A proposed road diet for North 4th Street could make this corridor safer and more vibrant — but only if it includes cycling facilities. Let Councilor Baca know that a Complete Street means space for everyone, not just parked cars.
Tell Councilor Baca: 4th Street Needs Bike Lanes
October 14, 2025 at 3:01:14 PM
As you may know, there is a proposal to institute a road diet/lane reduction for North 4th street between Menaul and Candelaria. BikeABQ strongly supports this proposal and feels this is an important first step in revitalizing the historic heart of the near North Valley. Commercial redevelopment, along with multifamily residential developments, has the potential of making this area a very attractive place to live.
Upon learning of this project, we wanted to ensure that it incorporated not just on-street parking but also bicycling facilities, consistent with Complete Streets which directs that the overarching goal of any road project be “comfortable and efficient accommodations for all users”. Without bike facilities, the proposed 4th street road diet does essentially nothing to reduce car dependency, merely replacing moving cars with cars being stored at public expense by the side of the road in an area with lots of off-street parking.
BikeABQ engaged with the other stakeholders and came away from a meeting with Councilor Baca on March 12 with the understanding that bicycle facilities would be included in the project. However, at a subsequent meeting on Aug 20, we were informed that bike facilities were no longer being included in the project. Councilor Baca has agreed to meet with us again at the end of October. It is of the utmost importance that he hear from the cycling and urbanist community that cycling facilities must be included in the project.
Email Councilor Baca at joaquinbaca@cabq.gov and ask him to include bicycling facilities in the proposed road diet for 4th Street
For more background information see How NOT to perform a Complete Streets Study