City Council considers adding bicycle lane to Northwest Avenue

Bellingham City Council will schedule a community meeting in March for the proposal of adding bicycle lanes to Northwest Avenue. Brent ­­­­­Baldwin of the City of Bellingham Planning and Community Department said, the city council chose direct staff to take this action now to see if surrounding properties and neighborhoods are in favor of the proposed bicycle- lane addition. Baldwin said, the meeting will be held at Shuksan Middle School, there is no specific date set in March at this time.

The addition of bicycle lanes to Northwest Avenue is part of a comprehensive plan to add bicycle lanes throughout Whatcom County, Baldwin said. According to Baldwin, there is no current timeframe for the construction of the proposed bicycle lanes.  If the City Council decides to create bicycle lanes on Northwest Avenue, the construction would create sporadic lane closures and detours along Northwest Avenue, he said.

Access to local businesses would be affected by the construction. Arian Henders, owner of The Sugar Shack on Northwest Avenue, said she was not concerned that the construction would affect her flow of business. She said she does not consider herself a bicyclist, but rides her bike occasionally.

“If they want to get here, they’ll get here,” she said. “I think adding bike lanes are great, I encourage healthy living.”

Some community members are not in favor of adding bicycle lanes to Northwest Avenue. Jackie Dexter, a sales associate at Yeager’s Sporting Goods, said it would take away from the street parking. She also said if the sidewalk that faces Northwest Avenue where the bicycle lanes would be added were to be reduced, it would limit their boat displays in the spring. Rianna Earl, a cashier at Yeager’s Sporting goods, said she did not think it is necessary to add bicycle lanes to Northwest Avenue.

“I don’t have a problem without there being a bike lane, I’ll still ride my bike without a bike lane,” Earl said. “I go faster on my bike than most cars.”

                Other cyclists are in favor of adding a bicycle lane to Northwest Avenue. Tara Satushek, a transportation planner for the American Indian Swinomish tribe and avid bicyclist, said she is in favor of adding a bicycle lane to Northwest Avenue. Satushek is not a resident of the Columbia neighborhood, but said she does bicycle in the area often.  She said Bellingham has bicycle lanes in different parts of the city that do not connect, causing bicyclists to use roads without the protection of a bicycle lane.

                “Bellingham prides itself on being bicycling friendly; creating a bike lane would increase connectivity for bicyclers,” Satushek said.

                Satushek went on to say that the addition of bicycle lanes on Norwest Avenue would create an invisible barrier between the sidewalk and road. She said, it would encourage more people to walk and would give pedestrians a sense of safety with the additional space between the sidewalk and the road.

                Satushek said, it is important that all major roads eventually have bicycle components added to them.

                The City Council will hold a community meeting in March at Shuksan high school where potentially affected neighborhoods will have the opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns.