Update : Follow-up on the news : FULLERTON : Compromise Allows Associated Bike Lane

Bicyclists are getting their wish: one more Fullerton street on which to crank it.

At the request of a number of cyclists, the City Council this week agreed to prohibit parking on a portion of Associated Road to make way for a bicycle lane.

The decision to stripe only part of the street for cyclists was a compromise between critics and supporters of the bike lane.

The city had proposed linking the striped bicycle lane on Associated from Rolling Hills Drive in Brea to the end of the street at Imperial Highway by banning parking.

Merchants in a commercial center on the street had opposed the proposal and had argued that the parking spaces are necessary for their businesses to survive.

Mayor Julie Sa and Councilman Chris Norby had said they did not want to hurt businesses on Associated Road and would not vote to prohibit parking; council members Don Bankhead and Jan M. Flory said they would favor the parking ban to promote bicycle safety.

Councilman Peter Godfrey proposed allowing parking in front of the businesses and a child care center, which are about 500 feet south of Imperial Highway, and prohibiting parking on the rest of route with a striped bike lane. The council voted for the compromise.

“I think it’s the right answer,” said Bernard Perlin, owner of the commercial property.

Bicyclists agreed, saying that a partial bike lane is better than none.

--COMPILED MIMI KO CRUZ AND DEBRA CANO