Sources in Hoboken tell TSTC that an ordinance (on page 89) introduced to designate several streets in Hoboken as Class II (on-street) bike lanes passed 9-0 during the July 20 Council meeting on first reading, meaning a public hearing and final vote on the bike lanes will take place next month.
Locations for the bike lanes include portions of Hudson St, Garden St, Park Ave, Willow Ave, Clinton St, Adams St, Jefferson St, Monroe St, Jackson St, Harrison St, Newark St, 2nd St, and 11th St. These streets were deemed wide enough to accommodate a proper striped bike lane without eliminating any travel or parking lanes.
The ordinance will be taken up for a second and final reading at the next Council meeting which is scheduled for Wednesday, August 24 at 7:00pm in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 94 Washington Street. The public is invited to speak on whether they support or oppose the measure at that meeting.
At the same meeting, City Council members passed resolutions of support (on pages 35-36) for the city’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, finalized last year, and its Pedestrian Safety Program. The city received national recognition as a Gold-level Walk Friendly Community earlier this year, and has quickly become a model for smart transportation under the leadership of the Council and Mayor Dawn Zimmer.
It’s great to see this study moving forward and to receive so much support (so far) from the city council. However, its disappointing to not see Washington Street included on the list of roadways in line for a bike lane. Of all the streets in Hoboken, I always see the most bike traffic on Washington Street, Hoboken’s main street. Still, I’m quite sure something will happen someday soon to make biking easier on this most important road in Hoboken.