Protected Bike Lanes

Protected bike lanes help eliminate perceived risk and fear of collisions; reduce the risk of crashing into car doors; and add a level of predictability making streets safer for everyone.

A two-way protected bike lane has been opened on Summit Street between 11th Avenue and Hudson Street. The protected bike lane is a feature of a larger project that will resurface 3rd Street and 4th Street from Fulton Street to I-670, Summit Street and 4th Street from I-670 to Hudson Street, and Hudson Street from 4th Street to Indianola Ave. More information on this project is available here.

Please obey all signs, markings, and signals. Bicycle signal heads are planned to be installed at signalized intersections to indicate when people riding bicycles may cross, but they will not be ready until early 2016.

Click here to see a video from Portland, Oregon about how to use a protected bike lane.

Tips for navigating a protected bike lane

Riding a bike

Yield to pedestrians and wheelchair users who may be crossing the road and protected bike lane and give an audible signal before overtaking and passing another bicyclist.

Watch for turning vehicles when approaching intersections, driveways and alleys.

Be alert for passing bicyclists within the bike lane and for pedestrians crossing the bike lane to access parked motor vehicles.

Be aware that the bike lane may weave as it approaches intersections to make bicyclists more visible to motorists.

Stay to the right and allow faster users to pass safely.

Watch for bicycle signals and obey all traffic signs and signals.

Walking or using a wheelchair

Watch and listen for protected bike lane users traveling from either direction just as you would when crossing a street.

Cross a protected bike lane at a crosswalk when crossing the street.

Be alert for nearby cyclists when crossing a protected bike lane to access a parked vehicle.

When traveling along a street, use the sidewalk if it is practical to do so.

Driving

Park in the marked lane between the travel lane and the bike lane in instances where on-street parking is available.

Take extra caution and look both ways before turning across the bike lane at intersections, driveways and alleys, especially when the barrier protected bike lane is protected by on-street parking.

Watch for people on bikes traveling in both directions in two-way protected bike lanes.

Remember through bicyclists have the right-of-way at uncontrolled intersections, driveways and alleys.

Don’t drive in a protected bike lane. You can turn across a protected bike lane, but must yield to people riding bicycles.



Click here to download a two-sided, tri-fold brochure or click here to download a condensed one-page version.



Bus Bulbs

Bus bulbs will be installed along with the protected bike lane. Bus bulbs are curb extensions or concrete islands that align the bus stop with the parking lane, allowing buses to stop and board passengers without ever leaving the travel lane.

Bus bulbs help buses move faster and more reliably by decreasing the amount of time lost when merging in and out of traffic. Bus bulbs help reduce bus-bike conflicts at bus stops when a protected bike lane is provided behind the bus stop rather than a bike lane in the bus stop.





