Instead of expanding I-84 we should have been building bike paths between Caldwell and Boise. Instead of trying to come to some road solution that would ease congestion on State Street between Eagle and Boise we should build bike paths. Bike paths from West Boise to downtown. Bike paths from Kuna to Boise. Bike paths from Mountain Home. Bike paths from Fruitland. Bike paths from Emmett. Bike paths from McCall. Heck, even bike paths from Lewiston and Pocatello.

I have seen the future, and it is bike paths. I've got a fever, and the only prescription ... is more bike paths!

Why? I've got rose colored glasses even though my hindsight is 20/20.

I was listening to the presentation. Interesting enough, Sen. LaFavour's statement was made in the context of rural areas, not the North End. There was no need for this dig.

The future of Idaho is not Clement Leroy Otter.............

Idaho has a lot more pressing needs for $$ than bike paths.

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The Gov is not requesting bike paths. He's using the money on infrustructure. LaFavour wants the bike paths, which may be good for the North End but as for the rest of the state I don't think so.

Are you kidding me? Bike Paths from Caldwell to Boise, Boise to McCall. Yeah- THAT will solve "climate change" and funding to the Mid-East. I can see it now- crowded bike paths to Caldwell. Another example of how disconnected North Enders are. Put on more patchouli,

The Gov would rather spend $$ landscaping freeway interchanges. Public transportation and alternative transportation are sorely lacking here. Just because of of you obese, sedentary folks do not believe that a bicycle can be transportation does not mean the rest of us feel the same way.

In the mid to late 90s, there were 2 different private efforts of 'loaning' (honor system) bicycles to people needing transportation in the area. They both failed after a very short time of operation - a notice in the paper stated discontinuation due to insufficient funding for maintenance and theft. These programs were modeled after a successful program in Portland, where riders could pick up/drop off bikes at designated spots. All bikes were painted identifiable yellow.

There is the strong possibility the program - for this area - really did not fill a public need - at that time. Has the need really changed since then? - would bike ridership increase if there were more bike paths and another program created? Speculation........ Anyone elso know any more details of the programs?

Oh, an 'aside' - Wayne "Joe Biden" Hammon hath (mis)spoken -again! Sure does do Otter proud!

My husband and I live on the Bench, not in the North End, and use our bikes to commute all over the place in Boise, as do several of our neighbors. I recently spoke with a woman on the elevator of my office building downtown. She lives way out on Fairview, not in the North End, and commutes 14 miles a day on her bike.

The snarky comments about bicycle commuting and "Northenders" are divisive and uninformed.

She even clarified that her comments were made in rural context (it isn't impossible for a legislator to consider things beyond their own district). Her comments represented a difference of opinion but were made in a respectful way. His were not. Believe me, he didn't hurt my feelings in the least. I happen to agree that bike paths are not the top priority. However, Hammon's comment could have simply stated the priority need for other infrastructure around the state. There was no need to take a jab at the North End or any other district. Now the news story is about the North End rather than transportation needs in the state.

I was there in the room and listened to the full context and nothing she was saying had anything to do with rural Idaho. Her quote in this story is accurate as is Mr. Hammon's.

The story leaves out that she ran out of the room red-faced after the exchange and did not return for 20 minutes of the presentation and missed important questions and answers about state employment and education cuts and funds. We she did returned she spent much of the remaining time rolling her eyes and making faces in regards to Mr. Hammon's answers to said questions. I found it to be quite childish and not very senatorial. Afterwards, she ran out to do as many interviews as possible to continue to whine about "bike paths."

I DO think we need expanded public transportation in Idaho and encourage non-vehicular commuting but the Senator's fit was an attempt at grandstanding that failed. Mr Hammon's point while very direct was that we have WAY higher priorites than bike paths.

there would have been little or no interviews for LaFavour to give because there wouldn't have been an issue. Her grandstanding opportunity could have easily been extinguished. Instead, he added fuel to the fire. I just think he showed a lack of focus. Now we will have another distraction about his comments rather than a focus on the real issues. I just think it's a shame that's all. From your report, it sounds as though LaFavour's actions were also inappropriate..but two wrongs certainly don't make a right.

Sometimes folks in the People's Republic of the North End need to be reminded the universe does not revolve around them.

that liberals and progressives should be seen and not heard in Idaho. Let's not challenge the status quo and keep doing things the Republican way so that Idaho can remain the land that time forgot.

perhaps they can settle things out in the playground during "recess"

The problem with the North End is that it's full of North Enders.

Bike paths are only part of it. Many neighborhoods were built to primitive standards and have no sidewalks also. There are many ways to get around, including foot and bike, and our infrastructure needs to accommodate that. Our kids are getting fat and lazy because they don't ride their bikes, and can't safely ride them or walk to school in many areas. Infrastructure for pedestrians and bikes is a crucial part of the equation. The funny thing is, the North End and original rural townsites and downtowns are uniquely Idaho neighborhoods, made completely by Idahoans and with native materials, not like the California cul-de-sac subdivisions with imported styles and materials. Original Idaho neighborhoods are what Idaho was. Put them down and you put down Idaho.

Hoffman caught in his ideologue way of intolerance as he singled out the North End neighborhood not for bikes but as a racist slam against Ms.LeFavour. There is no mistaken that Hoffman comment was one of intolerance using a very successful neighborhoods diversity to make a racist slam against the State Senator elected by that district. Boise North End neighborhood is one of the most educated and successful in Idaho and includes an incredibly diverse demographic of great neighbors and families that anyone would be lucky to have. Hoffman veiled attack on a diverse neighborhood definitely continues the conservative republican intolerance movement that is a problem in Idaho, thank you republicans for continuing to publicize your intolerance, once a racsit always a racist.

What you obese people need to realize is that alternative transportation is not a North End issue - it is Statewide.

Every bicycle you see represents one less person alone in a car - less cars on your precious, crowded roads that you need because you are too fat to walk or ride a bike.

I do not, nor have I ever lived in the North End.

My main mode of transportation is a bicycle.