DOT Violates Own Policy

Photo by Christopher Brown, used with permission // Looking north on Flower Street.

During the winter-that-wasn't, James Redeker, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation assured cyclists that the DOT was entering a new era, taking seriously the safety of cyclists through initiatives like the New Britain-Hartford Busway (now called CTfastrak).

We thought those promises were too good to be true.

Now, in August, the DOT is telling cyclists that their safety is, well, you know, whatever. They are doing this through a plan to permanently close Flower Street -- a small street connecting Capitol Avenue with Farmington Avenue -- in Hartford. Cyclists have been told to use Broad Street, one block away. This would not be a terrible idea, if Broad Street were remotely bike-friendly and not due for major construction starting tomorrow.

People are pissed.There is a public hearing slated for Thursday at the DOT.