by the Northfield PD, usually around healthy kids day.

I agree that more of that program would be benefical, however, everything to do with a child begins at home.

I have taught my child the ways of the road on a bicycle. He is quite responsible.

However, as a cyclist, walker, and driver in Northfield, I can say that the habits of cyclists in Northfield are for the most part HORRIBLE!. Cyclists need to remember that they need to follow the rules of the road as well. So many times I have almost hit a cyclist blowing through an intersection, running stop signs, riding against traffic, or my favorite, riding with no hands, in the wrong lane, with the ipod in one ear, and a cell phone in the other.

Safety begins at home, and needs to have refresher training frequently and often.

Also, Sibley is having a bicycle registration next week, but was only allowed to do it BEFORE school. No presentation or registration was allowed during school hours. I think a bike and walking safety assembly in our schools in the spring and fall would be a great thing, and a great use of any “safe routes to schools” funding the city obtains.

I am also a believer that cyclists should be ticketed and fined for traffic offenses.

Until there is some kind of comprehensive school and licensing for these
pre teenage bikers, I’d be hard pressed to think they will ever be safe.

I have taken to telling them, “Hey! you are in the wrong place!” and then I get an “Yeah, yeah, yeah, so what” kind of look and wave.

Robert Hall-Did your grandpa run a men’s clothing chain in Chicago last century? I’d be happy to see your Micky D photos.

On my last visit, recently I drove through a suburb of Chicago. With Filters Up, went 6.78 blocks on an arterial business stretch, without seeing a thing, including on coming cars, pedestrians, and low flying aircraft. Heard an airplane … and did hear sirens, I think and possibly felt the presence of an oscillating red blur, twisting in my peripheral vision … ( cop’s mars lights? Maybe?) but saw no need to stop, or look further.

Great way to travel the hi an by-ways of ‘merica.

Oh, and by the way .. Earlier on this thread Betsey spoke of her hopes back in the Target day … that the conversation would shift to: “Do it our way!”

(Could that be the N’fld Brand theme … sounds familiar … probably copyright protected )

Don’t know where you were Betsey, perhaps raisin’ babies, but it (the conversation) did shift … at the plan commission and publicly, although not successfully. The old 4 of 7 game (votes!)

Dicy in those days .. not well-seated as things are today. Duh!

I personally was kicked off the Pl Comm. by the Mayor because I lobbied from my brief PC seat, against the Council’s wishes, for a downtown, multiple storied, Q-block-sited Target with a TIF supported parking lot on city owned property, over there.

Even had a dream then that T would save the Co-op’s Elevator and mark it with a T logo much like the T Center in Mpls….

That was exactly ten years ago.

Arguably, using the same vision support in my vehicle today, filtering Brand Name American biz .. I could envision on the site were Cub and T sit today, the corporate business campus, N’fld’s EDA had designated the cornfield at Hy 3 and Cnty. 1, for.

Arguably the struggling in-fill retail coming north up Hy 3 to Jeff Parkway, would all be of a different nature … and the DT, supported by T’s presence would be relatively stable.

Some reasons why that didn’t happen.

#4 City’s leaders were afraid to take-a-pass on the business … and related property taxes it would pay.

#3 Citizens were convinced that T’s property taxes… would reduce theirs (Citizens)

#2 Target wanted cost free land, and by purchasing excess acreage they were able to build on land that eventually Cub and Applebees paid for.

And the number one reason T didn’t come DT: The Target representative put nickel bags of M&M’s on selected front row seats in the Council Chambers and hungry citizens dressed in Target Red T Shirts filled the seats at every meeting, munching on chocolate and peanuts … and often finding need to shout-out curses to the Pl Comm. Chairperson. Fact!

OTHER FACT: (Bringing this back to BRANDING)

T’s two or more story retail store didn’t fit their (T’s) brand or, T’s economic plan.

Evidently it DID fit Northfield’s … or did we have one?

FULL DISCLOSURE: I can remember the fifties … as a six thousand dollar a year television director, living above a Liquor Store (haunted by liquor stores?) on Chicago’s north-side, with a pregnant wife. Nickels were rare, pennies were pinched. At work, we’d go out for lunch, run to the “new concept” eatery with arches … FAST-FOOD … no billions yet sold … and, with 50¢ in my sweaty hand, purchase a burger with fries and a strawberry shake… and get a few pennies change.

Seemed like a good deal, I must confess.