A gripe over stripes on Ingersoll Avenue
Some unwanted paint here and there has caused problems in the Ingersoll area before, but we’re not talking about vandals and graffiti this time. Starting in April of 2010, the city of Des Moines — at a taxpayer cost of $10,000 — will be painting new traffic stripes on the road, causing joy for some and concern for others.
On Aug. 24, the Des Moines City Council approved the restriping of Ingersoll Avenue to change it from four lanes to three lanes, complete with bike lanes and a supposed 55 additional parking spots. Many cyclists call it the “Ingersoll Road Diet.” The 550 people who signed a petition in opposition, however, fear it will be a flat tire for local businesses.
Ingersoll Avenue has a great history in Des Moines, albeit not as trendy as East Village or entertainment-focused as Court Avenue. In “The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid,” author and Des Moines native Bill Bryson described it as the “servant’s entrance” to Des Moines, as Grand Avenue was reserved as the road for the wealthy. Even so, Ingersoll has succeeded immensely through the years with a plethora of bars, restaurants and retail businesses, many of which have stood the test of time. Yes, the vacated Ingersoll Dinner Theater has been an eyesore, but the recent enhancements to the area have made such a drastic improvement to its appearance, that one can’t help but be impressed. But these improvements came at a cost to local businesses who suffered through the construction phase. Some of them will clearly benefit from increased bike traffic, but the potential loss of motor vehicle traffic may hinder others. A crystal ball would sure come in handy right now.
It is true that many cities across the nation have made similar changes with success. And if more people spend their cash at Ingersoll businesses, everyone will be pleased. But it is hard to imagine that Ingersoll traffic can be condensed to one lane in each direction without adding congestion. City leaders say this change will calm traffic. If car traffic moves a block south to Grand Avenue, sure, but expect business closings on Ingersoll and longer waits on Grand. And that would be unfortunate — and frustrating — for everyone.
Councilperson Christine Hensley seemed to address the change — and its potential effects — the best, and she should since she represents the area. She suggested a six-month review and an exit strategy in case the change doesn’t work as planned. And if that turns out to be the case, the traffic lanes could be changed back to the original with another application of paint. Unfortunately, that may be too late for some businesses.
We are fans of bicycling. From our “Bike Ride to the Ballpark” ride we have organized for the past three years to the “Honey Creek Fall Cycling Festival” we are hosting Oct. 9-11, we have shown our support for cycling. Bicycling is a healthy alternative to driving cars for numerous reasons, but we feel for the Ingersoll business owners who have rolled the dice in recent years during the transformation of the area, only to now have to take that risk again. Should they lessen their gamble this time and move now? We hope not. We have to work to support them even more if we want them to stay.
The decision has been made, some would say for months now. Ingersoll businesses and downtown employers must now work to accommodate cyclists and benefit from the change. Bicycle racks need to be abundant and in plain sight to assure riders will frequent the stores. City workers need to keep biking lanes clean and maintain appropriate drainage to avoid accidents. Employers should encourage their employees to ride to work by offering a casual dress code and options to secure bikes. And, most importantly, motor vehicle drivers and cyclists need to be patient and courteous to each other, recognizing the goal of each person is to arrive to his or her destination safely. CV
