Earlier this week, Blythe Bailey, the city's transportation director, met with the public at the North Chattanooga Summit.
First, you know North Chatt has truly arrived when it has its own summit. Who needs the G8 when the North Chattanooga Summit is in session, right?
Seriously, there were some interesting items from the summit Tuesday night, especially for those of us who are piqued by our city's attraction to bicycle lanes.
Bailey discussed delays of the plan to put protected bicycle lanes on Frazier Avenue, the main artery for the North Chattanooga business district.
Bailey said planners are "taking a deep" breath - a phrase he said Wednesday was designed to make sure the public feels like it is part of the process - before the city addresses the next phase in a bicycle-lane program that may be way bigger in scope than many people appreciate.
Jay GreesonAccording to the city's bike implementation plan and the map of projected downtown bike lanes, Broad Street was only the beginning. And the deep breath Bailey referred to was, in part, a pause to gather more feedback and also to build up strength for what will be an expansive bike-lane effort.
(Links to the city's bike implementation plan - www.chattanooga.gov/bicycle-implementation-plan - as well as the potential map for future bicycle lanes - can be found with this story online at timesfreepress.com.)
The number of colored lines depicting where bike lanes criss-crossing downtown are planned is a bit surprising.
That said, the decision to slow the city's roll in regard to bicycle lanes is prudent.
Yes, the city held a couple of "get-to-know-your-bike-lane" meetings, but let's be honest, the folks who make time for those meetings more often than not are tried-and-true supporters. The detractors often are unaware - and yes, that's not the supporters' fault - of either the get-togethers or how much the change may affect them until after the change happens.
The Broad Street bike lane backlash has been loud and generally negative toward the TFP, while it's been more favorable toward the city, according to Bailey. Either way, the passion and the volume have obviously been heard by Bailey and Co.
In an actual time frame, "taking a deep breath" can be interpreted as almost six months. The North Shore's proposed bike lanes - which will make for a much more congested scenario than their Broad Street cousins - have been pushed back into next summer.
In terms of actual government, Bailey and Co. slowing the process can be interpreted as sound leadership.
The pause gives everyone a chance to reassess, and offers options to all rather than overpowering the previously unaware.
"We got a lot of out of the process of direct communication with the business owners up and down Broad Street, and that in my mind is worth waiting for," Bailey said Wednesday night.
"We want to make sure people are heard. I think these projects are valuable, and I want to make sure they get a chance to participate in the process."
It's his approach that makes this decision even more appreciated. He said more potential meetings are coming - be them face to face from Bailey in person when he potentially stops by an affected business or in a future public forum in coming weeks or months - or if you want to email him directly he welcomes your comments at bbailey @chattanooga.gov.
It allows you a chance to offer your view - again - about the proposed plans.
Speak now, folks - while the city is holding its breath - or forever change your lane.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6343. His Right to the Point column runs on A2 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.