Action on Lakewood Bike Plan Gets Green Light
Lakewood City Council unanimously OKs measure that will use the city’s economic development fund to pay for “sharrows” on Detroit Avenue.
Photos
Lakewood City Council took the city’s comprehensive Master Bike Plan and got it rolling on Monday night.
Council unanimously OK’d a measure that will use the city’s economic development fund to pay for “sharrows” on Detroit Avenue.
The painted bike symbols — aimed at reminding motorists to share the road with cyclists — would stretch from Lakewood City Hall to the YMCA.
“If hearts could be warm and fuzzy, then mine would be right now,” said Ward 2 councilman Tom Bullock, who introduced the proposal to council last month. “It is what we talked about all along. These are some good early first steps to implementing the city’s master bike plan.”
As outlined in the city’s budget, council has the ability to use the $49,000 available in the economic development fund for whatever it chooses.
On Monday, council approved $20,000 to be spent from this fund to get the project moving.
Joe Beno, the city’s director of public works, said that the city will likely put the project out for bids, noting that his department doesn’t have the necessary equipment to do the job.
City officials have said the other phases of the plan include the rest of Detroit Avenue — as well as sharrows for Madison Avenue, depending on next summer’s possible $2 million resurfacing.
Last month, more than a dozen bike racks — and one large bike corral — started popping up on Detroit Avenue.
That was one of the result of the city’s comprehensive and progressive Master Bike Plan, an idea to make Lakewood one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country by 2015.
“This is a key first step,” he said.
During the past year, the city hosted community workshops, conducted surveys and carried out bike traffic counts. City officials have spent the past couple months talking to business leaders and schools officials.
The studies outlined what city officials already suspected: biking in Lakewood isn’t an alternative form of transportation.
It’s a main form of transportation.
A traffic count at the intersection of Detroit and Andrews avenues saw an “astronomical” number of pedestrians and cyclists.
In This article
-
Lakewood City Hall
12650 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, OH -
-
YMCA
16915 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, OH -
-
-
Michael A. Miller
8:04 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Is anybody doing anything to get adult bike-riding morons off the sidewalk and into the street where they belong? Ohio law says bicyclists are supposed to ride in the street and follow the laws of traffic. Anyone over the age of 13 who is riding on the sidewalk should be ticketed.
Exel Lent
9:42 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Whenever you see anyone riding their bike on the sidewalk, call 911. Im sure they wont be angry at this type of call.
Gary Burkholder
10:31 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Michael, The purpose of "Sharrows" is just that: to get motorists to expect bicycles in the street and respect their rights as part of traffic. The Sharrows and the change in motorist behavior they facilitate will encorage adults to ride their bikes properly as part of traffic instead of on the sidewalk. However, Ohio Revised Code does not restrict bicycles from riding on the sidewalk as you insinuate. (You are correct in that it says that traffic laws should be followed).
Ohio Rivised Code
§ 4511.711. Driving upon sidewalk area.
No person shall drive any vehicle, other than a bicycle, upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area except upon a permanent or duly authorized temporary driveway.
Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting local authorities from regulating the operation of bicycles within their respective jurisdictions, except that no local authority may require that bicycles be operated on sidewalks.
Tim Torrence
1:04 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
I haven't ridden a bike in years but I have seen Lakewood drivers drive for quite some time. Can you really blame people for wanting to ride bikes on sidewalks? Especially on streets like Detroit or Madison.
Lynne Cunningham
8:44 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Thanks, so happy to see this project move forward!
Renee
11:26 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
I'm very happy about this. I do think people need more education on bike riding though. I have seen adults riding bikes in the opposite direction toward oncoming traffic -- so dangerous! Senior citizens also with their chairs with wheels (I don't know what they are called) also riding the opposite direction toward traffic in the street.
I will feel more comfortable with my kids riding behind me in the sharrows rather than on the sidewalk. Although adults should be able to ride cautiously with their young children on sidewalks but, again, if there are sharrows I would venture into them with my kids.
Sharon Stadul
4:09 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Is the city doing anything to make drivers more aware of pedestrians crossing the street at crosswalks and lights? I walk my dog a lot on Clifton Blvd., and many times drivers ignore stop signs and cross walks and just go right through them as I'm stepping out into the street. There are also issues with drivers being unaware when turning at traffic lights when the pedestrian has the right of way. I've almost gotten hit a few times and I know that other Lakewood residents have had similiar problems with careless drivers.
lakerockbay
9:28 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Clifton & Bunts is a terrible intersection during rush hour or late at night.The RTA bus stop is to close to the corner blocking driviers view of people walking east.Even the crossing gaurd has almost been hit many times by reckless drivers running through the light,even with a no turn on red posted!