The East Coast Greenway runs from Canada to Key West. One of its attractive features is that 25% of the route is on traffic-free paths; in Connecticut, 28% of it is separated from traffic.
Those who are bike commuters often have no choice but to use streets; having a piece of one’s route be separated from motor vehicle traffic is welcomed.
Most of the East Coast Greenway which runs through Hartford is on the city streets, with the exception of the segment which runs through Riverfront Plaza and Bushnell Park.
In conversations at iQuilt Plan sessions, it became immediately clear that planners had no idea that the East Coast Greenway already weaves through Bushnell Park. It is on the ECG cuesheets and there are painted markings on the path. Now, there is talk of adding bike lanes along what is being dubbed “Bushnell Park North,” showing no awareness that a more scenic option already exists.
Anyone who has ridden on the streets which run next to Bushnell Park can tell that they are not designed for bicycle usage. Improvements are welcome. Must the addition of bike lanes mean relocating part of an established route to do so?
Has it become a trend to take cyclists off of quieter, safer routes and steer them onto busier ones?
This short-sighted move is part of Hartford’s Intermodal Triangle Project, which also proposes other changes to infrastructure that seem without reason, like the plan to remove the median in this same “Bushnell Park North” area. Currently, the median serves as a place for pedestrians to wait while crossing the busy street. Not in the plan: chicanes, speed bumps, or any other type of infrastructure, beyond the narrowing of the street, which would slow traffic.
From a document provided by the City, here is an explanation of one costly piece of the project:
While there are plans to install bike lanes close to where a safe one already exists, there are no such plans to make other streets in Downtown, like Main, Pearl, or Asylum, more cyclist-friendly. The only other hint of better infrastructure for cyclists is the addition of long-term bike storage at Union Station.
Acceptance of a grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER program which would allow for this project is expected to be acted on this Monday at the City Council meeting. The grant would cover 64% of the project’s expected costs. The entire Intermodal Triangle Project is projected to cost $21.12 million. It includes pieces of the iQuilt Plan.
Jennifer S.
I wanted to do some re-reading before I responded. As I reviewed the Tiger grant application I was struck by the text on page 5: “and major pedestrian and bike enhancements under the innovative iQuilt Plan.” Clearly the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing, as the iQuilt website (http://iquiltplan.org/home) states outright that iQuilt links all the cultural assets “with a vibrant and innovative pedestrian network.” The Tiger folks seem to think the iQuilt team is working on bicycling improvements. The iQuilters know they are not.
I also enjoyed the phrasing on page 5, alongside the bicycle icon. “Planned construction of East Coast Greenway showcase segment through Downtown” Why do I suddenly feel like an animal at the zoo? Add this to the text on page 7, “Improved access to Union Station and downtown destinations, new segment of East Coast Greenway on Bushnell Park North,” and I’m beginning to think The Powers That Be believe bicycles are simply accessories. I foresee a Still Revolutionary commercial instructing us to put the bike on a bus downtown and ride over to Bushnell Park North. Cycle a few feet, showcasing yourself, then store it at Union Station while you walk around the park and ride the carousel.
They did some great proofreading on page 10, “Bushnell Park North’s bike path will be a Hartford’s signature component of the East Coast Greenway.” A Hartford’s? Really?
But back to the topic at hand, do we know for sure they are removing the ECG from the park? The impression I got was that they are adding the showcase segment, but there was no indication they are getting rid of what is already there. Obviously, it is doubtful they actually know it is already there.
All things considered, I agree this does absolutely nothing to make Hartford a safer place to cycle. This hardly surprises me, as all municipally initiated bicycling features in the city appear random and out of place to the average passer-by. The Capitol Ave. bike path is a good example. It is nice to have, but hardly makes anything any safer. Though it does now have much more sunlight, thanks to the busway.
Kerri Provost
Unclear if they are removing it, but the current path may be in the way if/when the brook/river/drainage ditch is added. Since they were unaware of the ECG’s existence when deciding there would be a sort-of-river through the park again, it wouldn’t be surprising if this push for bike lanes on the street is connected.
As for everything else, I completely agree. They think of cycling only as recreation and not as a legitimate form of transportation. If they did, they would look at making far more dangerous streets in downtown safer for cyclists.
Heather Brandon
The city’s primary point of contact for this project is listed as Roger O’Brien, who’s been fired.
The “triangle” name made me wonder if this is linked to the “tridents.” It appears not. For a minute, I thought we were actually integrating past attempts at plans! Silly me.
It does look as though the plan is to move the ECG onto Jewell Street, and out of the park itself (page 22).
“Innovation Boulevard.” Hm.
Kerri Provost
Thanks for being detail-oriented! I wonder if there is any point to slowing down on approving items that had been projects of someone just canned. You know, maybe take some time to reflect on whether or not this would be money well-spent.
I also assumed this was connected to the tridents. Guess we just start things here and abandon them part of the way through.
Rich H
A couple points:
1) The promotion of ECG around the Hartford area is shady at best. It only seems to be promoted when it’s convenient. I had to argue with an avid local cyclist that the markings even existed in Bushnell Park. Sure, they get repainted every 2-3 years or so, and the most recent painting was due to the ECG Tour visit in August. Signage explaining what the ECG is at the eastern entrance to the park would be well served.
2) Doesn’t the ECG have to get involved to actually move part of the Greenway? One would hope that two planned projects can’t just declare “we’re moving it here” without any approval from the Greenway organization. The ECG exits the park over the footbridge, so it would make sense that it traverses the park diagonally rather than skirting the surrounding streets.
3) I consider Jewell and Gold Streets to be some of the safest streets in downtown already. I live there, and there isn’t a great need for traffic calming; the median itself (in restricting access to Ann Uccello St) along with the light control at Trumbull keeps that whole stretch quiet. Crotch-rocket motorcycles rip down Asylum, and have fun with the insane maneuvers drivers pull in/out of the Pearl St. parking structures. I don’t understand the need for narrowing when the park is right there.
Josh LaPorte
I had no idea that the pedestrian pathway through the park is actually considered a bike route? I think that planners need to figure out what they want; should bicyclists use pedestrian routes or not? When I ride my bicycle from one side of Bushnell Park to the other, I go around the park or up Trinity Street. I always figured that if bicycles are banned from the sidewalks then they are banned from ALL the sidewalks.
I’m of the opinion that all vehicular traffic should be banned from the pedestrian paths inside the park, including bicycles. If we want bikes in the park, we should give them a dedicated pathway or, minimally, mark a bike lane on part of the pedestrian pathway to clearly delineate where to expect bikes to be.
I do agree that these planners think that bicycling is just a recreational activity or something. I don’t give a crap about “exercise” or “recreation.” I ride to get somewhere. I do it a lot. I walk a lot too. I hate driving a car and do it as little as possible.
Josh LaPorte
Oh, I do realize that it’s not feasible to ride across the river without going on a sidewalk: More mixed messages to bicyclists and pedestrians about who goes where. In viewing the ECG map it looks like it routes you onto the plaza at Travelers and then across the Founders Bridge. I did not know that bikes were allowed on the Plaza either!
Kerri Provost
They are allowed…but they ask bicycles to be walked when there are festivals and other events with a lot of people.
Kerri Provost
Bikes are permitted in city parks. This was not actually the case before a few years ago, even though the ECG goes through one.
Real Hartford » What is this East Coast Greenway, Anyway?
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