While the Vulnerable User bill stalled once more, Hartford cyclists have one reason to not despair.
After being told that bike lanes on Farmington Avenue would be impossible, a reassessment of that area found space on the major thoroughfare. We are being told by those involved with promoting cyclist- and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure that lanes will be created in both directions between Sherman and Marshall Street.
No timeline was given for the creation of bike lanes.
Meanwhile, the situation on Broad Street between Farmington and Capitol Avenue has gone from bad to worse:
The sidewalk on the west side of Broad Street is now closed, which forces anyone using the “mitigation path” that runs between Flower and Broad to suddenly have to find a way to cross to the east side of Broad Street, where some of the sidewalk is open. Though open, it requires sidewalk users to position themselves uncomfortably close to construction vehicles.
Brendan
Bike lanes are stupid when they appear and disappear. The end points become dangerous because drivers, after being pissed about putting up with a bike lane, now have extra room to speed up in a newly freed lane.
Kerri Provost
You don’t think this is a step toward getting lanes all the way down Farmington Ave?
Justin
Glad to hear this! Been looking at an apartment or two right on that stretch of Farmington and frustrated by looking at the street and realizing it doesn’t look rideable. That is a relatively short stretch of road…we have to move into a process where we don’t get bike lanes if they ‘find the space for them’ but one in which we as a society/government MAKE THE SPACE and make it happen no matter what. I know from experience this can take a lot of time and persistent pressure.
Kerri Provost
Bike advocacy organizations could definitely step it up in this way.
lobonick
very tight on broad st. not much room for anything.
Tony C
Glad to hear that Farmington Ave got a second look for bike lanes. It serves a lot of bike / ped destinations but is typical of the highway through urban neighborhood design philosophy right now. The only thing keeping it from being a race track are the tire swallowing pot holes.
Would be swell that when the corridor is too narrow for bike lanes that “Sharrows” are used and ample “Share the Road” signage is visible.
Heather B
Sharrows have been the plan for Farmington since the city has been saying there isn’t enough room for a bike lane, all the left turn lanes, and bus stops and whatnot.
I wish they would just narrow Farmington down to one major lane in each direction so more room could be dedicated to alternate modes of transit, but I also recognize that it gets a ton of traffic so it’s a tough call. It has been working well enough on the West Hartford side to simplify.