Parallel Parking on Norfolk Avenue

 The Montgomery County Council voted to retain parallel parking on both sides of Norfolk Avenue in downtown Bethesda.

The council decided to go with a recommendation by the county Department of Public Works and Transportation to improve biker and pedestrian safety on the road by keeping parallel parking and adding a bike lane. That proposal was also supported by the Montgomery County Department of Park and Planning.

A number of cyclists opposed the parallel parking plan because they said putting a bike lane next to parallel parking creates a hazardous situation for bikers who could get hit or have to swerve into traffic when drivers open their car doors.

I earlier wrote about how MoBike was protesting these bike lanes as unsafe, and that post was followed by great comments from others. (I suggest you check them out if you haven't before).

Now Norfolk Avenue might not seem that important based on it's location and length, but it's supposed to serve as a connection between the North Bethesda Trail (Pictured: North Bethesda Trail Bridge over I-270)  and the Capital Crescent. They envision a lot of bike traffic on that road so getting it right is important.

I'm a little torn on the issue. Completing the connection was on my Wish List, and I do feel safer in a bike lane. I think from my reading - especially a good analysis of the debate here - what I've decided is that someone needs to do a real study on the comparative safety of a road with bike lanes and without.