Are Providence's bike lanes on the chopping block in the wake of the Washington Bridge fiasco?

PROVIDENCE – A punctual arrival at work might not be the only victim of the Washington Bridge disaster. Bike lanes could also be on the chopping block, the city says.

This week, Mayor Brett Smiley's spokesman Josh Estrella said now that it's clear the bridge needs replacing and detours will last at least two years, the city is reviewing "necessary changes to alleviate the continued burden on our residents and local businesses."

Estrella went on to say the city's bike lanes could be removed as part of those changes.

"It is too early to say what changes will need to be made and where, but at this point all options, including the potential of temporarily removing bike lanes, remain on the table," he said.

That may include the South Water Street bike lane that transportation advocates fought hard to defend.

In 2021, as the lane was installed, conflict emerged between the city, which supported the new infrastructure, and the state, which attempted to halt the project, arguing it wasn't in keeping with a 1999 agreement between the two parties. At the same time, local businesses and schools tried shutting down construction with a letter campaign. Ultimately, the lane was completed, reducing vehicular travel lanes from two to one to the dismay of some drivers.

Providence Streets Coalition says Smiley made 'knee-jerk proposal'

Liza Burkin, an organizer with the Providence Streets Coalition, which pushes for shared streets and more space for people traveling in anything that is not a car, said Smiley had offered up a "knee-jerk proposal" that would diminish safety instead of commute times.

"Most of all, we fear that removing the urban trail on South Water Street will do nothing to actually improve travel times for East Bay commuters, and instead just cause a ton of damage and drama for no reason at all," Burkin said. "We are extremely sympathetic to those who are stuck in this traffic nightmare, and share the Mayor's intention of decreasing the amount of precious time people have to spend trapped in their cars."

Mayor hinted at moving South Water Street bike lane before inauguration

In December 2022, before Smiley was even inaugurated as mayor, he told The Providence Journal he was open to relocating the South Water Street bike lane and had concerns about parking on the street.

"I think it’s worth looking at whether that is in the right place. At a minimum, I think the parallel parking adjacent to the bike path … is challenging," Smiley said, adding that constituents could expect "new or realigned bike paths."

Though the lane remains in place, the city offered no information on what it would cost to eliminate or relocate it. Whether that could cost more than its installation remains an open question. In 2019, Mayor Jorge Elorza installed, then removed, a two-way bike lane on Eaton Street. Putting it there cost $63,500, while undoing it cost $64,000, creating a $127,500 tab.