Bike Lane Brews Controversy

A heated tête – à – tête between Westville Alder Adam Marchand and Carol Frawley, owner of Deja Brew Cafe, over bike lanes versus parking spots drew both recriminations and apologies in the wake of a public meeting held at the coffee shop.

At the core of their debate is the city’s proposed Edgewood Avenue Cycle Track, which would mean separated cycling lanes — and a potentially safer and enhanced cycling community — but fewer parking spaces on the street for people who use cars to get around town. Frawley said the area is already struggling with parking problems.

In an email sent the day of the meeting, and obtained by the Independent, city transportation czar Doug Hausladen attempted to set up a meeting between Frawley and Chris Heitmann, executive director of the Westville Village Renaissance Alliance, to “… discuss why bike lanes are good for your business and the proposed Edgewood Avenue Cycle Track we are currently designing, planning on doing outreach for in the Fall, and hoping to construct in 2016.” (Heitmann is out of town this week.)

The Harp administration has been trying to sell neighbors and affected government departments on a largely protected bike lane running the entire length of Edgewood eastbound all the way from Forest Road to Park Street downtown, and a second one in portions of Edgewood Avenue the other direction since last year. (Read more about that here.)

Frawley took issue with the fact that the neighborhood meeting, ostensibly to address traffic issues and which she hosted at her cafe, was the first time she was hearing about the potential impact to her business and the possibility of lost parking on Edgewood Avenue. ​“Specifics of this were never divulged,” she said.

“You take away my parking, and I’m done,” said Frawley. She said the loss of parking spaces would impact not only her business, but the adjacent Edgewood School and neighbors who would be forced to park in areas away from their homes. The shifting competition for parking would mean even fewer available spaces for a business that the local community supports and wants to retain, she added. She also questioned whether Chapel Street, which does not have a business in the immediate area, was considered an alternative to Edgewood Avenue, and cited the new bike lanes that already exist along Yale Avenue.

A frustrated Frawley repeatedly expressed her chagrin at what she said was exclusion from the considerations extended to other Westville businesses by Westville Village Renaissance Alliance, the organization that advocates for and promotes businesses in Westville . ​“I’ve been told I’m not part of the Village,” she said. ​“I was never once told, ​‘Carol, we are looking to put this in — this could impact your your business. This is your job to know it would impact me.’ This should never have even been considered,” she told the alder.

Marchand, a cycling enthusiast, noted that he is not promoting the project from that perspective. ​“I take public transportation more than I bike,” he said. The alder, who is running for reelection this year with no opponent so far, holds his regular neighborhood meetings at Deja Brew.

Marchand said that Tuesday’s meeting generated more controversy than he anticipated. ​“That’s a good thing as far as getting the word out to constituents,” he said.

Marchand also said that there are many issues to be worked out including parking issues around Edgewood School and the possibility that ​“cycling lanes may be located elsewhere.” He acknowledged his mistake in not approaching Frawley sooner with details of the proposed bike lanes.

Marchand apologized to both Carol Frawley and her husband, Michael Frawley, for the heated tone of their conversation and for not informing them sooner. He also gave assurances: ​“I will talk with city officials and tell them that we have serious concerns on the project’s impact to schools, businesses and neighbors and that we need to consider alternatives — I promise that nothing is a done deal.”

Regular customers Gary and Reeva Lynes (pictured), who own the Cohen’s Key Shop on Fitch Street and attended the contentious meeting, underscored the important role that Deja Brew plays in their personal lives and in the life of the community. ​“I think that anything impacting this small business would be devastating,” said Reeva Lynes. The couple said they enjoy Deja Brew’s special ambiance and the fact that it is far-removed from the traffic and noise along the Whalley Avenue corridor.

As the city makes strides in improving cycling infrastructure and rebranding itself as a more bike-friendly city, it is winning support among cycling enthusiasts. Cyclists have argued for separated lanes — rather than just painted lanes— in order to be able to ride more safely. A robust biking community can also increase the customer base for some businesses, under new-urbanist development theory.

For her part, Frawley said she is not opposed to bike lanes in principle, but is concerned that the business in which she has invested nine years at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars now appears threatened. 

Reached by phone, Hausladen said that the proposed bike lane, which would traverse four New Haven neighborhoods, is still in the design stages. He added that a large outreach effort will get underway once the complicated proposal is complete. He said that studies have shown that bike lanes are generally good for retail business and he looks forward to meeting with Frawley and other stakeholders.