Bike lanes, removal of parking approved for Jackson St. by city board

The final plans for rebuilding Jackson Street in La crosse appear to be nearly set.

The city’s Board of Public Works on Monday agreed to a plan for adding bike lanes and removing parking from the north side of the street when the DOT rebuilds Jackson in a few years.

The remaining sticking point appears to be La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat’s desire to have two-way bike lanes on the side of the street without parking. Kabat wants those bikes lanes to be on the north side of the street, separated physically from traffic, as well.

Kabat thinks that will be safer. DOT project manager Todd Waldo doesn’t think so.

“We don’t really think that’s the best option with all the access points along the road,” Waldo said. “It doesn’t really provide the safest option for bicyclists out there.

“So, I don’t think it could be the best option but I could be wrong.”

Kabat wants official confirmation from the DOT planning offices that the two-way bike lane isn’t safer than having one lane on each side of the street, separated only by a reflective, white, painted line.

The issue of bike lanes on what is also State Highway 33 has proved contentious at times with those attending a recent neighborhood meeting divided roughly evenly on the issue.