Protected Bicycle Lanes in Albany?
You saw it here first – under construction (photo #1). Hopefully those “Jersey Barriers” are an indication of the final Quay St. configuration (looking north just north of the USS Slater).
#1 – PBL in Albany?
The Corning Riverfront Park Project will include the following according to the City of Albany:
- Repaving and widening some areas of the multi-use path along the riverfront to accommodate two-way cycling as well as people walking.
- Extending the multi-use path south to the Quay St. /Broadway intersection near the USS Slater (The Jose Perez Memorial Plaza) and north to Erie Blvd. (ed: Now if we can just build that South End Bikeway Link … )
- Building a new two-way bicycle lane along the backside (west side) of the tidal ponds to bypass the amphitheater during events (photo #2 – tiptoe around the tidal pool looking south from near park HQ) .
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#2 – Path for People on Bicycles West of the Main Park Area
- Making the riverfront more accessible with new crosswalk signals at three intersections on Quay St. at Broadway, the Broadway Connector, and Water St.
- Calming Quay Street to make it a “complete street.” Quay St. will go from two motor vehicle lanes to one to accommodate people on bicycles and people walking as well as motor vehicles (photo # 3 – Quay St. gets a shave – looking north from just past the pump station/former Aqua Duck HQ).
#3 – Quay St. Gives Up a Motor Vehicle Lane to People
- Adding nearly 50 parking spots on Quay St. to make it easier for people in cars to visit the riverfront.
- Enhancing lighting along the new multi-use paths and along Quay St.
- Providing benches, bicycle racks, and trashcans (ed.: recycling too?) along the paths.
- Providing informational kiosks to promote Albany events and activities.
- Adding trees to the park so that there will be more trees than before the project began.
Moving on (after a visit to the Corning Riverfront Park) – photo #4 shows markings for the return of Conventional Bicycle Lanes on the repaved Clinton Ave. Maybe the bicycle lanes can at least begin continued beyond Lexington to the intersection of Clinton and Central Aves. per the original plan. As of 7/11, the lanes are re-marked from Ten Broeck to the western end of the re-paving project – you’ll notice the lane marking bicycles are now rider less. Hmmmmm…
Markings for Bicycle Lanes – looking west
Albany Bicycle Coalition 