Markeshia Ricks Photo
Elm-High intersection, where “contra-flow” lane will begin.
Cyclists will soon have option of riding against car traffic on inconveniently designed one-way streets.
The first test of the concept will start soon now that the Traffic Authority Tuesday unanimously approved the installation of the city’s first “contra-flow” bike lane on one-way High Street between Elm and Crown, which runs parallel to another one-way street (York) running in the same direction.
New Haven was allowed to create that against-car-traffic lane because of provisions in a law that city officials successfully lobbied state legislators to pass last year, allowing for more flexibility in making streets safer and more convenient for bikes by allowing for contra-flow lanes and installing protected-lane two-way “cycletracks.”
The city’s Department of Transportation, Traffic and Parking plans to install a temporary, five-foot restricted lane that will allow a bike rider to theoretically take a right turn off Elm Street and ride toward Crown Street. (Between Crown and George streets, High Street already turns into a two-way street.) Usually cyclists must ride in the same direction as car traffic on city roads.
The Traffic Authority also cleared the way for operators of pedal cabs — aka pedicabs or bike taxis — to obtain license and do business through much of the city.
City transit chief Doug Hausladen said the Elm City won’t have the distinction of installing the first contra-flow bike lane; Milford holds that title. But this will be the first time the city creates two-way road travel that accommodates both bikes and cars by inexpensively creating a small lane using nothing more than paint, street markings and signage.
“We’re very excited,” he said. “This will be our first pilot.”
It won’t be the last, Hausladen said.
He’s asking the public to let his department know where else they’d like to see these contra-flow bike lanes, and other pop-up bike lanes such as one that will be tested soon on Olive Street. (The original Olive Street pop-up date was postponed because of rain.) He said High Street was chosen for the contra-flow lane because it is a well-utilized link through the city.
Hausladen also said the city might have to spend a little money at the signalized intersections at High and Chapel and at High and Crown to inform bikers know they must yield to pedestrian traffic and to let drivers know to expect bikes to be driving toward them.
“We’re testing things here,” Hausladen said. “Please let us know where to put them; let us know if you want to build a community group to build pop up lanes. Let us know. Talk to us.”
Bike Taxis Rules OK’d
Lucy Gellman Photo
Pedicab operator Paul Hammer at Westville’s ArtWalk
The business of biking also got a boost from the Traffic Authority at Tuesday’s meeting when it unanimously approved new rules and regulations for the operation of pedal cabs, or bike taxis, in the city.
It took six years to finally get it done.
Hausladen said that an ordinance for pedal cab operations was passed by the Board of Alders back in 2010, but it’s only been since the Harp administration has been in office that making the legislation operational was prioritized. He said the mayor saw the pedal cabs as a way for someone to start a business and create some jobs, and urged him to get it done.
“They are a very low level, lifestyle businesses that are health and wellness and creative economy — all the buzzwords that we want,” he said. “And the great thing about what Mayor Harp has been able to do is that the small business initiative has a micro loan fund. So there are opportunities to partner with [economic development office] Jackie James to get some business training if anyone is interested in starting their own peddle cab business.”
That means that if you’re interested in starting a business, or already had one in place prior to the rules and regulations being established, you can now go to the Department of Transportation, Traffic and parking at 200 Orange St. Operators will have to be licensed; they’ll also have to obtain a license for their cab which will certify that they have been inspected and meet the city’s requirements for operation which include insurance. Hausladen said the licenses are a nominal fee, but was unable to say immediately what those fees were. Operators also will have to obtain background checks and be fingerprinted at their own expense.
“I think we have a couple of people interested in owning and operating a pedal cab business,” Hausladen said. “There are a maximum of 20 licenses for cabs, and that has been written into the ordinance. We hope to get 20 cabs out there and working this summer.”
The bike taxis will have restriction on where they can operate. The ordinance governing the pedal cabs keeps them off of Whalley Avenue, Ella T. Grasso Boulevard between Chapel Street and Exit 44 and Kimberly Avenue. One of the two people who testified at the Traffic Authority hearing objected to that restriction.
Anthony Dawson, Traffic Authority chairman, said that the commission asked that Hausladen review that policy and its effects and discuss his findings with the commissioners in a couple of months, during the summer, when demand for such services is likely to be highest. They would like another review in six months, when the weather is colder, and the demand is likely to be less.
“If we want to keep the city going, keep it rejuvenated, these are the kinds of things that we need to do,” Dawson said.