Final report released on Connect the Crescent,
3-month bike-lane demonstration project
NEW ORLEANS — Bike Easy on Tuesday released its final report on the temporary demonstration project Connect the Crescent that ran this past fall. The organization joined several community partners to work with the City of New Orleans on a three-month bike-lane demonstration that re-imagined several city streets — many with protected bike lanes.
More than 200 residents participated as volunteers in the project, which was paid for by a combination of grants, sponsorships and in-kind donations.
“Connect the Crescent aimed to address the issue of safety so more individuals and families feel comfortable biking in the city,” the report’s introduction said. “This should apply to all neighborhoods — Uptown, Mid-City, Algiers, Lakeview, Gentilly, the 9th Ward, New Orleans East, as well as communities in Jefferson and St. Bernard Parishes.”
Key findings include:
- Bike ridership increased between 20-84 percent over baseline numbers during the demonstration.
- Average automobile speeds held steady, while maximum speeds dropped up to 26 percent.
- A survey offered to residents at the end of the demonstration revealed that 87 percent (719 of 826 respondents) of residents were supportive of the project overall, and that a majority wanted the changes to be made permanent.
“The City looks forward to furthering the dialogue around safe bicycle infrastructure, especially as we embark on a city-wide bike network planning process,” Office of Transportation Director Laura Bryan said.
Read the Connect the Crescent final report here.
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