Public meeting on bike boulevard plan

A public meeting to discuss a planned bicycle boulevard on Petaluma's East D Street is set for Wednesday at the Petaluma library.

The plan, which has sparked passionate debate in online forums, is the only substantive issue on the city's Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee agenda.

City staffers will present a report on the pilot program and the committee will hear public comment.

The committee's recommendations will be forwarded to the City Council, which ultimately will decide what potential bicycle-friendly modifications will be made on East D Street between Payran and Lakeville streets.

As proposed, the project would include replacing stop signs with yield signs, installing traffic circles and changing street striping and pavement markers to be more accommodating to bike traffic.

The changes also discourage vehicle traffic, which is a concern for several business owners who operate on D Street.

One business owner has gathered several hundred signatures of Petaluma residents concerned about changes.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the Petaluma Library meeting room, 100 Fairgrounds Drive.

-- Lori A. Carter