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Cyclists, city of Syracuse want bike lane reopened

Cyclists in the Syracuse University area have had it with the shutdown of a portion of some bike infrastructure. It was closed due to a lawsuit between Syracuse University and the potential builder of a bookstore on University Avenue.

The bike lanes originally went up three years ago, as part of the Connective Corridor that links S.U. to downtown Syracuse. But the portion between Adams and Marshall Streets has been blocked off since last summer with an orange fence to make way for construction of a bookstore.  That development is now in limbo because of litigation between Syracuse University and the construction company.  

Cyclist Steve Reiter says it’s one reason the dormant group Bike CNY has become more active. 

“It’s stalled basically in litigation at this point, and it doesn’t seem like anyone really feels like doing anything, maybe they can’t do anything,” said Reiter. “But it seems there must be some way to get that cycle track uncovered and unblocked.”  

Credit Ellen Abbott / WRVO News
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WRVO News

Enter the city of Syracuse. City officials say there’s nothing they can do to about the litigation.  

Bill Ryan, chief of staff for Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, says they are asking the court to get involved. He says city attorneys have asked for a conference, to see if the judge will allow the bike lanes reopened. 

“While whatever’s happening through the court system or via negotiations, can we move construction materials back four feet, restore our bike lanes, and when we figure it out we figure it out,” he said.

Ryan says there can be up to 250 to 300 cyclers in the university area every day. But he says it’s up to the judge whether the bike lane is freed.

In the meantime, the closed bike lane is not just a matter of convenience, says Reiter, but of safety.

“There’s a sign that says, get off your bike, cross the street and use the sidewalk on the other side,” he said. “You can imagine that most cyclists are not going to do that, which puts them not only running against traffic on the same side, but also against cyclists coming down the correct route.”

Ellen produces news reports and features related to events that occur in the greater Syracuse area and throughout Onondaga County. Her reports are heard regularly in regional updates in Morning Edition and All Things Considered.