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Paul Lite

@paulite.bsky.social

630 followers 610 following 830 posts

Indianapolis west-sider, reader of books, rider of bicycles, explorer and tinkerer. Biochemist in another life. Joined Dec’23. 📚🚲🚸💡🧐🧪 x21c7 Banner: Skellig Michael Island off County Kerry. Portrait: Me holding a 🍀 in Galway.

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Paul Lite @paulite.bsky.social · 1d

Here is the feedback I provided to #IndyGreenwaysForAll
I'd love to see what others shared with the city. My perspective is based on my riding experience on NW side.

link>'https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/eee4987a084d4fcc989a4d3d12f110e6?portalUrl=https://gis.indy.gov/portal

GreenwaysForAll map showing in red ink an obvious on Zionsville Rd for a trail to connect existing Indy trails with the Zionsville area and for connecting NW side residents to parks, jobs and shopping.

Yes - modify this form to allow inclusion of images in the suggestions.
Provide a link where you share with the citizens the feedback that you receive and share how that feedback was incorporated into your planning.
Provide a higher character limit!!!!!Yes - modify this form to allow inclusion of images in the suggestions.
Provide a link where you share with the citizens the feedback that you receive and share how that feedback was incorporated into your planning.
Provide a higher character limit!!!!!

My community concerns:

It is unclear how much effort you will devote to installing protections for cyclists and pedestrians at the many, many traffic crossings... especially for the trails that seem to track very closely to busy streets - like the crosstown route.

It is unclear - do you intend to first complete the entire 2014 Plan (all the dashed lines) before you launch these other gold trails? What about the communities that have been waiting a decade or more for that 2014 plan to materialize? Where is the trail that runs up Eagle Creek?

There appears to be no plan envisioned to connect Marion county greenways with Boone County's trail system. Specifically, there seems to be no plan to connect the partially completed "Northtown Trail" to Zionsville by running a protected trail up Zionsville Road from 71st. There are many warehouse jobs along Zionsville Rd and high tech jobs like Corteva but there is no safe way to access these as well as access to the amazing Big4 Trail.

It excites me that planning is taking place that takes a holistic approach to thinking about what the citizenry needs - including health, equity. It concerns me that I see no sign that the current administration supports this work or would support the increase in budget that would be required to have an adequate DPW trail maintenance budget or a system that would allow citizens to easily report issues to the REQUEST INDY system (years now of delay on improving REQUEST INDY).

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Paul Lite @paulite.bsky.social · 1d

Would you (and others reading this) consider sharing here on BlueSky the input that you give to Indy's "Greenways for All" group using #IndyGreenwaysForAll hashtag? Frustratingly, the city will seek input but seldom shares that input or shows how that input gets incorporated into into their plans.

Paul Lite @paulite.bsky.social · 1d

If you are enjoying the B&O’s new section of trail as much as I am, consider biking this week to your nearest post office and mailing off a contribution to either the B&O Trail Association or Speedway Trails. (See ALT). #Indy #Bike

A black bicycle in front of a US mailbox in front of the Clermont post office.

The gloved hand of a cyclist drops an envelope into a mail slot. The address on the envelope is: B&O Trail Association, PO Box 142, Brownsburg IN 46112-0142

https://botrailassociation.salsalabs.org/closingthegapform2024/index.html

https://www.speedwaytrails.com/donate

Paul Lite @paulite.bsky.social · 2d

Bespokeless bicycle?

Cool Bike Art @coolbikeart1.bsky.social · 3d

Schwinn’s Futuristic Aero-Space Concept Bicycle Design
ca. 1960s

Illustration of a futuristic-looking bicycle, with aerodynamic windshield and a lot of straight lines.

Reposted by Paul Lite

Mirror Indy @mirrorindy.org · 3d

Mayor Joe Hogsett was once named “Mr. Clean” by a watchdog organization for his tough stance on government corruption as U.S. attorney.

A Mirror Indy/IndyStar investigation finds that the mayor ignored conflicts of interest involving millions of dollars in city incentives. https://bit.ly/3L8OOBe

Hogsett ignored conflicts of interest as city incentives flowed to developers

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett ran on ethics reform, but an investigation found that he ignored conflicts of interest.

bit.ly

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Reposted by Paul Lite

Kevin Retzke @kmr.me · 4d

my bicycle takes me places
my soul could never reach

A drop-bar all-road bicycle with frame and rear rack packs leaning against a wooden railing in a heavily wooded area, sun shining through the trees illuminating the leaves covering the narrow path.

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Paul Lite @paulite.bsky.social · 4d

Thanks. It was a great day.

Paul Lite @paulite.bsky.social · 4d

This time of year I wear an N95 mask when I mow because of the leaf dust.

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Paul Lite @paulite.bsky.social · 4d

A fantastic day to #bike! I took the B&O west from the Tilson Trailhead to the trail’s end then continued west to McCloud Nature Park, then north over a “closed” iron truss bridge, then on to North Salem, and finally back to the B&O. 34 miles.

The newly paved B&O Tilson Trailhead with the just-installed sculpture by Dave Vertacnik.

GPS (39.8218923, -86.4385538)

Beautiful golden native grasses whispering in the breeze at Hendrick’s county McCloud Nature park.

GPS. (39.8269400, -86.6822727)

Photo taken after crossing a one-lane steel truss bridge on the Hendricks-Putnam county line. The bridge built in 1915 is indefinitely closed to all traffic due to “structural deterioration“.

GPS (39.8306263, -86.6867034)

https://bridgestunnels.com/location/barnard-bridge/

My favorite bit of my route - a grove of mature sugar maple trees that form a shaded canopy over the road.

GPS (39.8556100, -86.5951345)

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Paul Lite @paulite.bsky.social · 4d

#2 is tough.

Paul Lite @paulite.bsky.social · 5d

Attended my first Indianapolis Bike Party last night. It was a perfect mix of community, kindness and anarchy. It was nice surprise to run into G.R. for a second time.

This WFYI 'Across Indiana' segment from 2024 about Bike Party is really good.

Bike Party Indianapolis | Across Indiana

YouTube video by WFYI

youtu.be

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Paul Lite @paulite.bsky.social · 7d

Thanks for posting that video of the group riding out from Speedway on CIC’s B&O Trail Gap Ride. That segment by the CSX bridge overpass is so scenic.

Paul Lite @paulite.bsky.social · 7d

Yesterday saw quite the turnout for the B&O gap closure ribbon cutting ceremony.

Paul Lite @paulite.bsky.social · 7d

Yesterday was indeed a joyful day for Indy westside cyclists.

Kevin Retzke @kmr.me · 7d

The B&O trail officially opened yesterday, connecting Indianapolis to Hendricks County, after construction on the final segment near Country Club Rd was completed this summer.

It's very exciting, anyone who's tried riding around here before knows how terrible the alternative routes were!