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Some Concerned About Proposal For More Bike Lanes In Oakland

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- More bike lanes are being proposed for one of the most congested areas of the city: Oakland.

While people who commute by bicycle are applauding the plan, others have concerns the current plan could hurt businesses and make things difficult for the elderly or people who are disabled.

Phil Kreckel from North Oakland commutes to work every day and says the bike lanes are needed to make things safer.

The proposal calls for more shared routes but also a long designated bike lane along O'Hara, Bigelow and Bayard.

In one spot that would mean parking would disappear. In another area, it would mean one driving lane would go away.

Blake Stanton works at a business in Oakland. He's not opposed to bike lanes but is concerned this plan will hurt businesses by making it more difficult for people who are elderly or disabled to be dropped off at a business.

Kristin Saunders, the city's bicycle-pedestrian coordinator, says they tried to find routes that would minimize any negative impact.

She says it's about making streets safer for both cyclists and drivers.

She also says bike commuting is up 400 percent in the city.

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