nh, I think that's exactly what “Resident” advocated for. One lane in each direction with a center turn lane.

I agree that it could lead to some frustrating backups during rush hour; however, I think we, as a society, need to sit down and ask ourselves what we value more: reducing congestion or ensuring safety for all road users? I happen to think that congestion is a small price to pay for safety, although I recognize that it is a matter open to debate.

Besides, we do need to consider our state's legally binding commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10% within the next ten years. Auto emissions are the single greatest contributor to our state's greenhouse gas emissions, according to the 2009 inventory (http://ctclimatechange.com/index.php/2009-ct-ghg-inventory/). The most sure-fire way to reduce these emissions would be to reduce the amount people drive, and the most sure-fire way to reduce the amount people drive is to reduce road capacity.

Between the environmental benefits and the safety improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians—not to mention the health and social benefits of opening up a new bike route—slimming down Whitney Ave to one lane in each direction (with a center turn lane) sounds like a pretty good idea to me.

traffic flows just fine when there is parking on both sides of whitney which reduces travel to two lanes and center turning lanes.

its funny how we seem to value the two stretches of parking spots more than the possibility of bike lanes. it seems obvious that bike lanes would be supremely more beneficial to residents, not to mention business owners.

FYI - Whitney Avenue currently has the best "bike lanes" in the city (i.e. the right travel lanes south of Willow). Drivers are totally courteous and respectful and will give you the whole lane (as they are legally required to) as long as traffic isn't too heavy. That being said, some official bike lanes or markings on the entirety of Whitney Avenue all the way into Hamden would be appreciated as they would signal to those who don't already know the "secret" that, Yes, Whitney is safe to bike on.

And, I don't think it would affect traffic too much, especially considering that many of the short trip drivers (0-5 mile trippers) would hopefully be biking instead of driving. And maybe even some people would be biking to and from work all the way from Hamden. It would certainly be more encouraging to do so. Also, the center turn lane would keep left-turn traffic flowing, as long as they design the lights to give green turn arrows.

I don't think this is too hard. It's seems like a no-brainer, especially given the bike lanes on Orange St. are dangerous, and the perception that the Canal Trail in Newhallville is dangerous. This would provide an alternative route for those people.

It depends in where you are on Whitney, in some places it gets backed up, and there are parking restrictions during rush hour

Very unrealistic idea. Traffic is high and it would need Federal approval.

I think this is a legitimate idea that should be explored further.

Bill, I get yelled at and harassed on a regular basis when I ride on Whitney. The worst is the silight uphill between Trumbull and Humphrey (which also happens to have those green “SHARE THE ROAD” signs, which shows how much good they do). I think the fact that I take the lane (for safety’s sake) is what makes people so angry; they see the signs and yell at me for not “sharing” the lane. On the other hand, I agree that taking the lane is the only safe way to ride on Whitney. My closest call ever on Whitney was coming back from Edgerton Park, where the sporatic parked cars that force you into the door zone; I somehow found myself sandwiched between a parked car and a charter bus that happened to be passing through.

bille, no part of this would require federal approval.

Like I said before, I agree that it could lead to some frustrating backups during rush hour; however, I think we, as a society, need to sit down and ask ourselves what we value more: reducing congestion or ensuring safety for all road users? I happen to think that congestion is a small price to pay for safety, although I recognize that it is a matter open to debate.

Besides, we do need to consider our state's legally binding commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10% within the next ten years. Auto emissions are the single greatest contributor to our state's greenhouse gas emissions, according to the 2009 inventory (http://ctclimatechange.com/index.php/2009-ct-ghg-inventory/). The most sure-fire way to reduce these emissions would be to reduce the amount people drive, and the most sure-fire way to reduce the amount people drive is to reduce road capacity.

Between the environmental benefits and the safety improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians—not to mention the health and social benefits of opening up a new bike route—slimming down Whitney Ave to one lane in each direction (with a center turn lane) sounds like a pretty good idea to me.

You're right about the beginning of Whitney, Brian. I've had some close calls there too. I think drivers see the road "open up" after Trumbull St. and expect the be able to increase their speed. In fact, the speed limit does not change on Whitney Avenue within New Haven (25mph). (I still think it's usually pretty nice on Whitney in between Sachem and Willow, granted it's not rush hour). Meanwhile, the opposite is true for the other end near Edgerton Park, like you said. People coming into New Haven are usually already speeding, and are generally not prepared to slow down, as the speed limit in Hamden is listed at 35-40mph, I believe. Thus, you may have a close encounter between a parked car and a bus as you described.

One solution is for our city to make it very obvious to drivers that they are entering the city of New Haven where we would like all of our road users to be able to access the streets. That means providing bike lanes, markings, etc. Maybe even a flashing sign indicating the change in speed limit and a message to share the road. It would be nice if this were to happen before someone gets hurt.

On your other point, I completely agree that we, as a society, need to weigh our "right to drive" versus it's effects on our state- ecologically, physiologically, economically, etc. There are countless examples all over the world of cities that have greatly reduced the amount of cars in their streets through various methods. Many of them are filled with conscious individuals including municipal and state leaders who have already realized the link between driving and health problems, urban decay, etc., and have chosen to address the problem. Coincidentally, those are the nicest places to live in, and often the most prosperous.

Could work, but the [un]official policy of the New Haven police force is to harass/ticket bicyclists. Case in point, numerous complaints about speeding, loud car stereos, failure to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, loud motorcycles in the upper Orange St. area - police response: they are going to start going after bicyclists for minor infractions. Only in New Haven.

In addition, the city will point to the sh***y bike "lane" on Orange St., the one with the pot holes, debris and in the "door zone" as evidence that Whitney Ave. is not necessary for bicyclists to get downtown.

This section of Whitney is a locally controlled road, not a state arterial route/road. It becomes a state road at the Hamden line. So making changes is within the control of New Haven city hall.

I agree with the writer above that Whitney is "pretty safe" for cyclists, but it sure doesn't feel that way to many people, especially children, novice riders, elderly, young families, etc. As a result , if you look at the demographic of the cyclists here, you'll see they are overwhelmingly, if not exclusively at times, young and middle-aged men. If you look at a comparable street in an area with bicycle infrastructure (buffered lanes, etc.), you'll be amazed by the difference - up to 90% of riders in some areas are women and families.

Our policies should be designed for everyone, not just able-bodied middle aged men like most of the people who work in our transportation and engineering departments.

This is a fundamental issue of equity and it seems that the state and City are far behind in resolving it.

To the person who mentioned Federal approval -- it would be wonderful if, in fact, the Federal government would step in and influence our city's backwards road policies:

From the Federal Report on Childhood Obesity, issued last week by Michelle Obama:

"Recommendation 5.8: Reauthorize a Surface Transportation Act that enhances livability and physical activity. A complete network of safe bicycle and pedestrian facilities would allow children to take
more trips through active transportation and get more physical activity. New Federal aid construction projects should accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians by incorporating “Complete Streets” principles.

As improvement projects for existing facilities are undertaken, transportation infrastructure should be retrofitted, where feasible, to support and encourage bicycle and pedestrian use.

The reauthorization could adopt Complete Streets principles that would include routine accommodation of walkers and bicyclists for new construction, to influence retrofitting of existing communities, and to support public transportation."

I agree that the biking situation on Whitney is atrocious. I absolutely believe that--generally speaking--it is safest and most conscientious to ride in the street, but I do sometimes feel that for my own safety I have to ride on the sidewalk on Whitney. Charter buses and Yale shuttle buses regularly zoom down the street very fast, often passing extremely close to cyclists. The lanes on the road are narrow to begin with, and if a car and a bus are next to each other traveling in the same direction, there is simply no room at all for a cyclist on the shoulder. I know the "theoretically correct" biking move on a such a street is to move out and claim the entire right lane, but then, as mentioned above, passing motorists yell at you. I also worry that some of them won't realize I'm there, which would end quite badly for me given that traffic usually moves much faster than the speed limit -- many cars are definitely going 35 or 40 mph. I wish the City of New Haven would enforce the speed limit--possibly including putting "this is your speed" display terminals on Whitney--and paint bike lanes like those on Orange Street. That would require removing some of the street parking on Whitney and/or reducing the number of lanes to one in each direction plus a center turn lane, but I think the trade-offs would be worth it. Whitney is a nice, flat recently re-paved road linking residential areas of New Haven and Hamden to downtown. As such it is a natural bike route and improving bike safety in this corridor should be a priority. Otherwise, it is only a matter of time before someone will be seriously injured or killed there.

I strongly agree with Gina's recommendations.

Since the city has control over the road, and most neighborhood residents seem to agree with Gina, I don't see why implementing these should be an issue.

Funny, I hammer my bike back and forth on Whitney coming from Edgerton at least twice a day and rarely have any problems (the exception got chased down asked just how aggressive he was now that I was staring him in the face) Narrowing Whitney would just cause more gridlock. How about just toughing it out and riding it?

This is a residential street in my neighborhood. I'd like to see it striped to function as one. Not as a highway.

I'd really like to see this fixed.

As of 2013 City departments have begun to review, acknowledge and respond to SeeClickFix issues. Since your issue is in the category titled "No Service Request" and was submitted prior to 2013, we are going to close and archive it. If this issue still requires City attention, please report as a new SeeClickFix issue. Thank you.

Reopened at reporter's request.

Forums with hundreds of residents were held. Neighbors were in near-unanimous agreement that the street should function as a neighborhood, pedestrian-friendly, street, not what our State Representative called "a limited-access highway" after the city re-designed it recently
http://www.newhavensafestreets.org/2009/06/whitney-avenue-paving-everything-youd.html
Issue should remain opened until this is restriped as a complete street and/or cycle-track added.

So exactly how do u plan to allow egress for the massive volume of traffic that this MAIN ARTERY TO AND FROM THE CITY SUPPORTS ??? Closing RT 34 already and put traffic flow back into the orange street neighborhood via I-91 exits. How is closing and narrowing already congested streets help the city thrive in this bad economy.
Maybe closing off downtown to all vehicular traffic will put a final nail in the coffin for business development then we can sell downtown to Yale and let it be their problem.

It is dangerous to bike on this street - our public city streets (including Whitney) should be built to allow all members of the public to use them - including cyclists and pedestrians, as well as vehicles. I bike and drive on this stretch of road often. As a driver I would appreciate better infrastructure for cyclists. As a cyclist I would appreciate not having to "tough it out", but utilize our public infrastructure without fear of life and limb.

Agree with Matthew. Thank you for re-opening.

This issue was recategorized from Uncategorized to Other.

Look what happened when DOT restriped State Street leaving New Haven... Oh wait, nothing happened. Its actually much safer for everyone!

We are trying to delineate issues that are current and need the city's attention to resolve. Any issues prior to 2013 are being closed. If your issue remains and needs to be addressed by the city, please either re-open or open as a new See Click Fix issue. Thanks.