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Update: Hope Street bike lanes – who listens, who decides
Some stories just have “legs”, as they say in the news media business. Putting bike lanes on Hope Street on the East Side of Providence is such a story.
Since our original article, we have updated twice. Now, as MSM media (Main Stream Media) follow with stories of their own, we’ll update, again, with these other sources.
First, after the coverage the issue received, over 22 small business owners located on Hope Street (and counting) wrote their letter to Mayor Jorge Elorza, Mayor of Providence, and the Providence City Council with their opinion and a request:
22 business owners (see original article, below, for all the owner names and stores. While owners are hopeful their pleas will be heard, responses from the city and the postings of the bike lane advocates confirm the fears of the owners, that the one week trial is coming, regardless of their wishes.
Media Coverage
Jim Hummel, of the Hummel Report, was filling in for Tara Granahan on Aug. 23rd – he interviewed the publisher of RINewsToday and Elise Michel, owner of Luli Boutique. Here the interview, here: (click on bar audio, below image)
Later that night, WPRI-Channel 12 ran a story on the bike lanes and interviewed other store owners:
Interviewed were: Patricia Zacks, The Camera Werks – Maria Soares, Marysia’s Custom Tailoring, Mohammad Islam, Not Just Snacks –
During the WPRI interview, Mayor Elorza made this statement:
Mayor Elorza written response to RINewsToday:
“Among participants in the Great Streets Plan community engagement process, Hope Street was the single most-requested route for an extension of Providence’s urban trail network. Based on this input, the Providence Streets Coalition proposed to temporarily install these bike lanes along Hope Street. We have used this approach, of using temporary installations to gather information and feedback, in other parts of the city and we believe it is a prudent approach to take. I understand the concerns of the business community and believe there is sufficient time for their reasonable concerns to be incorporated into any plan for the temporary installation.” – Mayor Elorza
RINewsToday has requested the data showing that Hope Street was the #1 road where bike lanes were requested by the public, as mentioned in Mayor Elorza’s statement – and if he will be responding formally to the Hope Street Merchants. We were referred to the PVD Great Streets Study for the data – a cursory look shows that “listening sessions” were held in Providence where people did common interactive exercises like putting a dot on an area that needs work, or where they would like to see a bike path. This group exercise is all there is in the report – if there is hard data about the placement of even a trial on Hope Street, it is not being shared.
Next road up – North Main Street:
Read the full PVD Great Streets report here: https://www.providenceri.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Providence-Great-Streets-Plan-January-2020.pdf
Who says yes – and who says no?
Requests for a response from the Providence City Council, who received the store owners’ letter came back from Parker Gavigan, spox for the Council. We were told that they do not have any authority over the project, and that the city’s Planning Department is where they would approve or disapprove it.
Funding
Stay tuned as we look into funding for this project and the “Streets” project. Grow Smart, in Rhode Island, is the fiduciary agent for PVD Streets Coalition, and we have requested the budget and funding sources for the Hope Street campaign. AARP-RI is in for approximately $12,000 in funding for the one week but they have said there are other sources of funding.
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Store owners have said that they are afraid that their opinions don’t matter and that the project will be pushed on the area, regardless of their requests. Yesterday, one store owner who interviewed with a television station this week received a notice from the city that a part of her building was not in ADA compliance.
I am a senior, living on the East Side of Providence. I am against the bike lane for multiple reasons. First of all, Blackstone Blvd offers a safe bike lane on both sides of the divided road. I patronize many of the businesses on Hope Street and without parking on the street, I will be less inclined to shop there and to receive nail and hair services. Additionally, the sidewalks are a mess and unsafe to walk on for long distances on Hope Street. Unless Mayor Elorza and the city repair the entire length of sidewalk on both sides, there is a definite risk of falling. This will potentially mean the city will incur financial responsibility for any injuries.
Susan – we are doing an update tomorrow – stay tuned!