Ridgewood officials told the Oct. 22 meeting that a Department of Transportation municipal-aid grant financed resurfacing of South Pleasant Avenue and the installation of a northbound bike lane. Because the project constructed a marked bike lane, engineering advised the council an ordinance is required to prohibit parking along the bike lane.

Resident Cathy Ngo raised safety concerns about pick-up and drop-off at Hawes School and asked whether neighbors and the school community were notified. Village staff said the department will discuss the project in greater detail at a later agenda item and that police and engineering had engaged with stakeholders; the council agreed to send additional mail notices to adjacent property owners before taking final action.

Police and engineering staff said parking within a designated bike lane presents a safety hazard because cyclists are forced to merge into moving traffic. Sgt. Torino said the village can make temporary exceptions for school events or other planned activities by bagging the bike-lane prohibition signs and posting temporary warnings or variable-message boards in advance. He emphasized that the chief and staff are prepared to do short-term enforcement campaigns if needed while residents adjust to the change.

Council members indicated they will include the ordinance in upcoming agenda work and asked staff to prepare targeted outreach to neighbors of South Pleasant and to Hawes School, including a plan to allow temporary, closely managed accommodations for scheduled events.