Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents praise and protest Granby Street safety improvements at Norfolk council meeting
Summary
Public commenters at the Nov. 18 Norfolk City Council meeting split over Granby Street bike lanes: some praised new bike lanes, speed reductions and pedestrian beacons for safety; others said lanes create congestion and emergency-access concerns and urged further study.
A sharply divided public debate over recent Granby Street transportation improvements played out at the Norfolk City Council meeting on Nov. 18, with residents offering both praise and urgent criticism.
"The new bike lanes provide another transportation option," said Christina Fisher of Westover Avenue, thanking the council for bike lanes, reduced speed limits and rapid-flash beacons that she said will improve pedestrian safety and access to nearby schools. Fisher urged the council to view Granby as a destination for residents, not merely a commuter corridor.
By contrast, Gilbert R. Swank III called the project an "atrocity," saying he personally counted only eight cyclists in 24 hours and arguing the changes have reduced vehicle lanes and created traffic backups that could impede emergency response. "Please use some common sense and make decisions to abandon the present atrocity of the bike lanes," Swank told the council.
Alex Novak, who said 175 residents had asked him to represent their concerns, urged additional study and maintenance, including paint and marker upkeep. He raised questions about congestion, commuter time and whether emergency vehicles might need to use the bike lane to pass traffic.
Council members did not take an immediate policy vote on the corridor changes during the meeting; public comments were heard during the public-comment period. City staff and councilmembers have previously discussed the Granby Street improvements; residents on both sides of the issue asked for continued communication from staff and attention to long-term maintenance and safety monitoring.
The council did not announce a new vote on the Granby Street project at the meeting; several residents asked for follow-up and additional data on safety and traffic impacts.
