Jasmine Pryor was biking home from class on Euclid Avenue on a sunny, late-April day six years ago when a vehicle suddenly collided with her, launching her to the ground.

“I was biking with the traffic, having a good day,” Pryor said. “All of a sudden, this woman just turned into her driveway, catching me with her car, hard. I’ve never biked on Euclid since.”

Pryor, 37, has been involved in years-long efforts to improve cyclist safety by convincing the city to institute better biking lanes. Pryor, who also received her master’s degree in early childhood special education from Syracuse University, said it “takes a lot to move things in this city.”

Syracuse city officials may soon get rid of all parking spaces on Euclid Avenue to make space for two new bicycle lanes, said Syracuse Common Councilor Bob Dougherty.

The possible move is the result of pressure from bike advocates and community organizers around the area amidst claims of the dangers posed to bicyclists on the busy avenue.

The “no-parking, two-bike lane” plan is one of four alternatives detailed in a report by Bergmann Associates that the City of Syracuse Department of Public Works commissioned after a community meeting last year in which many citizens expressed concern for the issue, Dougherty said. A total of 72 parking spaces on Euclid would be lost, according to the report.

Other possible alternatives include parking and a bicycle lane on opposite sides, some parking with a bicycle lane in the middle of the street and halving the street for parking and biking on one side and driving on the other.

Bike lanes have become a common sight around the University Hill area in recent months. While a portion of University Avenue has been dedicated to biking for a few years, a bike lane more recently popped up on Comstock Avenue. In October, the city re-striped the street to add parking and improve bicyclist safety. The parking lane has since become a deliveries only lane.

More broadly, there is a Syracuse Bike Plan, which the city created as part of its comprehensive plan, which aims to make the city more bicycle-friendly. This is being done for economic, environmental and safety reasons, according to the city’s website.

Dougherty said he is the only member of the Common Council openly in favor of the bike lanes along Euclid.

“Most are neutral, some are vehemently opposed,” he said. “It’s amazing to me, because we’re pretty progressive here in Syracuse, but the council seems to favor the way of the car over the way of the bicycle.”

Dougherty said he received a letter from a property owner on Euclid who was opposed to the loss of parking because it might hinder his employees. He added that studies show more bike traffic gets a larger flow of people through the East Neighborhood area than parking spaces.

Michael Stanton, president of the Southeast University Neighborhood Association, said his organization supports the recommendation by Bergman Associates that all parking be removed to make way for more bike lanes.

“We think the safety of cyclists on Euclid should be the most important factor when deciding how to add bike infrastructure there,” Stanton said.

Melissa Fierke, an associate professor at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and co-founder of the bike advocacy group BikeEuclid, said Mayor Stephanie Miner has not come out with a decision on the issue yet, but said she hopes parking will be eliminated to make room for bikes.

SUNY-ESF called on the city to implement bike lanes on Euclid in a press release in March.

“It’s been a main grievance of people in the area for a while,” Fierke said. “It’d be great if the decision was made before biking season is in full swing this spring.”

Published on April 1, 2015 at 11:55 pm

Contact Thomas: tjbeckle@syr.edu