Advocacy

Our advocacy efforts consist of the development of multi-use trails, a walkable and bicycle friendly community, complete connectivity and alternative transportation mobility options. It is who we are, and why we continue to be the only trails advocacy organization in Evansville and Vanderburgh County.

Our advocacy initiatives:

1. Greenway Trails System Network - community awareness, support, and promotion

2. Connected Trails System Network, trails in every district, bridge the gaps

3. City Complete Streets Policy/Ordinance adoption - Accomplished October 2021! The Evansville Common (City) Council voted unanimously to adopt G-2021-17. See details HERE.

4. Safe Routes to Schools

5. Bicycle Friendly Evansville

6. Walk Friendly Evansville

7. Regional Connectivity

Immediate Advocacy effort

I69 ORX Project - Bridge Design Should Include Pedestrian, Bicycle, and ADA Design Accommodations (Accessible Bike, Hike, and Wheelchair), OR save the historical twin bridge for this purpose.

How do pedestrians, bicyclists, and wheelchairs safely cross over the Ohio River from Evansville, Indiana to Henderson, Kentucky?

The federal code,  23 C.F.R. § 652 policy says, "The safe accommodation of pedestrians and bicyclists should be given full consideration during the development of Federal-aid highway projects, and during the construction of such projects. The special needs for the elderly and the handicapped shall be considered in all Federal-aid projects that include pedestrian facilities. Where current or anticipated pedestrian and/or bicycle traffic presents a potential conflict with motor vehicle traffic, every effort shall be made to minimize the detrimental effects on all highway users who share the facility. On highways without full control of access where a bridge deck is being replaced or rehabilitated, and where bicycles are permitted to operate at each end, the bridge shall be reconstructed so that bicycles can be safely accommodated when it can be done at a reasonable cost. Consultation with local groups of organized bicyclists is to be encouraged in the development of bicycle projects."

According to the I69 ORX Project Team, discussions listed on their, “Questions” webpage regarding improving long-term cross-river mobility between Evansville has been considered. At the onset of the I69 Bridge Project, during the development process, letters were sent to Vanderburgh County and the City of Evansville encouraging them to contact Henderson and Henderson County if they wanted to discuss a possible bridge partnership. The City of Henderson and Henderson County were offered the opportunity to assume ownership and responsibility of the bridge for this purpose, but each declined.

One bridge is more than 80 years old and the other is more than 50 years old, and maintenance costs are high. Indiana and Kentucky have spent more than $50 million on maintenance costs on the US 41 bridges since 2005. A report on the US 41 bridges finds it would cost an estimated $293 million to maintain the two bridges through 2062. Bike, hike, and wheelers, along with established National Trails and Bicycle Routes using the twin bridges to cross the Ohio River will be forced to find other means for crossing. There must be a pedestrian, bicycle, and ADA accommodation made within the I69 ORX Design, so that eco-friendly, alternative, active transportation options are available to everyone.

Our local historical experiences with pedestrian hikers and bicyclists traversing the twin Highway 41 Bridges, either commuting to/from Evansville, IN to Henderson, KY, or passing through the region has been been challenging and risky. The Highway 41 Twin Bridges are currently the only Evansville to Henders access for residents and tourists. This connection is critical to supporting businesses, schools, places of employment and to recreation opportunities in both cities in Indiana and Kentucky. There is a proposition to demolish one or both of the US Highway 41 Twin bridges, given the new Interstate 69 ORX bridge being the only connection. 

Bicyclists have the legal right to utilize the US Highway 41 twin bridges to cross the Ohio River, but poses a serious risk to the rider. The high volume of automobiles and semi-tractor trailers traveling at high rates of speed is dangerous for bicyclist, lanes are narrow and there is no shoulder.

Legally, non-motorized vehicles and pedestrians are not allowed on Interstates. The I69 ORX would not accommodate pedestrians, hikers, bicyclists, or people who use wheelchairs. Demolishing the Highway 41 Twin Bridges or converting them to Interstate bridges removes the option for alternative, active (nonmotorized) transportation.

Why should we advocate? We should work together to advocate for the pedestrian, bicycle, and wheeler accommodation—doing so is inclusive and the design would consider all modes of transportation, both motorized and non-motorized. This is crucial to our local trails and parks connections, our national trails and bike routes that use the Ohio River Crossing to continue to their destinations—-there are recreation areas in Evansville, IN and in Henderson, KY, such as the John James Audubon State Park and Green River State Forest in Kentucky as well as Wesselman Woods and Burdette Park in Indiana; national trails, such as the coast-to-coast American Discovery Trail route is through Evansville, the proposed north-south US Bike Route 37 will go through Evansville and Henderson, and Kentucky’s proposed Ohio Valley Trail, a proposed 430 mile trail in Kentucky’s Master Trail Plan terminates in Henderson.

Is it safe to ride a bicycle across the Highway 41 bridge—would you feel safe?

One of the US 41 bridges will be removed. The remaining US 41 bridge will not have dedicated pedestrian and bicycle facilities, nor provide a safe option for people, and is deficient in the consideration of all modes of transportation alternatives. There will be no pedestrian and bicycle improvements included in the new plan and the current barriers to safely crossing the Ohio River will continue. No serious contemplation, or account for all other mobility needs were offered to people walking, hiking, cycling, or using wheelchairs, as recommended by various standardized methods provided by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). 

Is it reasonable to request pedestrian, hiker, bicycle and wheelchair accommodations within the I69 ORX Design? Yes. Walking, hiking, bicycling and wheeling accommodations have been included within the design of several bridges nationally that cross that not only cross the Ohio River, such as two in the Louisville, KY and Madison, Indiana regions; there are many bridges listed below within Indiana and across the country that have these inclusive, safe accommodations. Safety comes to the forefront as there are no safe pedestrian, bicycle, or wheeler accommodation west of Louisville, only a ferry in Illinois. This requested accommodation is reasonable, and feasible—accommodations such as these encourage economic development and have been proven to have a positive economic impact in similar connecting communities. Conversion of the Big Four Bridge from Jeffersonville to Louisville to a pedestrian, bicycle and wheelchair access only bridge has contributed significantly to the revitalization of downtown Jeffersonville, IN.  It was estimated that rebuilding the Milton-Madison Bridge to include pedestrian, bicycle and wheelchair accommodations will contribute $152.5 million over the 10 years after it was rebuilt (Indiana Trails).

Between Louisville and the Mississippi River there are no safe crossing options for hundreds of miles, save the Cave-in-Rock Ferry. There is no safe option west of Louisville, KY:

• Glover Cary Bridge, Patronville, IN to Owensboro, KY (not a safe option)

• William H. Natcher Bridge, Rockport, IN to Maceo, KY (not a safe option)

• Bob Cummings Lincoln Trail Bridge (Lincoln Toll Road Bridge), Cannelton, IN to Hawesville, KY (not a safe option)

• Mauckport Bridge, Mauckport, IN (not a safe option)

• Sherman Minton Bridge, New Albany, IN (not a safe option)

• Shawneetown Bridge, IL, to Morganfield, KY (not safe option)

• Irvin S. Cobb Bridge, Brookport, IL to Paducah, KY (not a safe option)

• A Ferry – located at Cave-in-Rock, IL to Marion, Kentucky (not the best option, convenient, and often delayed, or temporarily closed due to flooding, or fog)

Please see  The FINAL Environment Impact Statement & RECORD OF DECISION (ROD) featured on the I-69 ORX Project website.  See Chapter 4 – Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences.

In behalf of all pedestrians, bicyclists, and wheelchair users, ETC and partner groups such as Indiana Trails, Greenways Foundation of Indiana (and many more) are advocating for safe, separated, and protected accommodations within the I-69 ORX bridge design. This bridge design accommodation is common in metro areas along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in the Midwest, well within the MPA and MPO areas along the Wabash River in Indiana.

1. The Interstate-74 Webcam (Quad Cities), which is a perfect example showing real-time construction progress of this beautiful bridge with pedestrian, bicycle, and wheelchair accommodations.  

2. See the Apr. 17, 2018 letter from the Vanderburgh County Commissioners to the INDOT project managers (Scroll to PAGE 14): CLICK HERE

Bridges Worth Mentioning from Around the World

• Infinity Bridge, pedestrian footbridge across the River Tees in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees in the north east of England.

• Rio Antirio Bridge, (Charilaos Trikoupis), Patras, Greece; the longest cable bridge in Europe.

• Forth Road Bridge, (Scotland), a Public Transport Corridor, which continues to be the route for walking and cycling across the Firth of Forth.