Latest news with #MattFall
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Jacksonville expands free bike rack program to curb theft, sidewalk clutter
As cycling grows in popularity across Jacksonville, so do challenges for riders, ranging from bike theft to blocked sidewalks. Now, the City of Jacksonville is expanding a free program designed to address both issues. The initiative, called JaxRAX, installs sturdy metal bike racks in public spaces and outside local businesses. The goal is to provide cyclists with secure parking options while keeping sidewalks clear for pedestrians. 'Over the years, I've had five bikes stolen,' Matt Fall, the city's Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, said. 'Especially now, with so many people using e-bikes that can cost $1,500 or more—you don't want to just lock it to a parking pole.' Fall said around 20 to 25 racks have been installed so far, with plans to add more every few months. The city is encouraging residents and business owners to request installations in areas that need them most. The program offers a simple solution to a growing urban problem, aiming to reduce sidewalk congestion and improve safety while supporting the city's long-term push toward more non-motorized transportation. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'If the city later on has an e-bike share program that really gets people out biking, this will really be necessary,' Fall said. 'We need places to lock things up.' City officials say plans are underway to expand the JaxRAX program beyond downtown Jacksonville. In the Murray Hill community, narrow sidewalks and limited bike parking are a daily concern outside many businesses. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Anyone interested in having a rack installed can contact the city's Bicycle and Pedestrian Office. The JaxRax request form and web page is here. City code requires that new developments install bike racks, just as they require vehicle parking, but some businesses/locations have been 'grandfathered-in' years ago and don't have any bike parking, so this program can help those retailers. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Core-2-Coast: Proposed trail would connect Downtown Jacksonville to the beaches
Plans are underway to bring a 25-mile biking and walking route to Jacksonville. It's called the Core-2-Coast trail. The shared-use path would go from the Fuller Warren Bicycle-Pedestrian Bridge all the way to the beach communities on the eastern border of Duval County. The North Florida Transportation Planning Organization and the City of Jacksonville partnered to develop the plan. According to a feasibility study, the proposed trail will connect 17 schools, 12 parks and nearly 80 transit stops in multiple neighborhoods. One of the main goals of this project is to create safer conditions for those who bike and walk. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] According to Smart Growth America's annual Dangerous by Design report, Jacksonville consistently ranks in the top 20 metro areas for pedestrian deaths, with more than 100 people are killed on Jacksonville roadways each year. Between a quarter and a third of those victims are pedestrians or bicyclists. 'The thought process behind that is how do we get people that are non-motorized, anything like skateboard, walking, biking, how do we get them away from the roadway where cars are there,' said Matt Fall, the city's bicycle and pedestrian coordinator. Ultimately, the Core-2-Coast trail will connect the Emerald Trail and urban core neighborhoods to the East Coast Greenway, a multimodal path which extends through Florida's coastal cities and 14 other states for 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida. Read: Jacksonville officials open first part of Emerald Trail This is all still in the very early stages and the project is expected to cost $25 million. Action News Jax was told they are still working to find funding sources. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
