Bike Lanes Will Be Added to College Avenue at Rutgers

Starting Tuesday, Rutgers University is removing parking spaces along College Avenue and building dedicated bike and bus lanes in their stead.

Last weekend, fifty New Brunswick Parking Authority meters between Huntington and Hamilton streets were covered with bags and will be taken down, eliminating parking along much of College Avenue. Over the next few weeks, work will begin in that area to add a bike lane on one side of College Avenue and a bus-only lane along the other side.

The bike lanes and bus lane will be complete during the spring semester. A rendering of how College Avenue will look is above.

Rutgers officials say the bus lanes will allow buses to move easily down College Avenue, and the bike lanes will keep students who bike around campus safe. According to the university, Rutgers students have said they would use bikes more often to get around, but have been worried about traffic and safety.

To compensate for the lost parking spaces along College Avenue, 20 metered spaces will now be available for all-day parking in lot 26, behind the Rutgers Student Center on College Avenue. The remaining metered parking will be located at Alexander Johnston Hall at the corner of College Avenue and Somerset Street and will be available for public use after 6 p.m. weekdays and on the weekends.

Permanent fencing also will be installed between Scott Hall and Ford Hall on College Avenue with gaps at crosswalks. Additionally, a high-intensity signal will allow pedestrians to cross more safely.