The information provided within the linked video is a short glimpse and narration to the story of an abandoned bike in the Seventh-Ward and St. Roch borders of New Orleans. The introduction of the video is intended to provide a general context of the location of where the story will be held and where it falls within my portion of the MyNola Section Line. Our story begins just off the side of N. Claiborne Ave near Hunter’s Field. I chose this specific location as it has one of the largest amounts of abandoned property lots and is the main separation point of the two sections of 6th and 7th-ward. The interstate running above the location has created a very intimidating environment especially for a space that students of the Neo Jazz School have to move through. The story revolves around the bike and the student as the bike is immediately seen as a sentimental value to the student. The fact that there are two markets near this section of the city as well is another strengthening factor to the importance of bikes as they are popularly ridden around the market’s locations. Because of this, there are several local bike shops surrounding this location making a perfect destination for the student as this bike, in particular, is missing a pedal. The trip to the bike shop moves across town and allows for the audience to understand the difficulties and rough patches the student must pass just to make it to his destination. These difficulties include congested traffic, unsafe bikeways, blighted properties, and dysfunctional landscapes. This trip allows for the student to see a much larger aspect of the neighborhood that he lives in and expresses his imaginative ideas as to what aspects could be implemented into these spaces. The student eventually makes it to his destination just in time to get the bike fixed and join a group of bikers on their way to the market.
Hi Austin!
I’m super excited to see this presentation!
Just recently right around City Park and Delgado they have installed new bike Lanes on Marconi. These are protected bike Lanes. This means that car parking lanes are between moving traffic and the bicycle Lanes. This is partly in response to the multiple “ghost bike” incidence due to drivers treating bike Lanes as passing Lanes. In particular it may be directly related to the killing of two bicyclist on Esplanade during the Endymion parade over Mardi gras.
I’m interested in hearing your thoughts on how you think of that these new protected Lanes will work. I’m also super interested in hearing how you think the current bicycling in New Orleans to be improved. This would include things such as Greenway crossings and shared bikelane use in certain areas.