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Date: 8/3/2021
CHICOPEE – The new bike lane forming a loop in the center of the city in which bicyclists and pedestrians can safely travel has received both praise and criticism.
The temporary lane will be in place through July 2022, but will be removed for the winter to allow for snowplowing, City Planner Lee Pouliot explained to Reminder Publishing.
Some businesses have called it a “huge detriment,” Pouliot said. The concerns they have centers around loss of on-street parking, he added. There have been 60 to 65 parking spaces affected by the lane.
Julie Copoulos, the executive director of the Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, said some members said they are happy to see “exciting changes that look fresh and new.”
She believes people “owe it to the project to wait [to develop a final opinion].”
While other communities have created bike lanes with simply painted lines on streets, the new bike lane in the city is created with not only a painted lane but with the installation of Saris Wave Delineators, movable metal barriers.
Pouliot said bike lanes have proven very popular in other communities and wanted to test the concept in Chicopee. He is hoping a bike lane helps a community refocus on pedestrians and bicycles and hopefully slowing down drivers who use downtown streets as a cut-through.
The loop is defined by connecting Front Street to Cabot Street to Exchange Street to Chestnut Street to Center Street to Springfield Street back to Front Street.
Last year, Chicopee received over $76,000 in grant funds through MassDOT’s Shared Streets and Spaces Program. Mayor John Vieau said in a written statement, “We are grateful to MassDOT for allowing us to make our streets safer and more accessible for all users, increase outdoor recreation, and encourage patronage to our Chicopee Center businesses.”
Pouliot said, “The city of Chicopee has heard through numerous public forums, public comments, and surveys that residents desire additional biking and walking infrastructure. Many residents have said that they do not currently bike or walk because of safety concerns.”
The city is hoping residents will respond with their opinion by using an online form on the Planning Department’s website. Written comments can also be directed to the Planning Department, which can be reached by email at lpouliot@chicopeema.gov or by mail at 274 Front St., City Hall Annex - 4th FL, Chicopee, MA 01013.