Construction of a new bicycle route continues in the Riga district of Imanta, but some local residents are expressing serious concerns about its implementation, reports the program "Zebra" (TV3).
The bike path includes several branches, but this will reduce the number of lanes for cars, which is already causing traffic jams. Residents of Imanta emphasize that the main artery to the center of Riga will turn into a "bottleneck," as only one lane will remain on the Air Bridge instead of several.
The situation with public transport is particularly concerning. Bus stops are planned to be placed directly on the roadway, meaning that every time a bus stops, the entire flow of cars will have to wait. During the morning hours, when dozens of buses pass through, traffic jams are inevitable. Furthermore, the project does not provide a separate "pocket" for buses so they do not interfere with other traffic, notes Imanta resident Daria Bugai. This is explained by the claim that cutting down a large number of trees is unacceptable.
Another serious issue is safety. The bike route will cross Jurmala Highway and tram tracks, creating a complex intersection where cars, trams, buses, cyclists, and pedestrians will all meet at the same time. In such places, participants in traffic are required to pay increased attention to avoid accidents, and this cannot be considered a safe solution.
Residents of Imanta also point out planning errors. There is already a historical bike path to Jurmala in the city that could be restored and integrated, but the local government decided to build a completely new route at significant expense. Critics emphasize that resources are being wasted, and the environment is suffering due to tree cutting, even though space could be provided for both cyclists and motorists in the existing area.
The project authors have been repeatedly informed about the risks and possible negative consequences, but official responses have been evasive — they only promised to "assess the situation" if problems arise after the road is put into operation. Local residents fear that such an approach will lead to even greater difficulties in the future. As activists from Imanta emphasize, a bike path is necessary, but it needs to be created wisely and responsibly, without harming either traffic flow or the safety of residents.
