East St.Tammany
BI-PAC Greenway Alliance
TheTammany Trace is a scenic 31 mile recreational and transportation corridor originating in Covington, Louisiana with terminus in Slidell, Louisiana at the future Heritage Park Trailhead. The Tammany Trace is used by pedestrians, cyclists, rollerbladders, joggers and equestrians.
BI-PAC's MISSION is to institute "share the road" bicycle routes, from the eastern edge of St Tammany parish to the Tammany Trace. This interurban greenway corridor, will link Slidell and Pearl River to Lacombe, Mandeville, Abita Springs, and Covington's town centers, schools, parks, open spaces, where citizens and toursits can visit the farmer's market, interpretive centers, and special entertainment venues with the potential for future transit stations.
Six "share the road" transportation routes (click here to view detailed map of routes) were presented at the Slidell Master Plan meeting in May 2008. This route map was incorporated into Slidell's Master Plan which was adopted in February 2009.
Five of the east to west routes from unincorporated east Slidell & Pearl River cross Interstates-10, 12, and 59, with many traversing Olde Towne, and one north to south route were received with considerable interest.
The goal is for cyclists to be able to exercise their right to share the roadways with motorists; however many of these routes are dangerous with little or no shoulders for cyclists to travel. Thus, it is imperative to have "Share the Road" signs posted along the routes with pavement markers, and blinking lights at dangerous intersections to remind motorists that bicycles are like cars and each life is sacred.
Cylists may ride single file close to the right line or two abreast when the roadway is too narrow and it is safer for a group to "take the road." The Louisiana Revised Statutes assure cyclists and pedestrians of the right to share the roadway. With a little time and seeing more cyclists on the road, motorist will feel more comfortable sharing. Global warming and fossil fuel shortages are forcing more people to cycle.
“Advocacy, leadership, and communication between motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and all levels of government are BI-PAC objectives,” assures Sue deRada, BI-PAC founder. "Meeting with government officials, keeping them informed, has been helpful in making progress toward inclusion of walking & biking into the many projects presently being developed. Attending bike & pedestrian workshops, grant writing seminars, and riding together monthly will empower BI-PAC to advance our community.
Proposed city and parish projects like the Camp Salmen Park; Katrina Fishing Pier; the Pontchartrain Corridor; and Tulane Regional Design Center's "design guidelines" for the Heritage Park Trailhead, Fremaux Corridor, and Olde Towne Slidell are advancing East St Tammany into the 21st century. It is essential to monitor these enhancements with the purpose of including walking & biking routes.
BI-PAC sponsors monthly rides & walks to advocate citizen's right to "share the road" responsibly. The rides and walks are preceded with educational clinics on road safety, hand signals, hydration, bicycle safety to assist cyclists, pedestrians and motorists, building confidence in "sharing the road."(Rides & Walks ).
Volunteers are needed to make scheduled calls, send letters/emails, attend meetings. "If 25 people would come forward and committ to make 2 scheduled phone calls, write 2 sceduled emails, 2 scheduled letters and attend 2 scheduled meetings a year, we will be able to form strong alliances to accomplish our goals faster," deRada assures. (Volunteer Now)
To become involved in the BI-PAC Greenway Alliance contact:
Sue deRada at 985-863-7868 or sue@bi-pac.org
