Why CAN'T I Do This in Jeff Parish?

[globe9]

I like rollerblading and I like riding my bike, however, I live in a neighborhood that doesn't have the best streets. I'm also not very close to the river road paved levee and the lakefront path is in HORRIBLE condition. What I would like to do is either ride the jogging trail at Lafreniere or LaSalle park, but I have seen signs out there that state "no bicycles, skates, etc." and that I will receive a fine for doing so. I like riding at Audubon Park on the weekends, b/c they ALLOW me to ride out there, but during the week, it's too far a drive.

My question is this...why didn't Jeff Parish take us(bicyclists and rollerbladers) into account when building these "jogging" trails? Would it really have been that hard to extend the trails by another lane? I pass by Lafreniere at night on my way home and there is hardly anyone out there on the path! Over at LaSalle, most people don't make the big loop, and I could easily ride or skate without disturbing those precious runners. Even a rails to trails path would be great around here.

Anyway, I'm just ranting b/c it seems any of the amenities I want out of my parish don't exist here, but when I travel to other cities, they all offer so much more(miles and miles of greenbelts with paths for everyone, not just runners), dog parks, etc.) Why is it that we spend billions of dollars in this state(I think we rank up there at like 13th or 14th state in spending), but we have no quality of life?

I may try riding my bike over at LaSalle tonight...that way I won't have to worry about being killed by some crazy driver doing 45mph in a 20mph residential area, and see if someone really fines me.

[Mac da Knife]

Because of an average area-wide citizen IQ of 23, who vote for the likes of Nagin, Morial, Blanco, Broussard, Price, etc.

By the way, *they're* all living quite well.

[BTG]

I like rollerblading and I like riding my bike, however, I live in a neighborhood that doesn't have the best streets. I'm also not very close to the river road paved levee and the lakefront path is in HORRIBLE condition. What I would like to do is either ride the jogging trail at Lafreniere or LaSalle park, but I have seen signs out there that state "no bicycles, skates, etc." and that I will receive a fine for doing so. I like riding at Audubon Park on the weekends, b/c they ALLOW me to ride out there, but during the week, it's too far a drive.

My question is this...why didn't Jeff Parish take us(bicyclists and rollerbladers) into account when building these "jogging" trails? Would it really have been that hard to extend the trails by another lane? I pass by Lafreniere at night on my way home and there is hardly anyone out there on the path! Over at LaSalle, most people don't make the big loop, and I could easily ride or skate without disturbing those precious runners. Even a rails to trails path would be great around here.

Anyway, I'm just ranting b/c it seems any of the amenities I want out of my parish don't exist here, but when I travel to other cities, they all offer so much more(miles and miles of greenbelts with paths for everyone, not just runners), dog parks, etc.) Why is it that we spend billions of dollars in this state(I think we rank up there at like 13th or 14th state in spending), but we have no quality of life?

I may try riding my bike over at LaSalle tonight...that way I won't have to worry about being killed by some crazy driver doing 45mph in a 20mph residential area, and see if someone really fines me.

It bothers me too Globe, we really suck at these kinds of things.

My latest rant is about how the parish has not deemed it neccessary to re-open the library by my house(West Esplanade at Lakeshore play ground) since Katrina. It is a nice building that apparantly had roofing problems that leaked water during the storm.
It is not like the parish has enough libraries as it is. Wouldn't insurance have covered the repairs?
We did a few hundred thousand in landscaping on Vets so they could install some big pieces of metal they call "art" and I know the parish had a surplus of money recently, so why not fix the library?

[cstoehr]

Why? Because you are not one of "them" silly. You need to go into politics to reap the most benefits out of life dontcha know!

[globe9]

It bothers me too Globe, we really suck at these kinds of things.

My latest rant is about how the parish has not deemed it neccessary to re-open the library by my house(West Esplanade at Lakeshore play ground) since Katrina. It is a nice building that apparantly had roofing problems that leaked water during the storm.
It is not like the parish has enough libraries as it is. Wouldn't insurance have covered the repairs?
We did a few hundred thousand in landscaping on Vets so they could install some big pieces of metal they call "art" and I know the parish had a surplus of money recently, so why not fix the library?

OMG!!! Tell me about it! My parents live close to that library and I would use that one often. It was practically brand new and I've often wondered why they didn't seem to have insurance on it or why it hasn't been re-built. And what is with those metal sculptures up and down Vets!!!!! When I first saw the area near the I-10 and Vets by the old celebration station, I thought hmmm...maybe their making a path that will run the length of Vets like they did on Pontchatrain Blvd. in New Orleans, but then I realized it was just some unnecessary "beautification" project that probably costs tens of thousands of dollars. I used to think Jeff Parish was better than Nola when it came to stupid wastes of money, but I think we're probably just as bad. At least Nola has that path that goes the entire length of Pontchatrain Blvd. Jeff Parish could do something like that on Bonnabel(granted it wouldn't be near me, but it would be nice).

I'll be moving in 2 years(gotta wait THAT long due to work obligations for the GF). Haven't decided where yet, but the quality of life and outdoor activities and amneties are going to be a big deciding factor. 2 of my best friends just moved 2 weeks ago from here to Co. Every neighborhood has their own trail system for biking, skating, running, etc. There are parks everywhere(real parks too, not a few lots with a jungle gym), they even have something called a bike library, where residents can check out a bike and return it later for free, just like a book library! Of course here, none of the bikes would be returned, so I know why we can't have nice things. It's like we're living with hundreds of thousands of "children". We can't have nice things b/c they'll mess them up.

[BTG]

2 of my best friends just moved 2 weeks ago from here to Co. Every neighborhood has their own trail system for biking, skating, running, etc. There are parks everywhere(real parks too, not a few lots with a jungle gym), they even have something called a bike library, where residents can check out a bike and return it later for free, just like a book library! Of course here, none of the bikes would be returned, so I know why we can't have nice things. It's like we're living with hundreds of thousands of "children". We can't have nice things b/c they'll mess them up.

If I ever get away I am going to strongly consider CO.
I just spent a week in Seattle and was very impressed with their focus on having bike lanes and jogging paths all over the place. Hell even when visiting my relatives in the concrete capital of the world, Dallas/Ft. Worth, they had those paths connecting different subdivisions and such.

I probably should't bitch too much though because I do use and enjoy the path out by the lake by my house quite a bit.

[RouxTheDay]

I feel your pain!
I live in Algiers and swim/bike/run 4-6 days a week. NONE-zip-zero of my training is done on the Westbank.
The last time I ran near my house, someone in a U-Haul hit my arm w/ their mirror going about 50mph. (yes, it hurt, yes, I bled, yes, I cried)

The metro N.O. area is really behind the times on this front. However, there are a few active initiatives to add bike lanes around town. ....I'd still be petrified. I ride the levee 90% of the time. I occasionally ride at the Lake because we swim out there, too...but people aren't exactly bike friendly around here-Much less "bike aware".

I ran at LaSalle for the first time this morning-that path is narrower than Audubon so you may have issues-but it seems like you could ride on the roads around the perimeter of the whole complex. (there was no traffic out there at 5:30 this morning:))

[justagirl]

Just walking from Saints games last year, I got hit by a car not once but two different times. And no, I wasn't drunk. I don't know if they were though.

Sorry, that doesn't offer much to the thread....just needed to get that off my chest I guess.

[globe9]

There is absolutely no bicycle awareness around here. I'd be terrified to have to actually ride somewhere as a form of transportation and not just for recreation. Heck, I'm scared when I'm just riding through my neighborhood. No one adheres to the posted speed limits in the neighborhood around here, not even the cops.

Bicyclists should be treated just like any other car or motorcycle on the rode. Granted, some of the people I see riding bikes are morons too. I always see some old guy riding his bike West down West Metairie in the Eastbound lanes...in the lane closest to the canal at that!!! He's just asking to get hit. Then there are the kids who just ride down the middle of the street. When I approach them from behind in my car, I expect them to go right in the street near the curb to allow me to pass, but what do these dumb kids do? They slow down then do a big lefty WIDE turn right in front of me and go back in the opposite direction! Where are the parents? I actually go about the speed limit in my neighborhood, but most don't and one of these kids is lucky they haven't been killed yet.

I've considered just riding in the street around LaSalle, but I don't get up at 5am:) And when I got by the Saints complex, I'd have to turn around or get onto Airline, which is suicide IMO. It would just be nice to be able to loop a 2 mile track 4 or 5 times. I don't get why they needed another jogging trail only a mile or 2 from the very nice one they already have at Lafreniere anyway? Maybe they could have one of those trails for bikers and skaters and one for runners, or maybe they could alternate. Lafreniere, from the looks of it, has been all but abandoned by joggers after 6pm anyway since that murder. I don't know how it looks early morning.

I'm just ranting I know, but it's good to get it off my chest and maybe if someone from the parish ever sees this something could be done.

The linear bike path along the lake is great btw, used to ride it all the time as a kid, but is it still in horrible condition or have they repaired it? It was dangerous riding that last time I did with loose gravel, shells, garbage strewn all over the path...potholes, etc. Also, I have to ride after work and it's pretty isolated and desolate up there behind the levee after dark.

[bdavid]

It's the same on the supposedly greener NorthShore - at least in Mandeville. There aren't even shoulders on most roads, so riding a bike is terror-filled. Very few sidewalks, even inside neighbourhoods. I like to walk or bike to the library or the grocery store, but I'm taking my life in my hands. They are each only about a mile or so away, but I have to take the freaking car. Makes me crazy. Even getting onto the Trace (which I can use to get to the library) is difficult.