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East side protected bike lane installation
Milwaukee is making some changes with the goal to keep your safe. People biking and walking on the city's east side have complained about some streets. Now, work is kicking off to provide some more protection.
MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee is making some changes with the goal to keep your safe. People biking and walking on the city's east side have complained about some streets. Now, work is kicking off to provide some more protection.
You might miss some of North Avenue's bike lanes right next to car traffic.
"When there’s a bike lane, we’d go in the bike lane, but sometimes cars would be stupid," said Claire Hackel of Florida who is in town for the Drake concert. "They wouldn’t be paying attention to us, 'cause, I guess, they’re bigger than us and they wouldn’t see us. And sometimes when they’re turning, they don’t see us."
Bike Rider Robert Reed also had close calls in the city.
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"I love riding my bike in Milwaukee. I’ve been pretty safe, lately, but you just have to watch the traffic and you have to obey the traffic laws. If the light says do not go, do not go, because people come speeding along and fly through lights," Reed said.
The alderman who represents the area said it is time to put the brakes on the dangers.
"Not great. It is a very dangerous experience, as a biker, from my personal perspective, and I’ve had a lot of close calls and just a lot of aggressive, angry drivers," said Alderman Jonathan Brostoff.
Milwaukee Alderman Jonathan Brostoff
Now, the wheels are in motion to install extra protection on North Avenue between Cambridge and Prospect. Crews are taking off the old paint. When they are done, parking will separate cars and bikes.
"Because it’s going to be a little bit narrower of a lane and the perception will be narrower for the drivers, it should calm traffic down a bit and that should decrease the amount of accidents as well as their severity," Brostoff said.
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"I would like to be drive on my own lane on this side of town. Where I don’t have to be as careful with the traffic and I can just be in my lane, and they be in their lane," Reed said.
Bike and scooter riders could find that new protection on the road as early as Aug. 16.
Putting in the protected bike lanes is just one part of a bigger redesign of North Avenue. On neighboring Brady Street, there have been three hit-and-runs in 2023.