Atherton Avenue split: council asks staff to study narrow curve while keeping most corridor as sharrows

Council members spent extended time debating Atherton Avenue, a major east‑west connector in town, weighing whether to pursue dedicated bike lanes or pedestrian facilities. The corridor includes a constrained curve — repeatedly called the 'wiggle' in the discussion — where right‑of‑way, fences and existing frontage limit options.

Several council members said they ride the street and prefer keeping sharrows for most of Atherton Avenue rather than widening the road or imposing bike lanes that would require property/frontage changes. Others argued that dedicated bike lanes would make novice riders and families feel safer. Council members agreed on a compromise: retain sharrows for the wider portions of the route while asking staff to expand a pending intersection review to include the curve and analyze options (widening, alignment changes, or a targeted dedicated facility) for that short, high‑constraint segment.

Staff noted physical constraints at the curve and the need to consider maintenance impacts, parking, and the potential for intense neighborhood reaction similar to past Selby Lane debates. The council directed staff to return with refined study results and design alternatives for the constrained stretch and to resume bicycle‑facility discussions at the July follow‑up session.