The New Orleans City Council Thursday unanimously agreed to remove some of the bike lanes from two streets in Algiers where neighbors say they don't want them.
The vote came after nearly two hours of debate. Some cyclists worried this would be the start of dismantling more bike lanes.
"This isn't just about these lanes in Algiers. It's about safety for all road users throughout the city," said Evan Conroy. "I strongly encourage the council to vote 'no' on this ordinance or revise it."
"To go back to a design we know is unsafe is reckless," said cyclist Chris Parker.
The ordinance applies only to bike lanes on Newton St. between Elmira and Behrman avenues, and MacArthur Blvd. between Woodland and Gen. De Gaulle drives.
Neighbors in those areas said they're not anti-cycling -- they said they are not happy that the city installed the bike lanes with little to no input from them.
"Bike advocates got a seat at the table," argued Algiers resident Amanda Stinson. "We have public servants that let their enthusiasm for biking get in the way of representing the public adequately."
And Algiers resident Ann Brown said any of her neighbors who made suggestions seemed to be ignored.
"I think the city could do a much better design," she said of the bike lanes. "Put them down the neutral grounds."
The neutral ground is where the city built a bike path on much of Wall Blvd. in Algiers. MacArthur Blvd. has a neutral ground for its entire length in Algiers, but the bike path occupies none of it.
The Department of Public Works has 60 days to make the changes.
