Old Town Goleta may gain new bike lanes

The look of Old Town Goleta may change and have more room for bike lanes.

Several options are being considered this evening to make room for bicycles and cars in an area that is without specially marked lanes for bike riders.

Restriping Hollister Ave. to make room for bikes could mean the loss of parking on one side of the road. Larry’s 8-Day Auto Parts is one business opposed to the elimination of street parking.

A petition against the plan has an estimated 1000 signatures. Customers often park right in front of the shop, come in, get a purchase and leave quickly – opening a spot for someone else.

Owner Phil Unander says he doesn’t see a big conflict between bikes and cars and says everyone needs to share the road.

“I drive here every morning and I come down Hollister,” said Unander. “The bikers are there, (without problems.)”

One biker Jack Cassell says he has collided with car doors that are opened into the traffic lanes while he was on his bike. He says it has happened both in Goleta and Santa Barbara. He also rides his bike on the sidewalk when he feels traffic is too dangerous. Cassell says that’s against the law, but for him, safer.

The City Council is considering other options including making the two lane in each direction roadway, only one way in each direction in order to make room for bike lanes and possibly new landscaping.

Studies on the problem have gone back more than a decade.