ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Some St. Pete residents are fired up over the city’s new street safety plan called “complete streets.” It’s a multi year plan that will double the amount of parking spaces and add or widen existing bike lanes.
Some residents are mad that the plan includes eliminating some traffic lanes to make way for the safety changes.
"It’s insane to take away lanes,” said resident Ed Carlson.
Carlson formed the group “Citizens Against Lane Loss.” He said the group supports safety, but they feel the current plan will add to congestion in the city.
"Congestion is my main worry and slowing everybody down, it’s a huge loss in human enjoyment and human productivity to be caught up in congestion,” said Carlson.
The group is calling for the city to widen sidewalks to add more bike paths vs bike lanes.
“It’s safer for pedestrians and bicyclists to be on a right of way on a wide sidewalk,” said Carlson.
Don Lucas rides his bike in St. Pete. Lucas applauds the city initiative because he feels he’s able to ride on more streets.
“I think it’s good they do that, I don’t like to ride with the cars right next to me,” said Lucas.
City leaders are looking at fifteen streets to make safety modifications. City crews just completed a widened bike lane on Martin Luther King Jr. St N. earlier this year.
You can read the complete street plans here.
