Dear Bike Easy Community,
First, and foremost, I want to thank all of you who have reached out with feedback, and questions in regards to the bike lanes on Newton St and MacArthur Blvd. Below is the most up to date information on it, and what you can do to support our mission of making biking easy, safe, and fun for everyone in Greater New Orleans:
- On Thursday September 1st, the original Resolution R-22-391 proposed on this issue, was withdrawn from the agenda (Line 32), and subsequently filed as Ordinance Cal. 33,854 (Line 36h).
- On Wednesday, September 7th, a meeting at Alice Harte was held, and residents of the area were able to voice their concerns, and/or support of the current protected lanes addressed in the ordinance. Council Member King clarified, that the issue to address was mainly about the flex posts on Newton Street between Elmira Avenue and Behrman Avenue, and on MacArthur Boulevard between General De Gaulle Drive and Woodland Drive.
- On Monday, September 12th, Bike Easy met with CM King’s office as part of the New Orleans Complete Streets Coalition Executive Committee to discuss their thought process, and establish a dialogue that supports an equitable approach to transportation and accessibility to all. We did our best to highlight the fact that a protected network is beneficial for not just people on bikes, but for people walking and driving. This is an ongoing discussion which we hope to continue in good faith with Council Member King.
- The Agenda for Thursday’s Regular Council Meeting is out – Check Line 12 for Ordinance Cal. 33,854 As far as we know, this will be voted on at the Council that day, so now more than ever, we need you to voice how you have benefited from having a protected network, and what it would mean to lose even a small portion of it. Even though this ordinance addresses just a small portion of the network, we believe strongly that this will have repercussions that will trickle to every district.
What can you do to help keep biking easy, safe and fun in Greater New Orleans?
- Contact your Council Members and the Mayor with your thoughts on protected bike lanes, and how it has personally benefitted you to have a protected bike network. While there is still a lot of work to be done to complete the network, the threat of removing even a small portion of it, is a step in the wrong direction.
- Helena N. Moreno – Councilmember At-Large – helena.moreno@nola.gov – 504.658.1060
- JP Morrell – Councilmember At-Large – JP.Morrell@nola.gov – 504.658.1070
- Joseph I Giarrusso III – Councilmember District A – Joseph.Giarrusso@nola.gov – 504.658.1010
- Lesli Harris – Councilmember District B – Lesli.Harris@nola.gov – 504.658.1020
- Freddie King III – Councilmember District C – Freddie.King@nola.gov – 504.658.1030
- Eugene J. Green – Councilmember District D – eugene.green@nola.gov – 504.658.1040
- Oliver Thomas – Councilmember District E – Oliver.Thomas@nola.gov – 504.658.1050
- Mayor LaToya Cantrell – mayor@nola.gov – 504.658.4900
- Sign Bike Easy’s petition* in support of safe, connected bikeways in Algiers. We will forward this to city officials prior to the Regular Council being held on Thursday, September 15th were Ordinance Cal. 33,8591 will be voted on.
Brief (as stated in City Council’s Agenda):
An Ordinance to prohibit that portion of the public roadway consisting of Newton Street between Elmira Avenue and Behrman Avenue, and of MacArthur Boulevard between General De Gaulle Drive and Woodland Drive from containing bollards or similar traffic control features for the exclusive use by bicycles or other non-motorized vehicles and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.
*We will also use this list to send you a reminder once the Public Comments link for that meeting is live, so you can voice your thoughts and concerns. You are highly encouraged to come in person on September 15th. - Show up in person to the Regular Council Meeting on Thursday, September 15th at 10:00 am, where the Ordinance will be voted on. The City Council really needs to hear how this will impact us all! It is time to speak up, and we are counting on your support to do this.
In Service,
Bike Easy Team
PS: For context, and to read our Board’s Statement about this check our blog.
