More than three months after controversy erupted over the enforcement of bike lanes on Glenmore and Hundred Oaks avenues, a committee of neighborhood and city representatives trying to hash out a solution has yet to come up with one.
City-parish Chief Traffic Engineer Ingolf Partenheimer, whose office has a representative on the committee, says a couple of options were discussed in two meetings held last fall. One of those solutions included creating an additional traffic lane in each direction out of the existing medians on the two streets. But with an estimated $1.5 million price tag, that idea proved too costly.
“At this point we’re still looking for a solution—one that is economically feasible,” he says.
The bike lanes became an issue in September, after cycling enthusiasts demanded that the Baton Rouge Police Department enforce the no-parking regulation that applies to bike lanes. That angered many longtime residents of the two streets, who said they try to respect the bike lanes but want the option of allowing visitors or work crews to park in front of their homes.
A petition to remove the bike lanes began circulating in the neighborhood and two heated public hearings were held before the district’s Metro Council representative, C. Denise Marcelle, formed the committee.
Partenheimer says the committee met twice and has been trying to schedule a third meeting, but nothing is yet on the calendar. In the meantime, tensions in the neighborhood have eased as neighbors from the opposing factions have attempted to work together.
—Stephanie Riegel
