Q&A
Concerns about bike lane implementation and its effects on traffic congestion
1:29:22
ยท
154 sec
Council Member Chris Banks raises concerns about increased traffic congestion in specific areas of his district following the implementation of bike lanes. He asks about studies being conducted to assess the effectiveness and impact of bike lanes.
- Banks mentions increased congestion on Fountain Avenue and Van Sicklin Avenue, particularly near schools.
- Eric Beaton from DOT assures that they don't just implement projects and walk away, but conduct follow-up studies on speed and safety.
- DOT acknowledges the seriousness of congestion issues and commits to taking a deeper look at the specific locations mentioned by the council member.
Chris Banks
1:29:22
You know, we'll definitely have a sidebar conversation on that.
1:29:26
The oh, yes.
1:29:31
When it comes to bike lanes, there are certain parts of my district where bike lanes have been placed, and we, we, you know, we all are in support of protecting the motor the, cyclists.
1:29:45
But any are there any studies being done, once bike lanes have been placed, to look at, the possible congestion it has caused.
1:29:58
I know 2 particular areas in my district along Fountain between, Blake and, and and and was it Blake and New Lots?
1:30:08
And then, which is located in front of a school.
1:30:13
There's been it's heavy congestion, up and down that street.
1:30:17
And this is something that didn't exist, you know, prior to the bike lanes being placed, and also along Van Sicklin, all the way up from, Hegeman down to, I think, Stanley, and all the areas where there's schools.
1:30:35
There's heavy, heavy congestion that never existed before.
1:30:41
So, we definitely, wanna find out what's being done to assess, you know, how effective placing the bike lane, you know, there, as far as also cutting down congestion or just making it more, safer for bikers and pedestrians to travel.
1:31:01
Is there anything being done or studies being done once bike?
Eric Beaton
1:31:05
Yes.
1:31:05
It's an important part of our program that we don't just put in these projects and walk away.
1:31:10
We we do look at at both broad data, you know, whether speeds or safety.
1:31:15
But we do go out and and follow-up.
1:31:18
Obviously, we we can't be there every hour of every day.
1:31:21
So if you're saying that there's an issue around the schools, we'll absolutely go back and take a look.
Chris Banks
1:31:25
Well, with congestion.
1:31:26
With congestion.
Eric Beaton
1:31:27
With with congestion.
Chris Banks
1:31:28
That wasn't there before.
Eric Beaton
1:31:29
So we look broadly at the corridor at traffic speeds over the course of the day, but that might not tell us that there's something happening at a particular location at a particular time.
Chris Banks
1:31:38
Well, it's obvious that with the with the bike lane being placed, it it it has caused less space for cars to travel.
Eric Beaton
1:31:46
Yes.
1:31:47
And and we take the congestion seriously.
1:31:49
It it's it is one of the things that we look about and
UNKNOWN
1:31:51
care about, but we we
Eric Beaton
1:31:53
will go take a deeper dive into those locations that you mentioned.