Kucinich Steps in to Fight for Bike and Ped Access to Bridge

Repost from DC Streets Blog:

Kucinich Brings the Innerbelt Crossing Fight to D.C.

by Sarah Goodyear on February 25, 2010

Today from Streetsblog Network member GreenCityBlueLake, an update on the push to include bicycle and pedestrian facilities on a reconstructed Innerbelt Bridge over the Cuyahoga River -- an accommodation that the Ohio DOT has been resisting. In the latest development, Rep. Dennis Kucinich has stepped up his involvement. From GCBL:

Will calls for a bike and ped crossing over the Cuyahoga River be heard? (Photo:Rustwire.com)

Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) met yesterday with members of the Cleveland Planning Commission, including director Robert Brown, to discuss the path forward to ensure that plans to replace the I-90 Innerbelt bridge include a separate roadway for bikes and pedestrians. “The State of Ohio should be encouraging opportunities for the people of Cleveland to cross the Cuyahoga River in a way that is good for public health, good for the environment, good for businesses, and good for communities,” Kucinich said.

A couple of weeks ago, we posted a music video that is part of the campaign to open the new Innerbelt crossing to bicycles and pedestrians. The video has gotten more than 14,000 views on YouTube. At that time, we didn't have the full credit info, but now seems as good a time as any to post it. From GCBL's Marc Lefkowitz: 

Ari Lesser wrote and performed the lyrics. He lives in Cleveland Heights. The musicians are Kip Volans, drums, and Jim Courtot, who did the recording in his studio and performed on the bass and guitar. The video and editing was done by Graham Veysey, who lives in Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood. These guys all donated time and put this excellent video together in an incredibly short time.

Momentum seems to be building behind this effort. Will Ohio DOT be forced to blink? We'll keep you posted.