APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Since the lane-reduction on College Avenue in Appleton in July of last year, the city has reported multiple positives.
Statistics from July 2023 to August 2024 show that crashes are down 29%, and that there are an estimated 33 more bicyclists on the road.
Cameron Cook-Root says he doesn’t have a car, and rides his bike down College Avenue every day.
“It’s great. I don’t have the anxiety of having to constantly check my six. They got those little mirror things, but you want to just stay focused on the road,” he said. “I think it’s good for, it’s safe for us, and it’s good for the drivers too.”
Cook-Root says he has been hit by a car while on his bike three times, but never on College Avenue. He hopes the city expands the bike lanes to other areas in the future.
“If they could have more bike lanes in more places that are high traffic, I think that would be great. But as far as College Ave goes, I think they did a great job.”
Drivers on College Avenue said the addition of the bike and turn lanes doesn’t only help the bikers.
Gwen Sargeant, who works at Appleton Bicycle Shop, told us, “It’s easier to park because you kind of have some space to pull into, and then are able to make that parallel parking without really getting into the second part of the lane where the car is travelling.”
Another resident, Alaina Verstegen, said, “It’s nice that you can open your car door without having to worry about getting smacked with another car, so that is nice. Usually, you can see a bike coming, so I don’t have a problem with it.”
Alicia Andrews, manager at Cleo’s Bar on College, said she hasn’t noticed much change in customer traffic — alleviating a concern about cutting down on the number of lanes. But what has changed has been for the better.
“I have noticed that there has been a lot less of the unsafe driving practices, a lot less loud engine noise, and it’s been generally more pleasant for the pedestrian experience,” she said.
FOX 11 did hear from a resident who said they dislike the new traffic pattern, but they declined to comment further — which goes to show change can be difficult.
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