Protected bike lanes from downtown Fresno to river parkway? Vision begins to take shape
Would more people ride bikes in Fresno if they felt safer in the saddle?
Looks like we’re about to find out. City officials, with the backing of two councilmembers, have unveiled plans to install protected bike lanes on Palm and Belmont avenues in central and downtown Fresno.
For now, the protected bike lanes on Palm would run from Dakota Avenue, south of the BNSF railroad crossing, to H Street, a distance of nearly 3 miles. But if Fresno County gets on board, they could someday stretch more than 7 miles from downtown to the San Joaquin River.
Protected bike lanes are just like regular bike lanes — except they use planters, parked cars, curbs and flexible posts to separate bike and car traffic on busy streets. That separation enhances the overall feeling of safety. Over the last decade, cities across California and the nation have installed them at a rapid rate to create bike-friendly networks.
Fresno has not, but politicians and residents sound eager to join the trend. During a recent online community meeting hosted by Councilmember Esmeralda Soria, the project received an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response.
The part sure to draw criticism: Placing those stretches of Palm and Belmont (from Palm to Blackstone) on a “road diet.” Instead of four lanes of car traffic, two each direction, the roadways would be reduced to two lanes of cars and a full-length turning lane in the center.
“I know we’re going to get some pushback, and I’m willing to take it,” Soria said. “People are naturally resistant to change, and this is going to be a big change to the neighborhood.”
To Soria, the project would serve the dual purpose of improving bikeability in her district as well as reducing speeds on Palm, where the posted 35 and 40 mph limits are frequently ignored by motorists doing 55 and 60.
“My house is right around the corner, and I know how crazy it is,” she said. “Those wide lanes give people the impression you can go even faster.”
Installing the protected bike lanes along Palm and Belmont would cost about $1.5 million, according to Scott Mozier, the city’s director of public works. That includes flexible posts to be installed at 8-foot increments, re-striping the road surface, slurry seal treatment and crack repair.
To cover that price, city officials are applying for Active Transportation Program grants administered by the California Transportation Commission. The current funding cycle includes $7 million earmarked for special “quick-build” projects. Tens of millions more will be available this fall.
Fresno City Council President Miguel Arias, a co-supporter, suggested during the video call the $1.5 million could be found in the city budget if state money doesn’t materialize.
Palm a pleasant surprise
While Belmont is included in the city’s Active Transportation Plan, the possibility of Palm getting protected bike lanes caught even local cycling advocates by pleasant surprise. Fruit Avenue has long been studied as a designated bike thoroughfare. Palm, by contrast, has not.
Why? Because Palm is a well-traveled surface street, and it was kind of assumed there would never be the political will to do something that prioritizes bikes.
Whoops, wrong assumption.
“For me, this is a priority,” Soria said. “This is something I want to accomplish before the end of my term (in January 2023).”
Putting protected lanes on Palm, as opposed to other north-south streets, makes the most sense after adding up all the factors, Mozier said.
For one, Palm is at least 64 feet wide between H and Dakota, significantly wider than Fruit or Van Ness. This allows for the protected bike lanes and buffer zones to go in without any loss of on-street parking.
Connectivity is another factor. Ten schools and 15 churches are located along or nearby those segments of Palm and Belmont.
In addition, studies show the road diet will not adversely impact Palm’s capacity or overwhelm intersections. Mozier, in fact, suggested traffic would flow more smoothly at “friction points” caused by drivers making left turns at intersections without a turn lane.
From downtown to the river?
For cyclists, Palm’s main advantage is the straight shot it offers to the San Joaquin River and Woodward Park via Audubon Avenue.
“It would potentially create a north-south corridor between downtown and the river parkway, which is something that has really been missing,” said Tony Molina, a retired physician who chairs the Fresno County Bicycle Coalition.
That dream would require buy-in from Fresno County, since the 2-mile stretch of Palm between Dakota and just south of Shaw Avenue lies inside a county island.
Fresno County Supervisor Steve Brandau, far from a cycling advocate during his career in local politics, told Bill McEwen he was “open” to the idea but wanted input from residents.
My hunch is Brandau will get plenty. Once county island residents notice reduced speeds and safer cycling on Palm south of the railroad tracks, they’ll want the same things for their neighborhood.
Who wouldn’t?
A month ago, I implored city leaders to make Fresno a safer place to walk and ride bikes — especially at a time when more people are staying close to home due to COVID-19 concerns and restrictions.
Sure glad somebody was listening. If not to me, then to the glaring need.
