Everglades Exploration Network

Has anyone been keeping up with the progress of the proposed "River of Grass Greenway" (ROGG) ?

The proposal is to build a greenway adjacent to Tamiami trail reaching 70 + miles between Naples(?) and Krome Avenue.Even though it is supposedly to be used by walkers, families, tourists hikers and cyclists to get into the glades,  it seems to me that it would be primarily used by cyclists.

 

JB

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They just spent who knows how many millions paving a so called bicycle lane on each side of the Tamiami Trail roadway and all the bridges had to be widened a foot but it appears to me it was a waste of money. . Its too narrow and dangerous. It would have seemed to me better to put 2 feet on one side instead of 1 foot on both sides.

And now they are talking about a greenway. Will it be on one side or both? How wide will it be? Will it connect to the newly constructed bicycle lanes?

"And now they are talking about a greenway. Will it be on one side or both? How wide will it be? Will it connect to the newly constructed bicycle lanes?"

River of Grass Greenway

I'd like to see this happen, but there will be some challenges. There are some big stretches where you can't keep the Greenway separate from the road without significant construction, e.g., the stretch between the Miami-Dade county line and 40 Mile Bend, and the 1 Mile Bridge. I'd go so far as to say that if the Greenway gets built it will never be a contiguous separate path between Krome and Marco/Naples. Still, it is a worthy project and will open big areas to bikes and walkers that they wouldn't normally visit.

I spoke with the greenway people when they came by to measure at Monroe Station. Apparently the county owns about 100 feet next to the roadway and this is where it would be built. But they told me they were considering using Loop Road..So its possible nothing will change on the Loop Road section. Nothing will change on the East Everglades bridges.

 

If someone wants to walk on the shoulder, they can do so today. It seems to me it will only benefit the cyclists. Lets talk about the new bicycle lane. The millions of tax dollars just spent for this one foot bicycle lane seems to me to be wasted money. The new lane connects directly to the existing roadway creating a dangerous situation of uneven pavement that can through a cyclist into traffic.

Does anyone feel that getting out to the Glades and truly appreciating it can be accomplished by trough cycling.

 When I was at the ROGG meeting East, the child of a cyclist was drawing pictures and drew one of a stop sign. The father told the child not to draw a stop sign because "we" (cyclists) don't believe in them.

I may be stepping on toes but I really feel that cyclist will dominate the ROGG and pedestrians will be dodging them.

A lot of money being spent for an Everglades Experience-hmm? 

And the moral of the story is...

... no matter how many stop signs we face, speak your mind, ask for the improbable.  Cyclist are well organized.  Paddlers are not.  Are we ready to stop, or are we ready to find a common voice and make some noise?  Look at what is about to happen at ENP with mandatory education/licensing/permits/registration (whatever they want to call it) for paddlers.  (Will post more on separate thread.)

However, I agree that cyclist will overrun a greenway.  Recently I found myself contemplating why a Wilderness Area disallows bicycles, it became very clear.  It was not mistaken language.  They did not mean motorized as I had thought, they meant mechanical.  It must have been the realization that cyclist in mass are like locust. 

How many of you have had near collisions on isolated roadways with group cyclists?  I have had several head on encounters with bicycle groups blocking both lanes on the way way to ENP ECVC, at all hours.  Despite my desire to stay in my lane I had to run off the road to avoid killing them in mass.  Unfortunately, it is the reckless disrespect for the rules of the road, and nature, that create problems.  Perhaps a 1-foot lane is better.

I wonder what a cyclist running at a good speed would do when a big ole gator is laying on the side of the road?  Or snakes crossing?  Or when natures wakes up and makes a loud sound???

Could we get paddlers  better organized to research various issues which effects all of us and resist (loudly) that which we disagree with?

 

How about "rumble strips" placed at strategic location on ROGG to slow the cyclist down and denote places where walkers and hikers could stop and observe?

 

JB

This greenway was started from bike groups in EC and Naples. Then the federal transit agency approved 1.5 million for the study. Bikes will be in the mix no matter what. But, there could be non paved sections that would keep narrow tire high speed bikes off the trail or other design features that slow down the speed. Maybe we could get creek access via the trail, to have a place to drop the canoes, then go park and.....use a bike to get to and from the car :)!

An update regarding ROGG.

I have been adding ideas to the on line ROGG discussion.

My last idea about adding "rumple strips" or "speed bumps" at chosen points on the proposed greenway to slow cyclists was judged as not being feasible. It  would cause inconvenience and discomfort for the bikers and they don't like them .So now  I know who has the "power". At my age I should have known. 

Several folks agreed that it would  have been a good idea so I am not alone with my concerns. I guess that I will get off the stump and back to canoeing. 

JB

I'm shocked at the negative reaction to cyclists by all of these posts.  Not what I'd expect from people who typically are non motorized users in the Glades.  I'm supportive of efforts to provide separated pathways for multiple users.  If cyclists seem to be arrogant on the road perhaps it's because they have to be bold in order to claim their lane.  They have as much right to the lane as a motor vehicle, PERIOD.  A separated path all the way across the T trail seems like a giant money pit to me but that's a different conversation.  BTW I'm not a road rider but I obviously support their right to have a safe place to ride.

Who has the power?  If you think that bike groups have the Power, then more Power to them!  Not to get all negative, but really folks, think about it.  Last thought, a bike lane needs to be at least 4 feet wide to be a federal standard, maybe higher on a highway.

Cheers,
TFA

Not all of the posts.  I would be against the speed bumps. I kinda doubt that too many people will be walking alongside the Tamiami Trail other than a few Indians that dont drive.

 

The 4 foot minimum sounds good. The 1 to 1-1/2 foot lane that has just been built is extremely dangerous and that was where my negativity was directed..



toofaraway said:

I'm shocked at the negative reaction to cyclists by all of these posts.  Not what I'd expect from people who typically are non motorized users in the Glades.  I'm supportive of efforts to provide separated pathways for multiple users.  If cyclists seem to be arrogant on the road perhaps it's because they have to be bold in order to claim their lane.  They have as much right to the lane as a motor vehicle, PERIOD.  A separated path all the way across the T trail seems like a giant money pit to me but that's a different conversation.  BTW I'm not a road rider but I obviously support their right to have a safe place to ride.

Who has the power?  If you think that bike groups have the Power, then more Power to them!  Not to get all negative, but really folks, think about it.  Last thought, a bike lane needs to be at least 4 feet wide to be a federal standard, maybe higher on a highway.

Cheers,
TFA

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