Getting around

With the second and final phase of construction beginning on Southwest 34th Street in Gainesville, residents can expect a solution to the manholes and uneven pavement. Although partly delayed because of the rainy wet season, the lane closures and repaving should be completed by Sept. 25.

The Gainesville Regional Transit system has made changes to its bus routes and many residents are not happy. RTS has received increases in complaints since the changes, particularly for Route 20, which has had four new buses added to it after Route 21 was eliminated.

The Gainesville City Commission passed a vehicle-for-hire ordinance for Uber, a ride sharing service, on Thursday. Commissioner Todd Chase said the new ordinance balances the demand for public safety while encouraging innovation and modernizing outdated requirements on traditional vehicles for hire.

The City of Gainesville partnered with ElderCare and Uber to create a new transportation program for seniors ages 60 and up.

The Freewheel Project, set to open this August, is already collaborating with community to bring bike education and accessibility. It hopes to provide training and tools to those who would not otherwise have access in an attempt to help grow the local cycling community.

Due to weather delays, a drainage failure and having a streetlight breakdown caused by a car accident the reconstruction of Northwest 16th Avenue is months behind schedule. Residents have mixed feelings about the delay.

Tired of cars sending up clouds of dust when driving by, High Springs residents took action to get four local roads paved. About 75 percent of residents polled were willing to pay higher property taxes to fund the construction, but some are fighting against it, citing the costs as unnecessary.

Shane Hartley and Troy Butler choose to ride their bikes to work because they know the health and environmental benefits of biking. In order to unite people like them, the Gainesville Citizens for Active Transportation want to start a bike-sharing program.

Gainesville city commissioners are working to create regulations that will lessen disparities between Uber and taxi cabs to place the two companies on even footing at the regional airport. The commissioners will discuss the regulations at the next commission meeting on June 18.

Despite continual repairs to Southwest 62nd Boulevard, commuters will still have to drive along the road's potholes and "alligator cracks" until it is reconstructed in 2016. Once a project development and environment study is completed, the city of Gainesville can work on a $45.2 million project that will turn Southwest 62nd Boulevard from a two-lane road into a four-lane road.