By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The wheels of progress turn slowly, especially when those wheels are on bicycles.
After years of talking about bike lanes in the city, and several meetings this year, some plans inched forward Monday evening.
Fairview Avenue plans barely budged, with efforts scrapped to add bike lanes.
Conneaut Avenue plans progressed, with a possible widening to allow a bike lane the entire length of the street.
East Court Street plans remain dormant since the committee meeting before City Council again ran out of time to discuss that route.
Fairview and Conneaut were to be the first to get any type of improvements for bicyclists since they are being resurfaced next year. While the repaving plans initially moved along the bike lane efforts, the deadline for bids on Fairview then made Transportation and Safety Committee members feel too rushed since bids have to be submitted by the end of this week.
Earlier this month, the committee had talked about the placing a bike lane along Fairview – but on Monday they could not decide which side of the road would be better for the lane. City Engineer Jason Sisco warned that placing the bike lane on the west side along Country Club Golf Course put bicyclists in danger from stray golf balls.
“We’d be encouraging folks to walk 40 feet away from someone hitting a golf ball,” Sisco said.
Council member John Zanfardino agreed that the east side route would give bicyclists 20 more feet between their lane and golf balls.
Sisco also said he had walked Fairview with the city arborist, who determined the bike lane on the east side would not threaten any trees there.
But neighbors objected to the route being added on the east side, spreading into their front lawns. They also questioned the wisdom of the east side path plan which calls the bike lane to cross over to the west side as yards get too narrow toward Conneaut Avenue.
Ryan McGiffin, of Fairview Avenue, said a bike path on the east side would require cyclists to cross 17 driveways and one alley. He also warned that bicyclists won’t be safe from golf balls on the east side of the street. Most of the neighbors experience damage to the homes and vehicles from stray balls, he said.
McGiffin instead suggested that screening be put along the golf course to protect bicyclists, vehicles, homes and neighbors from being hit by golf balls. His recommendation that the golf course pay for the screening was met by applause from other neighbors in the audience.
Council member Sandy Rowland said a west side bike path appeared to be safer and would be a better link to the middle and high schools, plus ultimately to the community center. She also said it appears the unintentional damage caused golfers needs to be discussed by the city.
“The safety issue isn’t which side of the street,” Council member Daniel Gordon said. “The safety issue is the golf course.”
Gordon said there seemed to be some type of “disconnect” between city officials and the people who live on Fairview. He added that he was not comfortable rushing to make a decision before the bid deadline.
Since the Transportation and Safety Committee could not decide where to place the Fairview bike lane, it was agreed that no lane would be added when the street is repaved next year. Instead, sharrows (painted bike images with chevron arrows) will be painted on the road. Gordon objected to the sharrows, saying they were not the best use of money.
“I’m not sure if it’s wise for us to spend money on Fairview if we’re not going to get a bike lane,” Gordon said.
At the suggestion of Council president Mike Aspacher, sidewalks along Fairview will be widened to six feet as part of the repaving project.
Rowland expressed frustration that Fairview bike lane plans weren’t advancing. “I don’t want to let Fairview go,” she said. “I’m a little disappointed we’re not moving along with bike lanes.”
The committee then moved on to Conneaut Avenue – which has its own issues. The plan calls for the street to have a bike lane its entire length from North Grove Street to Mitchell Road.
That would require two major changes – a ban of on-street parking on Conneaut between Grove and Fairview, and the widening of Conneaut by four feet between Haskins and Wintergarden roads.
Zanfardino said having such a long stretch of dashed bike lane was exciting for the city. The committee made a recommendation to the city traffic commission that on-street parking be banned in the far east block of Conneaut to allow room for the bike lane. The commission will make the final ruling on the parking issue.
Neighbors were not pleased at the prospect of losing on-street parking since many of the homes in that block are rentals and off-street parking is not adequate in some cases.
Rowland said that no matter where bike lanes are placed, they will cause some disruption to residents.
“I’m deeply empathetic to folks who live in these areas,” Gordon said. “This may cause some pain for people, but this is good for the city. It needs to happen.”
“Our ears are open to you. We are listening,” Rowland said.
Since the meeting time expired before Court Street bike lanes were discussed, another meeting was scheduled for Oct. 25, for 6 p.m., in council chambers.
During the council meeting following the bike lane discussion, Council member Bob McOmber said he was “shocked” that the Transportation and Safety Committee was making “multi-million dollar decisions” without council’s input. McOmber also added that he was not in favor of getting rid of on-street parking on the far east end of Conneaut Avenue.
Municipal Administrator Lori Tretter explained that the normal process involves the committee making recommendations to city council, which then makes any final decisions.
Because the resurfacing of Fairview and Conneaut is grant funded, time was of the essence. Plus the bike lane additions are being treated as options in the bidding, and council will have the final say.
Council member Bruce Jeffers said he also was surprised that the committee seemed to be making decisions without the full council.
“I hope the process will be different as we move forward,” McOmber said. “I would hope for a more inclusive process.”
Zanfardino assured that the decisions Monday were necessary due to the bid deadlines. “We were racing against the clock tonight.”
