Save the Bike Lanes!

A very small minority of our City of LC Council persons (Councilor Dolores Connor) have objections to the planned (planned, reviewed, accepted) restriping for Solano from Missourri to University Ave when they refinish that section. The MPO and City came by the money partially because of their TIP proposal which called for a road diet the same as the striping on Solano from Lohman to Missourri. The continuation of the road diet and bike lanes from Missourri to University Ave will make the section of road diet from Lohman to Missourri less isolated and more useful. Many of us were amazed at the attmept of the Solano Road diet because it seemed unplanned and seemed to be an island of bike lanes.

From a local commenter to the City Council (local cyclist advocate-well keep anonymous):

“…
I truly believe the extension of the bike lanes is a project that will better Las Cruces. The existing bike lane is great. The quality of the riding surface is unmatched throughout the city. However, incorporating the section of road into a bike ride is difficult. The bike lanes begin and end at intersections that are not desirable, or even safe, for bicyclists. By continuing the bike lane to University, the city will be providing a logical and safe start to the bike lanes. I believe the lanes would see a dramatic increase in use if this were to happen.

As a motorist, I also like the road striping plan. I remember when Solano was two lanes throughout its entire length. I always felt uneasy making a left hand turn off of Solano. Being an impediment to traffic is never comfortable, you never know when someone might rear end you. Also, the existing two lane striping
causes erratic lane changes when a car tries to make a left hand turn. The center turn lane is a clear and simple solution to these problems….
”
Dolores Connor spoke against the bike lanes being put in
on the other section of Solano (Lohman to Missouri) and now she is trying to prevent them from continuing. Councilor Archuleta (later replaced by Olga Pedroza) has stated in the past that the new bike lanes on Solano, which is in her district, were a great improvement people and businesses liked them.
The city has budgeted money for this project and it was to happen this summer. She says she has concerns about drainage or flooding. If flooding or drainage were an issue then the MPO would have not recommended the road for the bike lanes.

Please email your comments to the City Council:
To email all city councilors at once: citycouncil@las-cruces.org
Mayor Miyagishima: mayor@las-cruces.org
Public Works Director Mike Johnson: mjohnson@las-cruces.org

This road is a major north/south route used by cyclists to get to the university, and to businesses along Missouri (e.g. Lowes grocery store, Outdoor Adventure,etc), and connecting it with the other bike lanes on the northern part of Solano provides a much needed connection.
It doesn’t matter if you live in the city or even in Dolores Connors district. You are a cyclist and want the safest roads possible, and bike lanes improve your safety.

The City of Las Cruces will hold a public input meeting to provide information about the Solano road diet.
The meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 6:30-7:30 pm, at the Newman Center, 2615 S. Solano Drive.

Click here for the Flyer!

Tags: City Meeting, planning, Sustainability, Urban Aggression

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