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BIKES BELONG LAUNCHES PROJECT FOR PROTECTED BIKEWAYS By Bikes Belong
T
he national bicycling advocacy nonprofit Bikes Belong Foundation has launched a new project to bring protected bikeways to six U.S. cities. The initiative, Green Lane Project, will work with Austin, Chicago, Memphis, Portland, Ore., San Francisco and Washington, DC, to support the cities’ development of world-class bicycling facility networks over the next two years. Top transportation officials from each city, along with Federal Highway Administration leader Victor Mendez, introduced the program and announced initial plans at a kickoff event earlier this year. The Project will provide updates on the progress in the six cities, best practices as they are developed, and links to other resources on their website at greenlaneproject.org. Other interested cities are invited to use the website to share their plans and progress on building green lanes.
“We are seeing an explosion of interest in making bicycling stress-free on busy city streets,” said Martha Roskowski, Green Lane Project director for Bikes Belong. “The selected cities have ambitious goals and a vision for bicycling supported by their elected officials and communities. They are poised to get projects on the ground quickly and will serve as excellent examples for other interested cities.” Green lanes are dedicated, inviting spaces for people on bikes in the roadway, protected by curbs, planters, posts or parked cars. The goal of the Green Lane Project is to support the selected cities in their efforts to develop and install these kinds of facilities. Recent studies have demonstrated their benefits nationwide. In Washington, DC, bicycle volume tripled after protected bikeways were installed. In Portland, Ore., more than 70 percent of survey respondents said bicycling is easier and safer with these dedicated lanes, while motorists said the facilities did not make driving any slower or less convenient.
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Advisors to the Green Lane Project include the New York City Department of Transportation, the League of American Bicyclists and the National Association of City Transportation Officials. Funding partners include the SRAM Cycling Fund, Volkswagen of America, Inc, Interbike, Taiwan Bicycle Exporters Association and the Bikes Belong Coalition. “Green lanes benefit everyone who uses city streets, not just people on bicycles,” continued Roskowski. “With these facilities, people in cars and on foot know where to expect bicycles. More people on bikes eases congestion. When people ride bikes, they are healthier, and they save money.”
TRENDGUIDE 2012