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Good turnout here at the VFW

No place to park

Mayor Frey has arrived.

Message of unity from Andrea Corbin. She recognizes the diversity of viewpoints in the room. She says this meeting isn't about pitting one plan against another, it's about the community coming together.

Corbin being very kind to Mayor Frey: "We're not gonna put him on the spot and ask him what he's gonna do." "Mayor Frey has done a terrific job of supporting the Uptown community."

Owner of World Street Kitchen says he got a bad review online after the last meeting. Asks if you disagree with him, please don't take it out on his business.

He wants to ditch the median, bring back the middle turn lane. Says the county can do that by eliminating the bike lane. Says it's safer without the median. This is just a rehash of the presentation he gave at the last meeting. Also has concerns about snow storage.

Knox jewelers guy suggests we focus on improving Bryant Ave as a bikeway, not Lyndale. He admits that's not on the city's radar. Telling Mayor Frey we need a traffic study on Lyndale and adjacent streets before he signs off.

Loud cheer at the mention of a bus lane. Corbin: let's make a rule that there's no cheering.

Crowd restless. People calling out disagreement with Knox who is presenting the same information as last time. Says transit ridership doesn't justify removing parking to improve transit infrastructure

Manny, owns the running store on Hennepin, says he owns 3 bikes but he has elderly clients who can't find parking.

Julie Johnson with Livable Lyndale tries to calm things down, stop the interruptions, heckling: "We're not gonna get anywhere with this vibe."

Leaning Tower owner striking a more conciliatory tone than last time. Urging assistance for businesses to get through reconstruction.

Needs to be said in response to some of these speakers that Hennepin Avenue still has parking. I know this because drivers are frequently using the empty parking lane as a fast lane.

Corbin says drivers are discouraged by Hennepin Ave's medians. Inability to make left turns into parking lots, without executing a turnaround further down the street. Customers will choose to shop where parking is free and easy.

To paraphrase City Nerd: "As a society, we haven't done a great job differentiating between being made to be a bit uncomfortable versus actually being exposed to a safety risk."

you're getting tapped on the shoulder at the next meeting and told to be nice now

Dachis: Hennepin is dead, there's nothing there. No businesses.

Dachis: Just bike further. You're doing it for exercise.

Uptown coupon magazine guy: "We need parking on Lyndale." Turn to Julie on my left and we whisper urgently to each other: "THERE'S STILL GONNA BE PARKING ON LYNDALE."

Maybe people that are….you know….other? You know…. not white men. Women. Poor people. Kids? Minorities? Really? Poor boy. Sit next to the bus driver. 😱

Seriously. Tho' those seats are marked as for folks who need them. But you can sit in that first seat behind them or *stand up there* behind the white line. Try it! Let it be your dare!!!