The Seaview Ave Cycletrack Proposal

With repavings and restripings underway across Norwalk this summer, we have our annual opportunity to make a few roads more inviting to pedestrians and cyclists. This year, we're pushing the white paint to the limit, hoping to seize an opportunity to re-imagine Seaview Avenue as an attractive cycling corridor between SoNo and the beach.

The preferred option creates a buffered cycletrack along the south side of Seaview Ave. Such cycletracks have been used to great effect on Manhattan streets recently, and in many European cities for decades. As opposed to bike lanes, where many casual cyclists do not feel comfortable riding, buffered cycletracks provide a space safe enough to appeal to riders of all ages and confidence levels.

Seaview Avenue businesses like Mister Frosty's already cater to an outdoor crowd and would benefit from the increased foot and bike traffic generated in this plan.

The widest part of the cycletrack would be at the eastern end of Seaview Avenue, where the buffered corridor would increase the foot and bike traffic around harbor-area restaurants like Mister Frosty's and Overton's. The cycletrack would narrow along Veteran's Park, squeezed in by the on-street parking, however it would still have enough space for cyclists to pass comfortably in the combined 8 feet of cycletrack and buffer space.

I and a fellow Livable Norwalker, Peter Libre, presented this plan in April to Mike Yeosock from DPW, who is overseeing the restriping plans for Seaview Ave. It is still under consideration. Keep your fingers crossed...Norwalk waits with baited breath.