Stories Behind the Concrete Slabs of Jax: Part I

[Wacca Pilatka]

Oh, how I wish Matt Carlucci could have been mayor.  Agreed that several fine buildings were needlessly lost to this plan, though I did remember the logic Krutko provided for where the library was placed.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I would worry about possible injuries or fatalities with a bikeshare in Jax without proper cycling infrastructure. You need bike lanes - lots of them - for this sort of thing. And traffic needs to be calmed.

The types of people who use these bikes are casual cyclists and tourists - not usually commuters or experienced cyclists (who tend to have their own bikes). Those sorts of people shouldn't be sharing the road with drivers, if at all possible.

Agree and disagree. 

The more bikes on the street on a regular, the more accustomed cars get to sharing the road.

Yes, there can and probably will be more incidents as cycling traffic increases.  Yes, it will subside as drivers are learn that bikes aren't going away.  I've seen more cops on bikes lately here in town and I'm not sure of the reason, but if and when Bikeshare rolls out en masse, I'd love to see the JSO adopt a program similar to this:

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2015/jun/07/3-feet-or-else/308339/

[thelakelander]

Orlando has bikeshare now. They probably have less bike infrastructure in their core than we do. How it performs should validate this theory or put it to rest.

[Adam White]

I would worry about possible injuries or fatalities with a bikeshare in Jax without proper cycling infrastructure. You need bike lanes - lots of them - for this sort of thing. And traffic needs to be calmed.

The types of people who use these bikes are casual cyclists and tourists - not usually commuters or experienced cyclists (who tend to have their own bikes). Those sorts of people shouldn't be sharing the road with drivers, if at all possible.

Agree and disagree. 

The more bikes on the street on a regular, the more accustomed cars get to sharing the road.

Yes, there can and probably will be more incidents as cycling traffic increases.  Yes, it will subside as drivers are learn that bikes aren't going away.  I've seen more cops on bikes lately here in town and I'm not sure of the reason, but if and when Bikeshare rolls out en masse, I'd love to see the JSO adopt a program similar to this:

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2015/jun/07/3-feet-or-else/308339/

I actuall agree with you. I think more bikes on the road will make a difference over time - that's one of the reasons why I get so irritated with people cycling on the sidewalk (it's illegal where I live). Yes, roads can be dangerous, but if we don't cycle on the roads, no one will bother building proper bike lanes, etc.

But it could possibly get a bit messy while drivers get used to more and more bikes on the road. I still think it's necessary for the city to put in more cycling infrastructure for the safety of all cyclists - but definitely before launching a bikeshare scheme.

Edit: that's a really cool story, NRW. I might share that on Facebook. I'd like to see our local cops use that.

[Adam White]

Orlando has bikeshare now. They probably have less bike infrastructure in their core than we do. How it performs should validate this theory or put it to rest.

Perhaps. I also wonder how much usage it will get - that's probably the thing that I'm most curious about.

[Gunnar]

In the meantime, here's an early 1990s color image of the Rhodes Building, the Army-Navy Store and a closed Wendys. This block is now occupied by the main public library.

Cool, thanks. So it was near Hemming Plaza, then. It's all becoming clear to me now.

I like the library - so I'm not too upset about losing the Army-Navy store. But the Rhodes building - now that's a shame.

I always found it to be one of the more interesting buildings, as well.

Does anyone know why they did not build the new library on any of the already available empty lots in dt ?

I asked the same question back when Krutko decided to place it there. (many of us lived in lofts on the two blocks that were demolished for the Library).  He said that looking at the exteriors of the buildings was too much visual blight and that the Library would have the biggest impact by helping create a government center on Hemming Park.

Matt Carlucci asked for a design that worked around the Rhodes Building (there were several others on that block that were equally great) but in the end we chunked that idea for a replica of the tennessee public library.  The city took architectural details of the destroyed buildings and basically superglued them as 'historic elements' onto the side of the building that faces Duval.

Thanks for the info. I still don't get it though - aren't there two blocks of parking lots right across the street ? Building the library there may even have helped to revitalize the area and get some kind of re-development going.