Parking issues?

[nigel]

Guess I have a question/comment and a rant that has nothing to do with parking....sooooo

Parking, today (Tues 5/13) I parked at the school lot, as I have been doing for years. I was approached by a staff member after I came back from my ride and was asked not to park there again. Now I know they have recently placed signs up in that lot that say "non school use of this lot is unlawful" but down by the trailhead there are signs that say "parking available in the school lot" So what do I do, where do I park now, I dont wanna ruin it for everyone else by parking there, and I cannot afford to get towed so where shall I go from now on? I suppose I could park at the other end of the trail, but thats way far from me, but I guess Ill have to.

Ok now the rant, HELMETS!! Is it just me or are there more and more people foolishly not wearing helmets but riding very expensive bikes? I mean c'mon you have a guy on a $3k+ bike but he cant buy a damn helmet!! Just been seeing it more and more.
I've also noticed a lot of road riders (racers on good teams) not wearing helmets on the road as well. Sorry guys its just plain stupid, not to mention makes my job a hell of a lot harder to sell helmets to kids at the shop when some roadie comes in without one on and the kids see you!! its not a big deal to wear em, you gotta race with em so put them lids on guys.


Well thats my story for today thanks for reading :)

Douglas

[gopherhockey]

I don't ride a ton at the 'bottoms, but when I do I usually park at the Lyndale parking lot. HOWEVER, the first time I was there last year, a few cars were broken into while we were out on the trail (including a guy we were with - they took his stereo, but none of his very expensive bike equipment) I see glass there all the time, I think it is not too safe a place to park if you keep valuables in your car or have a nice stereo... Apparently there are people that watch for bikers or something - they must in order to have busted into this guys car in the middle of the day like that.

The Bloomington Ferry parking lot should be ok as well.

BTW: anyone know if they have a porta-potty at any of these locations? (more for the unlucky female riders...)

On your helmet issue - I see a lot of kids doing it at Lebanon.. many people new to biking I always assume. They usually wear jeans and a t-shirt, so I usually ignore em' - no great loss to the community if they wipe out right? DOH! :p

[debermart]

I usually park at the east end of the river bottoms trail (and did so yesterday morning as well). We tend to park on the road just above the trail head (right under the sign saying that there is parking available in the school lot). My assumption has been that this is to encourage parents/fans to park in the lot when there are sporting events on the school playing fields. In any case, we have never had any trouble with parking on the road for the 3 years or so we've been riding the trail.

Cheers

Steve

[TrailPatrol]

Originally posted by gopherhockey
On your helmet issue - I see a lot of kids doing it at Lebanon.. many people new to biking I always assume. They usually wear jeans and a t-shirt, so I usually ignore em' - no great loss to the community if they wipe out right? DOH! :p

Hey, I mean HEY!

You are a National Mountain Bike Patroller now. You can't be copping an attitude about helmet use! You have a responsibility, a duty to "Educate, Assist and Inform" Helmet use falls under educate and inform. You inform them that they need to wear a helmet, and educate them as to what their lives will be like as a rutabaga, if they get hurt not wearing one.

Seriously, I will check with Bill today and see what the park ordinace at LH says about helmets. I know they are required for kids under 15 in 3RPD and Anoka County, and some other districts have similar rules.

But never confuse a rutabaga with a banana! :D

Ride safe,
:banana:
Hans

[gopherhockey]

Ok, you got me there.. shame on me ;)

It would be interesting to see if there are ordinances about helmet use...

[dennis porter]

You can park at the Parkers Picnic Area lot. It's not easy to find by car but it is between Nicollet and 12th Ave. Most people know it as the picnic table climb.
Dennis.

[nigel]

Well, i parked at the sign by the field and had no trouble, so I guess thats my new spot for a while :)


As for helmets, maybe someone has some generic legal type signs that can be put up around the trails. Kinda like a its a good thing to wear em sign. If they exist I will be more than willing to place em up around the trails in the metro area. Just get em to me.

And yes, folks should take it upon themselves to let people know about helmets, especially at trails with no supervision!!

I can be found via email or at work
nigel7780@hotmail.com
651-690-1862

Douglas

[Tim Wegner]

During discussions last year with Dakota County Parks about helmets, they said they did not have a requirement for helmets at Lebanon Hills. They did not feel that they could require them for people riding the trails.

The discussion occurred because I too have noticed way too many riders without helmets riding the trails. Choice: Broken Helmet vs. Broken Head. Broken Head=lawsuit. Lawsuit=shutdown or dumbing down of the trails. Maybe we do owe it to the trails to speak with these helmet-less idiots--opps, I mean individuals.

[Trevize1138]

Originally posted by gopherhockey
I don't ride a ton at the 'bottoms, but when I do I usually park at the Lyndale parking lot. HOWEVER, the first time I was there last year, a few cars were broken into while we were out on the trail (including a guy we were with - they took his stereo, but none of his very expensive bike equipment) I see glass there all the time, I think it is not too safe a place to park if you keep valuables in your car or have a nice stereo... Apparently there are people that watch for bikers or something - they must in order to have busted into this guys car in the middle of the day like that.

No way. You mean to tell me crime has made it all the way to the SUBURBS! :shocked:

If I go riding after work I bring my bike to work on my car, but always hike it up to my office rather than leaving it unattended on the car. I don't have a lock for the rack, but even if I did there's no WAY I'm leaving the bike sitting on the car in the lot!

One guy at work asked me why I bring my bike inside, and explained to him the above. His response: "This is Eden Prairie, not Uptown! Nobody's gonna steal your bike!"

The naivety astounds me. :shocked:

[qheuie]

i am lucky enough to live about a mile from the "picnic table climb" entrance (well, there is a picnic table at the top at least :) ). it is pretty easy to find.

from 98th street, take portland avenue south until it ends and turns right (104th).
after this right turn, take an immediate left (not sure what the name is)
then take the next immediate left (Columbus)
there is a parking lot on the right about half a block down. (under the power lines)
you can see where to enter from there.

the climb is always fun after riding out to the ferry parking lot ;)

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?location=59YphGKtJPESDFY62tBF9soXtqN9Vhe5U CeFijkfysrPR38lEhmcnWOJHoaxiNjoYff%2f1sAecYH8OhG9u c9chnC%2f1gLqwp3uzWRx6jwtszQ3FgLbKiimwpLBsuVzb2O3&address=columbus%20road&city=&state=&zipcode=55420&country=US&addtohistory=

[qheuie]

oh yeah... this is just east of the school