Cyclists want lane in Hillsborough Street project

The city broke ground in June on a project that will install roundabouts on Hillsborough Street between Oberlin Road and Gardner Street.

Voters approved the roundabouts four years ago as part of a $60 million bond referendum for road improvements. The City Council has debated the details of the project ever since.

The cyclists said one detail is still missing: a designated bike lane. The group said a simple painted line on the pavement could work, but critics of the plan said any changes to the design of the street could be costly since construction has already started.

"If people are going to be biking more and we want a more densely populated city, less emissions, less cars on the road and for traffic to slow down on Hillsborough Street, then bikes seem like an easy way to do that," Victor Lytvinenko said.

The traffic circles are seen as a way to make Hillsborough Street more pedestrian-friendly and to revitalize the area for businesses. The project will also include planting trees to create a canopy along the street.

The City Council plans to study the request.