Six US cities are cooperating in a project to share what they’re learning about building separated bike lanes.
Participating in the so-called Green Lane Project are Portland, San Francisco, Austin, Memphis, Chicago and Washington DC.
The bike lanes don’t necessarily have to be painted green, but they do have to be separated from motor vehicle traffic by posts, planters, curbs or parked cars. In Europe, these separated bike lanes are called “cycle tracks.”
Some of the participating cities already have separated bike lanes on the ground, but more are on the way. It’s an attempt to increase bicycle transportation in cities by making bicyclists feel safer.
Bicycle transportation enthusiast Ray LaHood, the US Secretary of Transportation, is on board with the project. That’s some big support. LaHood wrote on his Fast Lane blog:
“Bicyclists also like green lanes because they do protect riders from motor vehicles and make them feel safe. …
“But, perhaps the most interesting thing about green lanes is that they also help motorists.
“Naturally, bicyclists feel vulnerable sharing the road with fast-moving cars, but drivers also endure their fair share of stress. When bikes operate in traffic, it can be difficult to know exactly where to position your car. And bicyclists can appear to be unpredictable. But with a traffic-separated bike lane, drivers and riders can all proceed with greater confidence and less stress.”
He notes that installing a separated bike lane down the center of Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC has tripled the number of cyclists using that route.
While the six cities will publicize the installation of separated bike lanes, they’ll also tell how they overcame obstacles in getting them built. After they’re in use, the cities will share information about their impact.
The plan is to share all the information at the Green Lane Project website, so city planners can check there before they head down the same road. Bikes Belong, a bike-industry supported advocacy group, is coordinating the efforts.
I’m looking forward to learning how this turns out. Separating bicycles from motor vehicles sounds like a fine idea, but I always wonder what happens at intersections where motorists or bicyclists want to turn.
The National Association of City Transportation Officials has created an Urban Bikeway Design Guide; it includes more than a half-dozen strategies for designing safe intersections for bikes and motorists.
Some of the six cities already are making strides with separated bike lanes. Chicago’s new mayor Rahm Emanuel has pledged to build 100 miles of such lanes over his four-year term, and Memphis Mayor A.C. Wharton has two projects coming on board in the next year.
Although not on the list, New York City also has experience with separated bike lanes, and Seattle is creating a separated bike lane in conjunction with the First Hill streetcar project.
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