Haven't had a Ft. Wayne post in awhile

Some Summit and bike lanes talk from Fort Wayne:

Amy Hartzog may not be a member of Bicycle Indiana but she will definitely be at the statewide bicycling summit this weekend in Indianapolis.

Hartzog is a Greenway Associate for the city of Fort Wayne and is a part of the bike planning committee that is shaping the city’s 10-year bike plan. A trip to the summit this weekend will provide information on what other cities around the state have been doing with their bike trails and routes.

Using the information culled from a survey and a bike summit last spring the Fort Wayne is trying to take what people want and implement it into a bike master plan. They are hoping to have the plan ready to go by January.

Hartzog says she wants to bring back from the summit, “new tools and knowledge to help with defining the bike network here in Fort Wayne, basically making Fort Wayne more bicycle friendly.” She is hoping to get information about what other communities have done around the state and apply what works here.

“We can certainly learn from other communities in Indiana to find out what is going on. … We like to plan with people, not just for people,” said Rachel Blakeman, city spokeswoman.

Full story here.

Kudos to Carmel's new CAB system

So, Carmel really has it going on with their new CAB infrastructure. Check it. (HT: IndyStar)

The Carmel Access Bikeway System (CAB) is now completed and will provide safer alternative transportation for cyclists. The CAB network utilizes city streets, multi-use paths, and bike lanes to comprise a system of loops and express routes for cyclists to use.

CAB loops are identified by name and color, which is indicated by signs and ground markings along each course. Loops are geared toward recreational rides. They highlight Carmel’s amenities and neighborhoods. A total of five loops navigate riders throughout the City, and range from seven to fourteen miles. (...)

Express Routes are more direct. They are intended to help cyclists, especially commuters, get from one side of Clay Township to the other more efficiently and safely. These routes can be used to travel to destinations or to network in between recreational loops. The Express Routes are denoted by the color green and are numbered like the interstate system—odd numbers denote north/south routes and even numbers denote east/west routes. There are two north/south and six east/west express routes.

Rest of the article here.

Pennsy Trail Grand Opening tomorrow

For those wanting to celebrate the Pennsy Trail opening, here's some more info on the shindigs, compliments of Indiana Business Journal:

INDIANAPOLIS – (Sept. 24, 2009) Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard will join members of the Irvington community in celebrating the grand opening of the Pennsy Trail at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009.

Indy Parks & Recreation received a $900,000 grant to construct a portion of the Pennsy Trail project on the City’s Eastside as part of Gov. Mitch Daniels’ $19 million trail initiative for the State of Indiana. This 1.2-mile segment of the trail corridor is between Arlington Avenue and Shortridge Road and utilizes the existing infrastructure of the Shadeland Avenue rail bridge overpass preserved from demolition by INDOT specifically for this use.

A full assembly of Irvington Community School students joined Mayor Ballard, Department of Natural Resources Deputy Director Charlie White, Indy Parks & Recreation, and the Indianapolis Parks Foundation in breaking ground on the Pennsy Trail on Nov. 13, 2008, at Irvington Community Elementary School.

Bike, run or walk to the Pennsy Trail Grand Opening this Saturday to experience Indianapolis’ newest greenway!

WHO: Mayor Gregory A. Ballard, Indy Parks Director Stuart Lowry, DNR Deputy Director Jon Vanator, City-County Councilor Ben Hunter, Irvington Development Organization Corridor Development Director Amandula Henry
WHAT: Pennsy Trail Grand Opening
WHERE: On the Pennsy Trail at the Shadeland Avenue overpass (see map below)
WHEN: 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009

View Larger Map

Pennsy Trail Grand Opening

Just got an email about the Pennsy Trail for all you east-siders and Irvingtonians out there:

The much-anticipated first stretch of the Pennsy Trail is now complete and Indy Parks invites you to celebrate its grand opening at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. Indy Parks received a $900,000 grant to construct this portion of the Pennsy Trail project on the City's Eastside as part of Gov. Mitch Daniels' $19 million trail initiative for the State of Indiana. This 1.2-mile segment of the trail corridor is between Arlington Avenue and Shortridge Road and utilizes the existing infrastructure of the Shadeland Avenue rail bridge overpass preserved from demolition by INDOT specifically for this use.

"This trail is critical in connectivity of the Eastside for pedestrians and bicyclists," said Indy Parks Director Stuart Lowry. "The trail connects historic Irvington to the Far-Eastside commercial district along Washington Street and significant destinations including the Irvington Community School and the Ransburg YMCA. The project will assist in meeting the immediate need for bicycle and pedestrian facilities to improve quality of life for Eastside residents."