Descrição

Wethersfield Ave is currently under heavy construction for the storm drain and sewer separation. I've noticed that the striping of Wethersfield Ave further south did not update the lane arrangement to improve "Complete Streets" safety for cyclists and pedestrian road users.

Are bike lanes being considered for Wethersfield Ave? Can the travel lanes, parking lane, and turn lane be narrowed? Parking lanes can be be narrowed to 7 ft, and the travel lanes to 10 ft. The center turn lane could also be narrowed to 10 feet.

Simple changes to lane width would make a significant reduction in speeding, reduce crossing distance for pedestrians, and improve the neighborhood character of the street. If the lane width reduction were implemented there would be an opportunity to implement 3-4 foot wide bike lanes. Since the bike lanes are not a minimum of 5 ft wide, they would be unofficial marked buffer lanes beside the parking lane. Alternatively, Wethersfield Avenue could incorporate "sharrows" and "Share the Road signage.

It is a popular street for commuting bicyclists, and continuing Hartford's car centric road design patterns is dangerous and doesn't promote a sustainable city. Thanks for your attention to this important issue.