Public Forum on Bike Lane Additions May 7, 2009

Ann Arbor recently received federal stimulus funds to improve the city’s active transportation system for pedestrians and cyclists. The city is seeking input on plans to add approximately eight miles of new bike lanes — improving the 24 miles of existing bicycle lanes — and augmenting the safety of the downtown area for cyclists and pedestrians by adding appropriate signage and pavement markings. Ann Arbor will combine federal stimulus funds with other resources to improve active transportation accessibility within the city. A meeting to share these exciting improvements and provide an opportunity for public feedback will occur at an open meeting in City Council Chambers in City Hall at 7 p.m. on May 7.

The City of Ann Arbor is seeking public input for improvements along Ann Street, Catherine Street, Ashley Street, and First Street, where travel lanes will be narrowed and some on-street parking will be added to increase accessibility for cyclists. These improvements will also increase the safety of cyclists and are a part of the City of Ann Arbor’s larger efforts to encourage residents to actively bicycle and walk. At the meeting, the city will also present its plans to improve the 23.7 miles of existing bicycle lanes with striping, symbol pavement markings, and signage, and to add six miles of bike lanes along Hill Street, North University, East University, South University, Seventh Street, Hoover Avenue, and Pauline Blvd. These improvements follow the City of Ann Arbor’s 2007 Non-motorized Plan recommendations.

In the past year, the City of Ann Arbor has worked to promote bicycling, offering the public a new Web site (www.a2gov.org/bike) with timely information on cycling in Ann Arbor, including current events, resources for safe riding, and a frequently-asked-questions section. Coming in May, the City of Ann Arbor will be participating in the Commuter Challenge, and encouraging other downtown employers to do the same.

Bicycle lanes improve the safety for cyclists by providing a defined street area for bikes to travel safely alongside of vehicular traffic. Cyclists using the lanes should ride with the direction of traffic and follow all of the rules of the road, including stopping and signaling. The Non-motorized Plan is available for inspection at: www.a2gov.org/PublicServices/SystemsPlanning/Transportation/Non-MotorizedPlan_Jan2007.pdf. For more information on the planned improvements, contact Transportation Program Manager Eli Cooper.

Official Website: http://www.a2gov.org/bike