City mulls boosting bike lanes
<p>Lonnie Matthews rides his bicycle on the shoulder of 15th Street Monday in Coeur d'Alene. The city is considering adopting its 2010 Trails and Bikeways Master Plan that would add bike lanes to existing streets, build up north and south running routes and connect paths to parks and hiking trail heads for easier accessibility throughout the city.</p>
COEUR d’ALENE — Connectivity, safety and increased activity.
The city of Coeur d’Alene has a road map for how bicyclists can get around town more quickly and safely.
The 2010 Trails and Bikeways Master Plan, a 10-year plan expected to be adopted next Tuesday, includes adding bike lanes to existing streets, building up north and south running routes for easier commuting, and connecting paths to parks and hiking trail heads for accessibility.
“We want to increase cycling for commuters going to work and for recreation purposes,” said Monte McCully, trails coordinator, on the finished plan. “And for people getting in better shape.”
The plan stems from the city’s parks master plan in 2008. That study identified open spaces, trail connectivity and a dog park as top park goals.
The Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee took that information and carved out its own improvement plan. Top priorities include adding more bicycle lanes on existing streets running north and south.
“It’s not bad, but it could use some room for improvement,” said cyclist Mike McCall, out riding on Monday, on the bike lanes running north and south. “There’s not much room for bicycles along Ramsey Road and the sidewalks can be hard to ride on.”
Another goal is to improve the Centennial Trail running into Post Falls, and connecting the Canfield Mountain trails to the new Fernan Lake property. The plan also aims to connect the Military Drive neighborhood to the future dog park planned to be built in a couple of years near the Ramsey Road Transfer station.
Benefits for implementing biker friendly projects include promoting healthier living, and decreasing cyclist and motorist accidents, McCully said.
Between 2006 and 2009, there were 175 accidents between motorists and bicyclists or pedestrians in Coeur d’Alene. Of those, at least 75 required some form of medical attention. On 15th Street alone, where cyclists often pedal, 10 bike and motor accidents occurred where there weren’t bike lanes. Their weren’t any accidents during that same time where lanes were provided.
The master plan will go before the city at 6 p.m. today in the Community Room of the Coeur d’Alene Public Library. The city is also expected to approve striping bike lanes on both sides of 15th Street from Sherman Avenue to Interstate 90 during the meeting.
For more information, call 292-5766.