January 29, 2025

Raising Questions About New Bike Lane On Harrison Street by Shopping Center

To the Editor:

I am concerned about the points made by Lawren Smithline in her letter of January 22 concerning the new bike lane on Harrison Street in front of the shopping center [“Asking Town to Pump the Brakes on Harrison Street Traffic Modifications,” Mailbox].  I didn’t realize what a poor job was done until I read and reread the letter.  First, the bike lane is built in one direction and is built over the length of one half of the block because it was financed by the developer of The Alice and not the Princeton DPW.  Therefore, I do not expect as good a quality job to result when all is said and done. Second, given my interest and concern regarding Vision Zero and Gov. Phil Murphy’s signing of the Target Zero bill recently, I am as distressed as Ms. Smithline is about what the outcome is. Even before the bike lane was added cars would be in the right lane that would try to go through the intersection with Terhune Road. Once upon a time I was biking and struck by a car driver making a right-hand turn into a driveway. I feel Ms. Smithline’s bewilderments as to how this construction design could have been allowed to happen by our Engineering Department. Jim Purcell bicycles from Lawrence Township to work. Therefore, I expect much more out of a Township Engineering Department employee than to allow a situation to be allowed to exist that so clearly does not promote Target Zero/Vision Zero.

If my memory serves me correctly, Jim attended the December meeting of the Princeton Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee at which time I made the remark that corners like this don’t have to exist. If any readers should be driving to the state of Delaware, pay attention to the bike lanes. As one approaches the turn into a development, the bike lane stops to give the driver ample room to make the right-hand turn, and then the bike lane resumes on the other side of the intersection. I believe the same is true of roads with bike lanes in West Windsor. The corner of South Mill Road and Woodmere Way comes to mind instantly.  How about Princeton? Are there not uniform standards in place that must be practiced?

We had discussed at our meeting in December about this bike lane being temporarily two way.  I hope this never happens. I can see someone biking in one direction carrying a laundry bag striking a baby in a baby carriage, regardless of the direction of travel the two users are going in. Also, we have discussed having a contra-flow bike lane on Spring Street. If that happens, I hope the parking spaces are removed. If anyone wants to see a contra-flow bike lane, go to Chapel Street, New Haven (Conn.). It is painted green.

Dan Rappoport
Copperwood

The views expressed in this letter are those solely of the writer and do not reflect the views of any of the other members of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.