The Bunhill, Barbican and Golden Lane Healthy Neighbourhood Plan aims to improve local air quality by restricting traffic access in the Beech Street tunnel, prioritizing cyclists and local traffic.
DOT has stressed that removing the protected bike lane will not eliminate cyclists; rather, it will compromise the safety of all street users. This represents a clear breach of the Vision Zero initiative's goals, putting the city at legal risk for knowingly reducing safety on crucial corridors.
"Forcing kids into traffic was never the answer. Yes, people go too fast in the lane - especially on e-bikes - and too many schoolkids cross it unaware. But the solution is to fix it, not rip it out. Protected lanes save lives, and the data proves it. The City and DOT need to act fast - not just to preserve the lane, but to make it even safer."
Mayor Olivia Chow emphasized the importance of side guards, stating, "It means saving lives. It means less tragedy. It means safety," while discussing the initiative to retrofit trucks.
"With only two underpasses and a strategic location, the 86th Street transverse is the highest priority for investigation of a potential bike lane," the conservancy study said. "The design would strategically reduce vehicle lanes to a minimum viable width, ensuring the maximum allocation of space for cyclists."
