In our September 2020 newsletter, we mentioned that the bike lanes on E. Grand Boulevard were removed during a recent repaving. We were told the city had a new policy of removing non-separated bike lanes when roads were repaved. We submitted a formal request asking to rescind this policy. Cailtin Malloy-Marcon, Deputy Director of Complete Streets responded that there actually is no such formal policy. For E. Grand Boulevard, the bike lanes were converted to sharrows “due to concerns about the high level of parking and the door zone conflict.”
In that case, we don’t think this road requires six vehicle lanes. Four could more than adequately handle the traffic volume. By doing that, the bike lanes could look more like those on E. Jefferson, or better still, like the curb-separated ones planned for W. Grand Boulevard just west of Woodward. With its termini at Belle Isle and Riverside Park, we believe the entire Boulevard should have high-quality bike lanes.
And E. Lafayette?
We had also asked about the bike lanes on E. Lafayette, since that road was being repaved. We were assured that those bike lanes “are being reinstated and are being upgraded with new standards that have been implemented elsewhere in the city.” That’s great news.
Community Engagement Ordinance
A public hearing was held this week for Council President Brenda Jones’ Community Engagement Ordinance. The goal of the ordinance is to ensure community engagement is performed prior to certain projects being planned or constructed. Those projects include installing bike lanes and planning streetscapes.
Given the removal of the above bike lanes, we suggested the ordinance should require community engagement prior to the installation or removal of bike lanes. Council member Scott Benson made the same suggestion and motioned that ordinance language change at Council. It passed without dissent.
As for the ordinance, we’re not sure it changes much. It seems the city already meets most of the community engagement requirements spelled out in the ordinance. Still, we expect the ordinance to be adopted.
2 replies on “Bike Lanes & Community Engagement”
Please put the painted lanes back. I have been biking in Scottsdale and Phoenix for two weeks and my goodness! Biking on the road with marked bike lanes made me feel so much safer than just “sharrows”. It is easier for the drivers to see marked lanes and give us more space. PLEASE consider putting the lines back. Also, riding on narrow sidewalks Is not as safe as I thoughtful variety of reasons.
IMO painted bike lanes aren’t good enough, there should be a physical barrier (curb, parked cars etc.) that separates cars from bikes. As was stated in the article, the Boulevard doesn’t need 6 lanes for traffic, 4 would suffice.