Riding bikes downtown gets safer and easier
By Lavonte Dukes
Outlook Writer
New biking services are making its way to the downtown area.
The Downtown-University Protected Bike Lane Network will generate designated bike lanes that will provide a physical separation from traffic by reflective posts and curbs.
According to BikeTallahassee.com, the people of Tallahassee are increasingly using bicycles to get around town and local business owners are seeing more customers visiting their businesses by bike.
Improvement will include: a more visible shared lane, pavement markings and signs that will help incoming traffic and bike riders’ notice easier.
Bike Tallahassee’s goal is to make bicycling safer and easier. They want drivers to feel comfortable; especially for the people who are new to the Tallahassee area.
“The Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department and the City of Tallahassee Public Works Department actively coordinate and work together to improve mobility and safety for all modes of transportation,” said Artie White, transportation planner, of Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department.
“The improvements will increase safety for cyclists in Downtown Tallahassee by physically separating the bike lanes from vehicular travel lanes. The improvements will also highlight intersections and driveways to alert motorists that cyclist may be present.”
Segments of the network that do not have bike lanes will have shared lane markings to remind motorists that cyclists have a legal right to travel in the roadway.
Using the full lane will help bike riders avoid the door zone from parked cars.
Case studies from other sources that have installed similar improvements show an increase in safety not only for cyclists, but also for pedestrians and motorists.
According to Bike Tallahassee, phase one will be completed this fall and will add those amenities on the roads to the east of Macomb Street. The full installation is to be completed by the end of November.
Phase two completions will be done in mid-2016.
The protected bike lanes will cover Pensacola Street and St. Augustine Street. The Downtown-University Protected Bike Lane Network will provide over five miles of new and improved bicycle services connecting downtown, Cascades Park, Florida State University, Florida A&M University, the Stadium Trail and other destinations and trails after completion.
