Bicycle lanes not recommended for Mill or Beacon

NEW LONDON – The New London Board of Public Works & Sewer Utility Commission decided that the city of New London should not pursue the addition of bicycle lanes during the future repaving of Mill Street and Beacon Avenue.
Robert Garske, director of Public Works for the city of New London, told the board and commission at its March 2 meeting that the city is scheduled to do the utility work on Mill Street and Beacon Avenue in 2027.
Garske said Outagamie County has developed a bicycle and pedestrian plan for the county that identifies Mill Street and Beacon Avenue as potential bicycle routes.
“They looked at Outagamie County as a whole and areas that they would like to see connecting areas for any type of pedestrian or bicycle trails or any type of interconnecting systems,” Garske said.
Garske said design plans that include bicycle and pedestrian lanes are not being pushed on the municipalities.

“But as part of a plan they like to offer it to the municipalities as an option during a reconstruction to have,” Garske said. “This was identified as an area that would be a good area for a bike lane.”
Since the plans for repaving Mill Street and Beacon Avenue would not include the reconfiguration of the roadway, meaning the roadway would not be made wider if bicycle lanes were added, Garske said no parking would be allowed on either side of Mill Street and Beacon Avenue.
Garske said Outagamie County told him to see if city residents in that area would be in favor of having bicycle lanes added if it meant parking being eliminated.
He added that the city could realize a savings for the project if it would have a bicycle lane installed. But if city residents do not want a bicycle lane, Garske said it is not worth the city’s time to go through the steps to include a bicycle lane.
Ald. Robert Besaw said that residents who live on the streets that have bicycle lanes in other communities don’t like them because of the lost on-street parking.
Ald. David Dorsey said the city should pass on making a decision on adding a bicycle lane to the project until Outagamie County has a dedicated bicycle trail established.
“I don’t see a point in having an eight block long bike trail,” Dorsey said.
Ald. John Faucher said he did not see any harm in the city looking into the possibility of adding a bicycle lane, especially with e-bikes becoming more popular.
BaLynda Croy said she also was not opposed to the city looking into the possibility of adding a bicycle lane, but added that she has the same concerns as Dorsey.
“I don’t understand why Beacon would be included,” Croy said. “It would make more sense to make it go all the way down Mill (Street) and around.”
Besaw said that was a truck route.
“I ride a bicycle all summer and there’s no way in hell I’m going to be driving on them streets like that,” Besaw said.
Dorsey said it seemed like it would be a very busy street to put a bicycle lane on.
“You have the hospital like you mentioned, you have all the factories there, I mean, you’re just looking for disaster,” Dorsey said. “You know this new generation, they get in their bike lane that says their lane, they don’t care if a car’s coming, they’ll just turn in front of it. I just don’t think that’s a good spot for a bike lane.”
Ald. Tim Roberts said he did not have a problem with the addition of a bicycle lane. He added that it would be nice in the future to connect bicycle and pedestrian trails from Wiouwash Trail and Newton Blackmour Trail.
Ald. Bernie Ritchie said it would not be a good idea to have a bicycle lane on Mill Street.
“The corner by Hilkers warehouses is too tight,” Ritchie said. “You’re going to get people run over if you put a bike lane down.”
Garske reminded the committee that the bicycle lane was being suggested for Mill Street and Beacon Avenue because those are county roadways.
“I’m not saying that you couldn’t alter it and change from that,” Garske said.