The city is finally going to fill the Roosevelt bike lane missing link between NE 75th and NE 85th. The open house is Tuesday from 7 – 8:30 p.m. at Northgate Community Center.

Two years ago, the city installed bike lanes on Roosevelt/11th Ave from the University Bridge all the way to NE 115th St, except for the ten-block stretch between 75th and 85th. Now, after far too much studying, the city has made some modifications to the plan and is moving forward.

The Maple Leaf Community Council, which opposed the project a few years ago, is still concerned a bit about the parking loss. But their main concern now is getting SDOT to install more painted crosswalks in the area.

Joshua Newman, a former member of the MLCC, said he would like to see the project happen, and hopes the MLCC and bike advocates can work together:

Hi Tom, We talked a couple years ago when I was on the MLCC, and we asked SDOT to delay that half mile of bike lanes. It was the right decision then, and finishing the lanes is the right decision now. I’m no longer on MLCC, but thought you might encourage your readers to attend the meeting and support the new lanes. MLCC is a strong advocate for pedestrian improvements and it’s disappointing that they are nominally pitting themselves against cyclists, and that Cascade Bicycle Club further aggrivates with strong language. Anyways, looking forward to more bike lanes – especially separated lanes – in the city. Joshua

For more background, see our story from July or check out this SDOT presentation:

2012-06-19 SDOT Roosevelt Bike Lane 2