Bicycle Network Questions Raised in Millburn

The plan would create a network of bike lanes in Millburn and may link Millburn to Maplewood. Maplewood recently hired Urbana Consulting to create the link. At a Committee meeting on Tuesday night, Millburn officials heard a report from a consultant hired to plan the network. Some committee members had questions about safety.

The first phase of the bicycle network would stripe the shoulder of the road, although there is no specific bicycle lane planned. Mark Gordon of Urbana Consulting said grates along the road, that are not "bicycle friendly", should be replaced. Additionally, police say drivers speed on Glen Avenue, so he would recommend installing two speed humps to calm traffic.

The first phase—which includes striping and "share the road" signs—would cost $11,700. Refreshing other striping on the road and upgrading the grates would cost an additional $9,000. An engineering survey for the area in front of the library is estimated at $1,500.

Gordon said the cost for speed humps varies from $1,000 per hump if a group of eight are purchased together to $12,000 for just the two.

The cost to purchase the kiosks and install them was not included. Each kiosk would cost $850 without the installation costs.

Millburn committee member Tom McDermott liked the idea and believes it will alleviate traffic, but he had concerns about the width of the road. The road is perceived to be narrow now, he said, and a portion of it would be dedicated to the striped shoulder.

"I'm just concerned it would be too narrow," he said.

Gordon said the road is 29.5 feet wide, and each travel lane for a car needs to be 10 feet wide. It would mean 9.5 feet would remain to be used for the striped shoulder.

Daniel Baer, a committee member, said he researched the width of travel lanes for cars, and found they can be 10 feet on low speed roads.

McDermott said he wanted police input about the width of the travel lanes before he supported the project.

Millburn Mayor Sandra Haimoff said the matter would be on the August meeting's agenda so McDermott could have his questions answered. There would still be time then for the project to start in late August.