YES! - Bike Path on West River

But they can voice their opinion.

A bike path would greatly improve the quality of life on Grand island!

What a great idea. I see it adding to the value of the west river residents. Who wouldn't want to live near a park? East River has no issue without a parkway, why would West River?

Open that parkway for the bike path and then let's heavily promote Grand Island as a Bike Town that will bring visitors to our hotels.

Yes, West River Road is a bike path. It just happens to be one without a dedicated bike lane, at least not yet. The use of semantics to blur an issue is neither impressive nor persuasive. There are dozens of signs along West River between Beaver Island and Buckhorn designating this as a bike route with cyclists following the path. Spend some time on West River and see for yourself. East River and West River aren’t even comparable environments. If the Parkway traffic is redirected to the service road, then yes, it will scream by within feet of the citizenry. I'm only suggesting to let it remain where it at a safe distance, or redirect it entirely into town to the business district not onto the service road. The Parkway is hardly broken down since it is in far better condition than most of the interior roads and there are far taller weeds growing along the I-190, take a look sometime. There will be no cleared riverbank. It has been made very clear that the tree lines and brush along the river will not be touched in any way as part of the current design plan. With this design plan there have been no studies on environmental impact, traffic patterns, estimated use or need for parking. I don't want Grand Island residents to be no-brainers, I want people to use their brains, find out the facts, and learn exactly what they would be getting.

The Parkway actually belongs to the State of New York and the residents will not be voting on this project.

#b4thepath

We are always looking for interesting and safe places to ride our bikes, walk and enjoy winter sports. This is a great idea!

The West River Parkway belongs to the public, let the public decide how it will be used. I am a resident of Grand Island and in favor of the bike and walking path.

As a west river homeowner I am for closing West River Rd Parkway and turn into a safe bike path!

There are also hundreds of positives.

So we are currently banished to an overlook? I would rather be able to fully enjoy a 7 mile stretch of gorgeous Greenway on a safe trail free of vehicles

Cars going by at 55mph with 2 kids in tow is not safe.

The Dept of Transportation doesn't maintain it now. Give it to Parks, they'll maintain it.

The traffic would naturally flow to the fastest route. People will change their route to save 45 seconds...it is human nature. In winter, when the parkway is blocked with snow...which route do the cars take? They all don't pile onto West River...

Or bike, jog, run, walk, rollerblade, skateboard, or unicycle there with your family on a safe beautiful path.

In response to Marianne Buscaglia: "Grand Island currently has plenty of bike paths, including the one already in use along West River Road" There is a bike path on West River Road? Please provide a photo of said bike path. "According to what I am hearing and research I've done, the majority of opposition is not against the bike path as originally approved, but against this new design plan with the closure of the Parkway redirecting all of it's traffic (currently 8:1) onto a quiet service road which is safely shared by cyclists, pedestrians, pets, rollerbladers, strollers, and traffic - all this without a dedicated bike lane" So there isn't a bike lane on West River? Which one is it...there is currently a bike path or there isn't? East River Road has more traffic than both the Parkway and West River Road. They do just fine. "in my mind safety comes first, followed by environment, noise, and lastly property values, convenience and aesthetics. It includes no definitive plans for maintenance." 1. Safety first...exactly. No vehicle traffic to scream by less than a foot away from children cycling, pedestrians walking, pets exercising, rollerbladers scooting, and strollers rolling. 30 mile an hour speed limit on a single road. 2. Environment...Greenspace with a Pedestrian path and Bike path seem pretty green to me. 3. Noise - The Parkway is hardly used now...what noise are we talking about? Bikes are silent, vehicles are not. 4. Property Values - Broken down, overgrown crumbling road vs. Newly paved path with a cleared riverbank and park status. This is an absolute no-brainer, The bike path increases, not decreases, a home owners property value.

"Grand Island currently has plenty of bike paths, including the one already in use along West River Road" There is a bike path on West River Road? Please provide a photo of said bike path. "According to what I am hearing and research I've done, the majority of opposition is not against the bike path as originally approved, but against this new design plan with the closure of the Parkway, redirecting all of it's traffic (currently 8:1) onto a quiet service road which is safely shared by cyclists, pedestrians, pets, rollerbladers, strollers, and traffic - all this without a dedicated bike lane" So there isn't a bike lane on West River? Which one is it...there is currently a bike path or there isn't? East River Road has more traffic than both the Parkway and West River Road. They do just fine. "in my mind safety comes first, followed by environment, noise, and lastly property values, convenience and aesthetics. It includes no definitive plans for maintenance." 1. Safety first...exactly. No vehicle traffic to scream by less than a foot away from children cycling, pedestrians walking, pets exercising, rollerbladers scooting, and strollers rolling. 30 mile an hour speed limit on a single road. 2. Environment...Greenspace with a Pedestrian path and Bike path seem pretty green to me. 3. Noise - The Parkway is hardly used now...what noise are we talking about? Bikes are silent, vehicles are not. 4. Property Values - Broken down, overgrown crumbling road vs. Newly paved path with a cleared riverbank and park status. This is an absolute no-brainer, The bike path increases, not decreases, a home owners property value.

Make Grand Island's waterfront open to everyone and close the unused parkway!

I am a W. River resident and am fully in support of closing this 55MPH speedway that is in front of my home. A bike & walking path will be an asset.