Homewood approves permanent bike lanes on Central Avenue after split council vote

Homewood City Council voted 9–1 on Feb. 24 to permanently stripe bike lanes on Central Avenue: a 4-foot bike lane with a 2-foot buffer, following a public-safety committee recommendation.

The public-safety committee met prior to the council session and recommended the permanent striping by a 5–0 committee vote. During the council discussion one member said they opposed the chosen placement of the bike lanes because it removes curbside parking and preferred the lane be run next to the roadway to preserve parking; the objection did not prevent the measure from passing.

Council members reported the committee recommendation and then proceeded to final action. The roll call resulted in a 9–1 tally in favor; minutes record that the lone dissenting vote was cast by the member who said they were “not against bike lanes” but opposed the current recommended placement.

Why it matters: The permanent striping will change curbside use and parking availability along Central Avenue and formalizes a safety treatment the city’s public-safety committee recommended. The change is likely to affect daily users of that corridor and nearby residents and businesses.

Details: The public-safety committee recommended striping a 4-foot bike lane with a 2-foot buffer. The council discussion referenced parking concerns and the placement of the lanes relative to the curb and parked cars. The action was taken as a resolution and passed by roll call 9–1.

Next steps: City staff will implement striping per the approved design; no amendments or additional funding were recorded in the meeting minutes.