Obsolete, dangerous, distracting, confusing, misguided, wrong, chaotic, damaging and harmful to communities, hostile to pedestrians – these are all words that Phoenix residents used to describe the rush hour reverse lanes on 7th Avenue and 7th Street (the 7s) during a May 21 Phoenix City Council meeting. Under consideration: a citizen petition submitted by Stacey Champion to the council on May 7, which asks for the removal of the reverse lanes.
Champion has long been an advocate for safe streets and for removing the reverse lanes, most recently launching a Change.org petition in November 2023. To date, more than 4,900 people and nearly 50 businesses have signed the online petition. And dozens of residents showed up on May 21 in support of the citizen petition. They called on council members to take action, instead of doing more studies, referring in part to a 2021 study released by the city that many say is flawed and outdated.
The reverse lanes – called “suicide lanes” for decades by many residents – run on 7th Avenue from Northern Avenue to McDowell Road (about 6 miles) and on 7th Street from Dunlap Avenue to McDowell Road (about 7 miles). Monday through Friday, the center turn lane on these arterial roads changes flow depending on the time of day – the lane can be used for southbound travel from 6-9 a.m. and northbound from 4-6 p.m…