Augugliaro said that the roadway is not wide enough for both cars and bike lanes. “We should have had input. The area doesn’t warrant a bike lane because we only see about five bikes a week here,” she added.
Bernie Aquilino, of the Rocky Hill Civic Association, pointed out that the boulevard gets a lot of traffic, especially during the school year with the public school campus nearby on Union Turnpike. Rick Duskiewicz of the Creedmoor Civic Association, said his group is not against bicycling, but is concerned about this particular path.
Community Board 13 Chairman Richard Hellenbrecht explained that the idea for the bike path came up in 2003 and that the community groups objected. “The civics thought it was not a good location, but there was no discussion with the Department of Transportation,” he said.
Hellenbrecht noted the high speed of cars that use the boulevard and the large number of trucks, even though it is not a sanctioned truck route. “It is not appropriate for here,” he said. “We know a lot more about the community than they (DOT) do.”
Surrounded by community members and junior bicyclists Gina and Stephanie Lavora, 7 and 12, respectively, Weprin outlined his proposed bill. It would require community board approval before implementation of bike lanes.
“Community boards and civic associations are at the heart of the political system,” he said. “They must have a say in the administrative process and my legislation seeks to ensure their inclusion.”
He believes proposals for bike lanes should go through a public hearing and although the legislation is aimed at CB 13, it would apply throughout the city.
Contacted later, Noah Budnick, of Transportation Alternatives, defended the DOT, saying the agency does rigorous studies before putting in a bike lane. “Bike lanes are like crosswalks; they are a necessary safety improvement,” he said.
Budnick also does not buy the argument that the boulevard is too narrow. “I have worked with DOT and they count down to the inch the amount of space,” he said. “Safety is at the top of their list and they wouldn’t do it if they didn’t think it could work.”
He noted that if communities are concerned, they can request a protected bike lane, which would put a barrier between bicyclists and traffic or between parked cars and the sidewalk.
Kay Sarlin, spokeswoman for DOT, also disputed Hellenbrecht’s charges. “DOT had several discussions with Community Board 13 members while planning for a Commonwealth Boulevard bike lane, a project which CB 13 had requested and initially supported,” she said.
Sarlin added that the need for a bike lane hadn’t changed. “Bicycle lanes help calm traffic, encourage cycling and most importantly, keep bikers safe and we intend to move forward with the installation of this one,” she said.
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