Cycling advocates argue West Roxbury businesses could get a boost from bike lanes

Cycling advocates are calling West Roxbury business owners out for what they said is a “false argument” that local businesses will suffer when bike lanes take over some of the parking spaces in the area.

“Pedestrians and cyclists could actually spend more — it’s conceivable to think that people biking and walking are able to stop more frequently,” said Galen Mook, executive director of MassBike.

Study after study shows that replacing on-street parking with a bike lanes has little to no effect on local business and in some cases, can actually increase foot traffic for the small businesses nearby, Mook said, pointing to studies from New York City and other metro areas where similar debates had been raised.

“To say it’s bad for business without any data — it’s a false argument,” he said.

Mook said bike lanes create a safer environment for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike, which has had positive effects on neighborhoods like Kendall Square and Harvard Square and elsewhere in the Boston area, where fatalities are down.

“Regardless how much money (businesses) think they can make, it’s a safety issue,” Mook said. “People are dying on Centre Street.”

Boston Transportation Department presented a draft design for bike lanes on Centre Street from the Holy Name rotary to St. Theresa’s Church that would allow for a single-car travel lane in each direction as well as a vehicle turning lane and a bike lane in each direction.

It’s a plan that drew criticism from the local business community over what the loss of parking could mean for small businesses along the Centre Street business corridor, a Boston Herald special report highlighted.

“We are committed to continuing with our community outreach efforts to ensure that a neighborhood consensus is reached before a final design is adopted that will both improve safety and meet the needs of the West Roxbury community,” said Greg Rooney, the city’s acting commissioner of property and management, in a statement.

Rooney said the design for bike lanes on Centre Street is still in the works and the department would continue to meet with West Roxbury residents and business representatives “to listen to their concerns and ideas.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2pFfIHC