I never cared for the donut place but I think this is a publicity stunt more than anything else. The kolache shop took a lot of their morning business and they've been suffering since. As another poster said, they are jumping on the wagon to try to rouse sympathy.
However, if loro or the Italian place start complaining about business being heavily reduced, then I think I'll start believing the bike lane is having a negative effect on business. I know both places had been complaining previously because they were concerned their trucks wouldn't be able to get into their lots for delivery but I haven't heard anything since the bike lane went in. Living near the area, I haven't seen the parking lots or businesses less full than usual.
Don't get me wrong; I'm against the bike lane for many of the reasons stated in this thread, including the traffic onto off streets, no turns onto certain side streets, my commute becoming much worse on 11th, etc.; however, there is no doubt in my mind that 11th and Nicholson has become way safer. Accidents/near accidents involving vehicles, bikes and/or pedestrians were a daily occurrence prior to this change. No joke, they were at LEAST a daily occurrence.
I haven't seen/heard one since.
Were there better and cheaper options, like just adding the red light thing that got put into place on Shepherd next to the Kroger? Absolutely.
Is the bike lane a huge headache to traffic flow in the area? Absolutely.
And yet, is the hike and bike trail intersection at 11th and Nicholson now safer than it was before? Absolutely.
The one function that started this whole effort to change 11th street was safety. And it is safer.
However, if loro or the Italian place start complaining about business being heavily reduced, then I think I'll start believing the bike lane is having a negative effect on business. I know both places had been complaining previously because they were concerned their trucks wouldn't be able to get into their lots for delivery but I haven't heard anything since the bike lane went in. Living near the area, I haven't seen the parking lots or businesses less full than usual.
Don't get me wrong; I'm against the bike lane for many of the reasons stated in this thread, including the traffic onto off streets, no turns onto certain side streets, my commute becoming much worse on 11th, etc.; however, there is no doubt in my mind that 11th and Nicholson has become way safer. Accidents/near accidents involving vehicles, bikes and/or pedestrians were a daily occurrence prior to this change. No joke, they were at LEAST a daily occurrence.
I haven't seen/heard one since.
Were there better and cheaper options, like just adding the red light thing that got put into place on Shepherd next to the Kroger? Absolutely.
Is the bike lane a huge headache to traffic flow in the area? Absolutely.
And yet, is the hike and bike trail intersection at 11th and Nicholson now safer than it was before? Absolutely.
The one function that started this whole effort to change 11th street was safety. And it is safer.