Chutes and Ladders - Gay Street Viaduct is Uphill Battle

Chutes and Ladders: why pedal over when you can pedal under?

Today I had an exam at 8:10 and needed to be on campus a bit early.

I hoped that perhaps parking on a level spot would let my car's clutch ease back into some kind of working order.

Nope.

Biking time.

Gloves. Check.

Down water resistant jacket: check.

Hat with ear flaps: check.

So I made my way to campus in cold, snowy conditions in time to print off my "reference sheet" at in Hodges Library.

What could make the morning in snowy weather more pleasant easier?

Today I took a route through the old city.  One of my least favorite spots to navigate is Jackson at the Gay Street Viaduct.

The decorative brickwork is awesome and historic, but a pain to bike on.  Plus, why should I bike UP the ramp on Jackson to the viaduct, brake at a stop sign, then lose all that hard-won altitude?

It's much easier just to take the lower portion of Jackson UNDER the Gay Street Viaduct, then pop up.

So I do that.  Complaint?  The pavement is uneven and broken, and it kinda looks like a post-apocalyptic nightmare in sections.  When the Jackson Avenue portion of the viaduct is done, I hope that amenities for cyclists UNDER the viaduct on "old" Jackson, so to speak, will be considered.  

But I still have to bike UP Broadway to get to campus - it's a waste of energy and a date with a Federal Highway.  Not so bad for now - but once the Henley Bridge opens - I'll have to cut across an Interstate exit ramp to get to the Candy Factory viaduct and get to campus.  There's a high chance I'll be smushed by a car as I merge across two lanes.

So the safer option would be a passage UNDER 441, down behind the former McClung warehouses, Southeastern Glass, and Foundry.  This would connect the Old City with the Second Creek Greenway running through World's Fair Park and down to the Neyland Greenway on the Tennessee River.

Bikes on roads is not my first choice.  It's dangerous for cyclists and motorists.  Plus, I'm working pretty hard to move on a road - you never saw Lance Armstrong sucking on a tailpipe (Nevermind other things he was putting into his body - Carbon Monoxide and partially combusted hydrocarbons were not among them). 

Greenways are the "secret gardens" of the transportation world and give a "cheat code" to the city - if we can connect them. 

Commuting by Bike in February - How Greenways Can Make Life Easier

Greenway along the Tennessee River Features Fierce Winter Winds!

I own two bikes - a mountain bike and road bike - and one car. 

The car is a two-seater and seems like a necessity for getting around in Knoxville.

I planned to leave a bit early to get on campus to print off some notes, but had a bit of trouble with my clutch.

For a reason yet-to-be-determined, the transmission would not engage.  Might need new fluid.

In any event, I discovered this about a tenth of a mile from my house, as I tried to engage first gear.  No luck.  Turned on the emergency blinkers, and pumped the clutch pedal, hoping some miracle of mechanics would let me at least limp home.  No dice.

I was able to engage "R" on my five-speed.  Not ideal, but workable.  I gave it some gas and scooted - in reverse - back to my driveway.

Unlocked the basement door and found my trusty Cannondale bike. 

I had about 20 minutes to get to campus.  Not my first choice on this gray, blustery day.

On a nice day, my bike is a joy to ride. A cool fall or warm spring day on a bike is one of the simple pleasures of Knoxville life.  But on a day with a weather system blowing in from the West, an East-West commute via bike can be unpleasant.

A stiff westerly wind adds that extra bit of resistance and can add time to a commute already slowed by signalized intersections and stop signs. 

Of all the routes Westward, perhaps the worse from my home in East Knoxville is along the Tennessee River.  With no windbreaks across the flat water of Fort Loudon Lake, a slight breeze can be a major force to overcome on a tiny bike.  While cyclists are often mocked for wearing skin-tight cycling gear, the more aerodynamic, the better.

As an erstwhile commuting student I don't have time, money, or inclination to don specialized gear.  So what are some options?

First, greenways should be designed to take the path of least resistance - along river valleys, avoiding hills.  A finely tuned cycle can build up a respectable clip on smooth pavement - especially greenways.  Let's minimize intersections with streets or other obstacles that could slow down a cyclist's progress - a key way to make cycling competitive with driving.

Next, windbreaks including plantings of trees should shield cyclists from harsh westerly winds.  You've seen cyclists drafting in professional competitions - it saves energy and time.  But until the city's greenways are packed with cycling commuters, drafting isn't an option.  So let's foil the wind with some carefully selected foliage - nice to look at, and functional in keeping cyclists from heading into the wind.

My commute along first Creek Greenway, down through the Old City, and across World's Fair Park wasn't mucdh fun today - small hills to conquer, a wind chill, and cold.  Yet even without improvements to cycling links between my home and campus, cycling can be on par with driving.

Depending on where I need to be on campus, it can even be faster than driving the two miles from my home to campus.  Why?  I can ride door-to-door on my cycle; with my car, I have to hunt for a parking spot, park, and then walk to class. It takes about the same time, and my brain gets energized from the increased circulation from biking.

With improvements including minimizing intersections, following the path of least resistance, and adding attractive plantings to act as wind breaks, transit time in the city via clean and green cycling could be even better.

What other ideas do you have for making commuting by cycling?  Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Greenways Commission Reorganized

Northwest Greenway Users [Photo: City of Knoxville]

The City of Knoxville Greenways Commission, an advisory board to support implementation of the  Knoxville/Knox County Park, Recreation and Greenway Plan and advocate for greenways, has been reorganized. There are 12 community representatives, plus 8 appointed professional staff. 

Looking over each member's credentials, I can see a diversity of backgrounds and wisdom to bring to this advisory commission. I have the honor of representing the interests of District 4, which includes most of First Creek watershed, Love watershed, Woods, Whites Creek, and Holston River watershed in Knoxville.

I'm grateful to Nick Della Volpe, city council member for District 4, and Mayor Rogero, for the opportunity to serve.

I'll post more about myself soon.

More on the story from the City's Web Site:
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/Press_Releases/Content/2013/0115.asp 

Coverage from the Knoxville News Sentinel:
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/jan/15/citys-greenways-commission-to-meet-again-after-a/