Wayfinding Signage is Coming to Reno Bike Routes (or at least the Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway)!

Yep.  Another step forward is in the works!  A little birdy at Washoe County told me that there is money in the pot for this and they are moving forward on selecting signage options for the river path.  I'm hoping that the standard can then be applied to our bike routes in town....but that will be a separate project to start pushing.  Anyway...another round of positive news for everyone who likes to get around by means other than cars!

Outside living - not at it's finest.

Yesterday I highlighted some of the progress that really is happening along the river path....including a new hotel downtown and some apartments near Broadhead park.  I also hinted at the increasing problem of homeless camps along the river path.  Here's a few pics to help illustrate the issue.  Unfortunately, it's not a small problem.

Not a small area....they span almost a 1/4 mile of the path.

Chopping fire wood....aka...damaging the limited trees we do have.

More camps...and yeah....that's a discarded shoe in the lower left.

More camps.

Camps with "paved" entryways and signed names.

A lot of garbage...this will probably end up scattered around the path and in the river.

Progress?

Just another commuter morning.  I was merrily headed down Mill St. as it has become my default ride....when I decided it had been far too long since my last ride on the river path.  So detours were made.

Turns out things are changing on the old river path.  Just behind the automobile museum a new hotel is progressing.  While this isn't my favorite use of the property, because it just backs up to the river rather than showcasing the potential natural beauty.  It is at least helping clean up the homeless camps that use to exist along the river bank.

A little further down the path (next to Broadhead Park) some more apartments are going up on some long standing vacant land.  So I guess things are "progressing" here in Reno.  At least building things up indicates the economic gears are turning.

The problem is that while both of these locations are being "cleaned up" by development.  The previously distributed homeless camps have just been pushed down river. 

Photo stolen from Reno-Rambler!

I didn't take pictures this morning of the growing tent cities along the path....but let's just say they are larger than in the picture above (taken this summer by the Reno-Rambler).  In one case they even have a sign denoting a name for the camp.  So yeah, the river path was a little depressing this morning and clearly indicates that "Progress" and "Economic development" are only relative terms.

Tahoe-Pyramid Bike Path.

Here's a little on the history and the future of this great resource and the lady who is largely responsible for making it a reality!

More bike infrastructure updates.

A week or two ago I posted on the new street access from the river path up to East McCarren Blvd. that was being worked on (here).

Well, now in addition to access from trail to road....there are ped/bike specific bridges on either side of McCarren! 

These will connect to improved bike lane and perhaps some separated bike paths that are part of the McCarren update project that should be wrapping up as summer rolls in.  So if your in the area in the next few months check it out.

Lunchtime search for single track.

Ok, so I found a little bit....you take what you can get!  I just had a little time at lunch for a short ride, so I headed East on the River path.  There is one short section on my way from Rock Park that gives a single track feel.  Other than that it's just miles and miles of lovely bike path along a river.  I guess I'm just meant to suffer on a horrible 60 degree day with blue skies in the middle of February!

River path Revival?

If anyone has actually read this blog over the years, you'd find a ton of early entries focus on the river path that runs between Reno and Sparks.  It's a go to commute option for me and I've probably talked about every aspect (path condition, lighting, homeless folks, closures, etc.).  And truth be told for the last several months I haven't even been riding it...I've been using the slightly more direct route down Mill Street.

So lately some of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) folks have been wanting to reevaluate the path and try to make it a shining example of existing bike/ped infrastructure.  And it should be noted that while and example of infrastructure....it is currently certainly not shining!

The evaluation is going to be thorough this time around and will look a little something like this (in the vision in my head)....

A participant will be assigned a section of the path and provided a large format plot of the area like this (via google maps):

The participant will then ride (or walk) the section evaluating things like path width, pavement condition, associated traffic hazards, general hazards for cycling or walking, etc.  The will  then mark up their map and add pictures or comments about certain items of concern like this:

So in this case red stars indicate crossing hazards (...that parked cars hinder the view of approaching motorists making crossing the street and increased hazard), line colors are coded to path width (green = greater than 10 ft, blue = 6ft, red = less than 6 ft), and finally the red lightning bolt indicates a walking / cycling hazard.

They can then add pictures to make the issues clearer for the evaluating entity like this:





These two pictures are tied to the red stars, where parked vehicles (in this case RFD!) block motorists from seeing people who are crossing the street at both the pedestrian crossing and the river path.

Another example, this time representing the red lightning bolt:

Here the path...just terminates at a stairway with little or no warning!

Although if you have mad skills there is a ramp you can ride, or at least roll your bike down!

Like I said...you better have the skills.  And then be able to stop/turn on a dime if you don't want to be in traffic!

Anyway, that's the type of evaluation we're hoping to accomplish for the entire length of the river path.  It is a big job and will take some time, but if your interested let me know and I'll get you the print outs for the portion of the path you're willing to critique!

The reason for good bike lights!

I've been lazy as of late.  I admit it and I'd even call it cheating, but I've been catching a ride home with wifey and throwing the bicycle on the rack.  In the mean time she is putting in massive morning treadmill miles and I've started to feel like a bit of a loser.  So yesterday I decided it was time to get back in the saddle (such as it were) and ride home. 

This was immediately interrupted by friends planning to hit Great Basin for beer after work.  I responded by raising my game....riding for beers and then home.  So it was fully dark when I finally hit the river path from the trip from Sparks back to Reno.  Fortunately, I have good lights on the bike.....because the lights on the path either seem to be out or not on a correct timer.

Nothing new I suppose, they were this way last year until I found the right person to get them working.  I guess it's going to be a yearly thing on the to do list.

This is what it looked like last night.

At least ONE light was working under the Sutro underpass.

No such luck at the East 2nd St. underpass.  They seem to keep the street lights running up on the road...just not the ones on the path!

Not a great scenario when the homeless already frequent the area.

Basically everywhere highlighted in red the majority of lighting was out or turned off.  Hence the need for good bike lights!

 

Once you get into Reno proper it seems to not be an issue.  The lights were burning bright at the ice rink and at Wingfield island too.

 So anyway, if you are doing the evening commute be sure to keep these lights charged or the dynohub turning!

Bridge work is for real!

I was out of town over the weekend (and through Monday!) for a friends birthday brewery tour, but I returned to the river path this morning.  The presents just keep coming as I encountered the city of Reno crew completely ripping out and replacing the deck on the river path bridge!

Unfortunately, they don't sign the detour until you're about 50 yds. from the closure.  This leaves you to detour out on to 2nd St. / Glendale Ave. which isn't exactly bike friendly.

At least the sparks are flying on the rehab!

Out with the old decking!

The only thing to do now is hope that the new deck they put down is silky smooth and lasts for a good long time.  I'll let you know how it's looking throughout the week.

Secret Love Affair....with the bike path.

If you've read this blog for any length of time you might get the idea that I am secretly in love with the river path.  Even I notice how often I post about it....and the fact that we tend to get together almost every day (and even on the weekends sometimes).  Wifey has always managed to turn a blind eye to this....and as of the last few years she has even made friends with the path herself.

This morning however, I encountered something I didn't really ever expect.  The river path seems to return the sentiment!!

Now, I'm not sure who the "artist" is....but it appears their medium is torn up discarded t-shirt, carefully rolled and aligned with, well let's just say love.  I wonder who the message is actually for, but since I'll never know, I'm going to assume that it is a general message to all cyclists from the path itself.  So if you were out on a bicycle on this chilly morning, just remember the ride loves you just was much as you love it!

River path construction project.

Well, it appears that the construction on the path just east of Rock Park is a bit more extensive than fixing a few sprinklers.  They've torn out the path all the way under the bridge and started building a wall on the south (river) side of the path.  I'm not sure exactly why....as the path has never flooded here to my knowledge and it was in good shape.  I'm planning to stop by and ask the workers what's up and how low to expect the closure next week.  It's inconvenient at best and there is no easy detour.  Even if you head out on Rock Blvd. and try to cut down off the overpass to re-access the path they have the dirt trail blocked off.

So for know you're out of luck if you want to head east of Rock Park.

River Path Construction.

After my "low stress" portion of the morning commute, I exit the river path at Rock park and head south on Rock Blvd.  As I was crossing the river on the bridge, I was looking down at the path and noticed a nice little barricade across the path.  I'm not sure what their up to.

If I had to guess, I'd bet something is wrong with the sprinkler system in the park and the removal of the asphalt in the trail is for a repair.  Let's hope they get ambitious and fix up the path while their at it!

River Path Lighting update.

 

In an effort to get more of these I touched base with a contact in the Traffic Engineering department for the city of Reno.  He let me know that the lighting is the responsibility of the Parks department (and provided me with a contact).  I've emailed this new contact with the rather grim statistics on how many of the lights are currently working.  We'll have to see what comes of it....I know the parks department was subjected to some pretty harsh budget cuts over the last few years.  Hopefully, they can still afford light bulbs!

River Path Update.

Shake the frost and ice out of your beard (or scarf ladies), the results are in for the river path light pole stats and the upgraded entrance ramp.

First up, the construction I noted last week at the "entrance" of the river path was indeed an expansion of the graded section from curb to street level, so you shouldn't have any problem entering even if pedestrians are present (so bunny hopping the curb isn't necessary).  Just for note, I don't believe it is possible to bunny hop an Xtracycle so this works out great for me.

So the other note for today is I did count the lights that were on vs. off on my commute home last night.  Just as a refresher, last week I counted them (each and every one) as I rode in.  Between the automobile museum and fisherman's park there are 92 lamp posts.  I guessed that 50 to 75 percent were not working.  The real numbers (drum roll please) are:

 45 lights like this (working).

47 lights like this (not working).

So for you math folks out there that works out to 49 % working and 51 % not working.  And to top it off, the lights that do work are in some of the nicer areas like parks.  The areas most likely not to work....under bridges and in the longer isolated sections of the trail.  NOT a good combination of factors for safety!

Anyway, those are the numbers.  Now on to the hunt for the most important number....the one that reaches the person who can get these lights working again.  I'll keep you updated if I find it!

Bike path entrace gets an upgrade?

I was planning to ride in on the surface streets and the "dreaded" Mill St. (which is really pretty good), when I notice some orange cones at the entrance to the river path.

So being nosy and needing something to blog about I promptly changed plans.  It looks like they have redesigned or expanded the sidewalk / street interface. 

Sorry about the blur factor....cameras and bikes are fine until you make it 20 degrees and have medium weight gloves to work with!  From the looks of this shot I think they widened the portion of the sidewalk that grades down to street level so you don't have to funnel so narrowly to access the trail.  This is a pretty good improvement, as pedestrians and cyclist were often competing for space on the narrow entrance.

I'll swing by next week to see if my guess on the improvements is right.

River path aesthetics

The aesthetics of the river path vary along its route....  You get lovely power washed sidewalks through downtown reno.

 

You get long open stretches of trail along the river.

 

You also get some areas that aren't getting the attention they need.  Case in point....

The section of the trail is just past Fisherman's park along Galletti Way.  For some reason, the sprinkler system was shut down this summer just along this section.  If you look carefully you can see the grass turns green just past the orange construction cone (that's been sitting there for 4 months).  

Don't get me wrong, it's Reno (or in this case Sparks) and I understand that grass is not a practical ground cover in the desert.  This location has been left for so long however, the large trees are starting to die.  And if you ride this path in the summer you will seriously appreciate any shade you can get....not to mention they've been here for about a hundred years (just a couple but still).  

Now stepping up on my official soap box....

So what gives Sparks?  I know the sprinkler system leaked before....it still leaks water across the path as you can see.  It used to leak and water the grass and trees, now it just leaks.  Forget the grass....throw down some grus (dg) whatever, but at least fix the system or replace it with a drip system so the trees don't die.  I like the shade while riding in the summer, but if they all die then we get to spend more money to cut them all down, chip them up, and transport them (probably to a land fill).  Is that really the intelligent thing to do??  So fix the watering system!!!!

Ok, stepping off soap box.

The sad part is it's probably already to late.  I've been noticing it all summer and just didn't get around to gripping to a real person.  I just sent an email last week to the only contact I know in Sparks (a city engineer).  Good news is it's been raining a bit...and winter looks like it might be early.  Maybe they'll hang tough until someone actually works on it!