City Council Approves New Bike Lane Network

The city council voted 7–2 on Monday evening to approve a sweeping expansion of the municipal bike lane network, a plan that has been debated for nearly three years and will add 42 miles of protected lanes across twelve neighborhoods by 2029.

The vote followed more than four hours of public comment, with supporters citing declining traffic fatalities in cities that have made similar investments, and opponents warning about the loss of street parking and potential impacts on small businesses that rely on curbside loading.

"This is the single biggest investment this city has made in cycling infrastructure in a generation," said Council Member Diane Osei, who sponsored the measure. "It's not just about bikes — it's about giving people a real alternative to sitting in traffic."

Construction on the first phase, covering the downtown core and the riverfront district, is expected to begin next spring and take approximately eighteen months. The city's transportation department estimates the full network will cost $186 million, funded through a mix of federal grants and a dedicated portion of the city's infrastructure bond.

Business owners along the affected corridors have mixed reactions. "We support cycling, but nobody asked us how we're supposed to get deliveries in without a loading zone," said Marcus Webb, who owns a hardware store on Fifth Avenue that would lose four parking spaces under the plan.

The transportation department has committed to a mitigation program that will convert some existing side-street parking to short-term loading zones, though details have not yet been finalized. A public working group will meet monthly through the design phase to gather feedback from affected merchants.

The plan passed with amendments requiring an annual safety and usage report to the council, and a built-in review after the first phase is complete before the remaining phases proceed.