Hazordous Biking in Bloomington, MN

While biking across Bloomington, MN today, on 90th Street, to attend the rally for the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge I noticed many sewer grates with bars running parallel to the curb. Some had perpendicular braces and some of those were broken. Yet if any skinny bike tire were to go into one of those I am sure a biker would have an accident and even be thrown into a vehicle.

I did find a couple of Bloomington City Council members and made them aware and provided some of the ones that I made note of on the way over. But it was by no means an inclusive list.

Then coming back on 86th Street many more were noticed. Conclusion is they are all over Bloomington. I would assume Bloomington would have liability knowing they have they issue.

Some of the ones noticed but certainly not all:

1805 W. 90th Street- south side
James and 90th Street
Emerson and 90th Street
Columbus and 86th Street
86th Street at Beard
84th Street at Kell

Now if the city claims they do not have money to replace them it could probably find additional funds by not hiring outside consultants to provide information on more buildings along Interstate 494. Since this is no longer a highway anyway it merely becomes a parking lot to provide more pollution.

So let the city start work today on building a better biking system throughout the city so a person does not feel they will get killed using the city streets. If the city says it is part of their Strategic Plan for 2030 that is not a satisfactory answer either. This is not a tomorrow problem but a today problem that appears to be prevalent throughout the city and provides a hazard to any bicyclist who try not to pollute and get from point a to b.

Please all homeowners and residents look at your sewer grates and report them to the city if they are a hazard.