Bloomington Indiana

Little 500 veteran killed in cycling crash

Steven Ballinger was a competitive cyclist and biked on a team that placed second in the Little 500 in 2003. Details are sketchy, but he was killed in an incident with a vehicle in Santa Fe last week.

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local/_news/he-was-really-loved-man-killed-in-cycling-crash-was-staple-in-santa-fes-pickleball/article/_45aad92a-b220-45ce-816e-618b3f040fa8.html

@bloomington_in

#cycling #Little500

Bloomington Transportation Commission now meeting for the first time

Nothing surprising happening, mostly setting down rules and figuring out schedules and agendas.

Still two vacancies on the commission, seven members have been named. Then they opened it up for public comment, and wow, three people got up to discuss the rules!

And, unbelievable, somebody got up to discuss Hawthorne-Weatherstone 😂 We're going to be hearing about that for the next ten years.

@bloomington_in

#UrbanPlanning

Bloomington Transit looks to boost micro-transit numbers with free downtown zone trips

An interesting solution to the fact that people hate parking out of sight of their final destination. I've barely used this service as I've never been able to get the app to work, but I just tried it successfully so I may give it another go. Bloomington's entire downtown is tiny though, something like a six-block square.

https://bsquarebulletin.com/bloomington-transit-looks-to-boost-micro-transit-numbers-with-free-downtown-zone-trips/

@bloomington_in

#transit #parking

Transportation Commission inaugural meeting cancelled

Bloomington's Bike/Ped commission got shut down after they voted against adding stop signs all along a major bike route. It was supposed to be replaced with a new Transportation Commission, which has two members and seven vacancies and has never met.

Does Transportation here mean "cars" as it does in "INDOT"? It still remains to be seen.

https://bloomington.in.gov/boards/transportation-commission

@bloomington_in

#cycling #walking

New bike lane barriers on 3rd Street

Now we're getting somewhere! I really love these little barriers - they keep cars from encroaching on the bike lane and I'm sure they're very cheap (I still wouldn't let a six-year-old bike on 3rd Street though).

Also I went by Longview this afternoon and they're making good progress on a multi-use path there as well. Very exciting!

@bloomington_in

#BikeTooter #BikeLanes

Are parking fines a revenue center for Bloomington?

Good to see the B-Square getting back to solid investigative reporting! The city is doing a survey about parking, link in the article.

"When The B Square checked the city's online financial information to confirm the $1.61 million in revenue from parking fines in 2024 and $1.71 million for 2023, there did not appear to be a plausible line corresponding to those figures."

https://bsquarebulletin.com/are-parking-fines-a-revenue-center-for-the-city-of-bloomington/

@bloomington_in

#parking

Federal Agents Conduct Unannounced ICE Operations Across Bloomington, Sparking Fear and Confusion

"A series of unannounced sweeps by heavily armed federal agents in and around Bloomington this week has ignited widespread fear, anxiety, and speculation across the community, particularly among immigrants, refugees...Videos and photos began surfacing Tuesday morning, showing agents in tactical gear conducting door-to-door searches."

https://bloomingtonian.com/2025/05/01/federal-agents-conduct-unannounced-ice-operations-across-bloomington-sparking-fear-and-confusion/

@bloomington_in

#ICE

Property tax measure would short school funding by $750M

"According to a fiscal impact statement from the Legislative Services Agency, the bill would reduce property tax funding for public schools by three-quarters of a billion dollars over the next three years. Cities, towns and counties would also see big cuts."

Bloomington, in particular, would lose out on $17 million over the next three years, about 10% of expected revenue.

https://inschoolmatters.wordpress.com/2025/04/11/property-tax-measure-would-short-school-funding-by-750m/

@bloomington_in

#Education

Bloomington bike/ped improvements scheduled for this year

* 3rd Street Hawthorne to Rose Protected Bike Lane
* April-July: E. Longview Ave. Neighborhood Greenway
* May-August: Thornton/Arden Dr/Washington Neighborhood Greenway
* North Dunn Street Sidewalk Connection
* Winslow-Rogers median island at Xavier Court
* Crosswalk Improvement (Design)
* West 2nd Street Modernization and Safety Improvements

The first one might be complete? I haven't been by there yet.

@bloomington_in

#cycling

Photo gallery: Hundreds Protest Trump and Musk During “Hands Off” Day of Action in @bloomington_in

https://bloomingtonian.com/2025/04/05/gallery-hundreds-protest-trump-and-musk-during-hands-off-day-of-action-in-bloomington-indiana/?utm%5C_source=ben&utm%5C_medium=mastodon&utm%5C_campaign=gallery-hundreds-protest-trump-and-musk-during-hands-off-day-of-action-in-bloomington-indiana

#USPol #HandsOff

How not to build a bike lane

Stop sign. Go one block. Stop sign. Go one block. Stop sign. Bike lane closed. But good news, there's a sharrow marked in the car lane!

The worst is approaching Dunn Street from the east. You have to avoid eastbound traffic, westbound traffic, and southbound traffic as you try to get out of the bike lane and into the sharroad. Just a total cluster.

@bloomington_in

#BikeTooter #UrbanPlanning

Safety among public’s top concerns for Dunn Street Multiuse Project

"The $3.5-million project, funded by city bonds and federal money, would add a multiuse path along one side of North Dunn Street between the Indiana 45 Bypass and East Clover Lane. That’s the first street into the Blue Ridge neighborhood.

The overall goal is to improve accessibility to the Matlock Heights and Blue Ridge neighborhoods"

https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/safety-among-publics-top-concerns-for-dunn-street-multiuse-project.php

@bloomington_in

#cycling #UrbanPlanning

Bloomington Announces Ambitious New Transit Plan: The Monorail

"The sleek, single-rail system promises to reduce congestion, cut commute times, and introduce a futuristic flair to Bloomington’s skyline. Proposed features include onboard announcements narrated by a holographic Hoagy Carmichael and complimentary B-Line binoculars for riders to enjoy breathtaking views of limestone rooftops and urban deer."

https://bloomington.in.gov/news/2025/04/01/6206

@bloomington_in

#AprilFoolsDay

Storms coming through Bloomington

Tornado warning on the south side, but we've got a nice little thunderstorm up north as well. Power is out.

@bloomington_in

Bloomington Transit survey

$5 on your Umo account if you participate. Whatever Umo may be. Not for people who ride free on an IU pass.

go.iu.edu/btransit

@bloomington_in

#PublicTransport

Lil NIMBYism going on in Monroe County. You can always tell when they start talking about preserving the character.

"Change the zoning of couple hundred parcels from High Development Residential (HD) to Residential 1 (RES), which is a downzoning...most of the homes use septic systems and currently do not have access to sewer, the presence of karst/sinkholes in the area, and to preserve the overall character of the area."

https://bsquarebulletin.com/march-17-2025-theater-preview-annexation-update-zoning-galore-a-dandy-dog/

@bloomington_in

#UrbanPlanning #NIMBY

New data shows most dangerous streets in Monroe County, Indiana

"There have been 250 pedestrian-vehicle collisions in the reported years, 81 of which have caused serious injury. The most dangerous streets for pedestrians in Monroe County are in downtown Bloomington and Indiana University’s campus."

https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/new-data-shows-most-dangerous-streets-in-monroe-county.php

@bloomington_in

#walking

Bloomington 10th Street Safety Improvement survey

The city is considering improvements to 10th Street between Indiana and Walnut. It's a high-speed yet narrow corridor that goes between the north side of Indiana University and downtown, and I'm not sure what you could really do with it without removing at least one car lane. Still, fill out the survey here!

https://bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/10th

@bloomington_in

#cycling #PublicTransport #UrbanPlanning

Mystery solved: ghost bike on Ind. 45 damaged by snowplow, then recycled

"A bicycle memorial marking the site where (Michael Brooks) died after a van struck the bike he was riding nearly six years ago will return with the arrival of spring.

In January, motorists on Ind. 45 near Unionville noticed that a white bike which had long been attached to the street sign at the intersection with North Russell Road was gone."

https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2025/03/05/what-happened-to-michael-brooks-ghost-bike-memorial-on-russell-road/81165125007/

@bloomington_in

#cycling

Bloomington 7-Line to be ruined by stop signs

"Some cyclists had complained the stop signs would require them to stop at nearly every cross street, which would impede their momentum both up- and downhill. However, some bicyclists also said they were stopping at nearly every cross street anyway, because they always had to worry about inattentive and/or confused motorists failing to yield."

https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2025/03/03/city-of-bloomington-to-reinstall-stop-signs-on-7th-street-bike-lane/80734844007/

@bloomington_in

#bikelanes

"I never thought leopards would eat MY face!" sobs Ellettsville Town Council.

“These other places that are sitting there saying it’s impossible and the sky’s falling, well, the laws are directed towards people like that, not us,” Ellis said.

https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/ellettsville-leaders-welcome-opportunity-to-prove-the-town-is-financial-responsible.php

@bloomington_in

#Ellettsville #INLegis

City of Bloomington Launches E-Bike Voucher Program to Expand Sustainable Transportation

The City of Bloomington's Pilot e-Bike Voucher Program provides point-of-purchase e-bike vouchers for of up to $2,000 for qualified low-income residents that can be used towards the purchase of an e-bike at the following local bike shops; Bicycle Garage, Bloomington Bicycles, and Revolution Bike and Bean.

https://bloomington.in.gov/news/2025/02/07/6170

@bloomington_in

#ebikes

Bloomington council votes to establish Transportation Commission

"The new, nine-person commission will replace the Traffic, Bicycle Pedestrian Safety, and Parking commissions. It will review all transportation-related projects, make recommendations and propose policy changes."

I have my doubts about this, but since the only "No" votes were from Cms Ruff and Rollo, who represent Bloomington's "old white dude" constituency, I think it might work out.

https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/city-council-votes-to-establish-transportation-commission.php

@bloomington_in