PITTSBURGH \u2014 For some, the new bike lanes being painted on Penn Avenue in the Strip District this week are confusing.<\/p>\n
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Judge allows controversial Penn Avenue Rightsizing project to continue with changes<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cOh definitely,\u201d said Betty Sypien of Bethel Park. \u201cDefinitely, because people don\u2019t know what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n The bike symbol hasn\u2019t yet been painted the entire length of the bike lane. Channel 11 saw crews doing that on Wednesday.<\/p>\n That has a lot of people worried about safety, especially as drivers get used to having just one lane.<\/p>\n \u201cI think losing the two lanes for traffic flow is going to be a bit of an issue with congestion, especially during rush hour, something like that, or peak times for shopping,\u201d said Todd Bair, General Manager of Albert\u2019s Gifts.<\/p>\n Some are worried the bike lanes could hurt business.<\/p>\n PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Business owners, residents respond to scaled-back Penn Avenue project in Strip District<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s fair to the merchants,\u201d Sypien said. \u201cThey put their life and soul into their business and to provide for all the people here. I really feel it\u2019s really, really bad business.<\/p>\n Paul Van, who works on Penn Avenue in the Strip District, closer to downtown, disagreed.<\/p>\n \u201cI honestly think the impact of the business has been kind of overstated,\u201d he said. \u201cI think when we make the place better for pedestrians and bikers, we get more business, we get more people coming down the strip, and wanting to come down the strip, especially on the bus and stuff.<\/p>\n Bair said the bus is one thing he\u2019s most concerned about. There\u2019s a bus stop right in front of his store.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the bus stop there, people waiting at the bus stop, they have to actually have to physically walk out 10, 15 feet into that area,\u201d Bair told Channel 11\u2019s Andrew Havranek. \u201cPeople walking out blindly to the bus and bikers coming down without the thought of pedestrians crossing? That\u2019s a concern.\u201d<\/p>\n He said he\u2019s not worried the bike lane will hurt business. But he said he does understand why some businesses are worried \u2014 especially as you get closer to downtown.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have our own loading dock, we have an alley way in the back to receive all our shipments,\u201d Bair said. \u201cThey don\u2019t have that luxury. How are they going to get those shipments, is there going to be any confusion there?\u201d<\/p>\n Channel 11 reached out to the City of Pittsburgh on Wednesday. A spokesperson sent the following statement.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen long-standing travel patterns are changed, it can take some time for the traveling public to fully adjust. During this transition period, some motorist confusion is expected, especially while construction is still underway. To help with this adjustment, temporary \u201cNEW TRAFFIC PATTERN AHEAD\u201d signs have been installed to give drivers advance notice of the changes. This section of Penn Avenue remains an active construction zone as contractors and City crews complete the installation of pavement markings, signage, and flexible posts. We appreciate the community\u2019s patience and understanding during this time and encourage all motorists to proceed with caution and care as we work to improve the corridor for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS <\/p>\n \u00a92025 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n