Concerns Persist over Madison Bike Lanes

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Despite the firm go-ahead by Mayor A C Wharton on adding bike lanes to a large section of Madison Avenue, lawmakers and business owners alike were still at odds over the project at a City Council Committee meeting Tuesday.

Sometimes it's hard to stop City Hall, especially, when they envision progress as coming on two wheels. So, it was a perceptive Memphis City Councilman Reid Hedgepeth who sagely sensed the approach of storm clouds as opponents and proponents of Madison Avenue bike lanes warily gathered inside his committee room. Hedgepeth already figured how to apply the brake pedals to any potential confrontations.

"Our Council Attorney, who I asked to weigh his opinion, believed that the administration's got the say so about what we do in this situation," he stated.

Despite the presence of Wade's rock-solid legal observation that the Council was powerless to interfere with the planned re-paving of Madison Avenue and the laying down of permanent bike lanes, Councilwoman Janis Fullilove still decided to forge ahead with her own version of a compromise plan. "Why not have shared lanes Monday through Friday and then on the weekend have designated lanes in order that the bike riders can ride at that time," she proposed.

Councilwoman Wanda Halbert added, "It's very important as we continue this process throughout the city that we make sure that we understand if there are opportunities for compromise, why would we not pursue the compromise?"

Except, there is going to be no compromise. The repaving of 1.9 miles of Madison paid for by federal stimulus funds is expected to be finished by the end of the October. There have been 13 public meetings, piles of research, and the Wharton administration promises to monitor the effects bike lanes might have on area businesses. If anything, now might be the time to consider how to make bikers as safe as possible. There should be no room for compromise there either.

"Parked cars on the side of the streets, and you've got a bike lane and a turn lane in the middle. If I'm a bicyclist I don't want to be wedged between opening doors and live traffic," Madison Avenue business owner Benny Carter noted. "I think the set-up, personally, for the safety of the bicyclist is unsafe the way the city's going to do it."

"What we do know is that in the past 18 to 24 months there's been a huge increase in the number of cyclists on the street," stated Kyle Wagenschutz, Director of Revolutions Community Bicycle Shop. "We know it's a significant number and that number is growing."

Kellie Johnson, also a business owner on Madison Avenue, added, "You see a sense of community. You see theatre and entertainment districts built with bike lanes to make it a walk-friendly, bike-friendly neighborhood which will make Memphis, Tennessee a more progressive city."