Bikeways for Everyone Pop-up Protected Bikeway & Intersection Demo at Open Streets Minneapolis
Channel: Bikeways for Everyone
Date: 2014-08-07

The first in the nation demonstration of a protected intersection, designed by Nick Falbo, shown at Open Streets Minneapolis (openstreetsmpls.com) on Lyndale on June 8, 2014 by the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition (mplsbike.org). 

The Bikeways for Everyone campaign is working towards 30 or more miles of protected bikeways to build a network throughout Minneapolis and make it easy for bikers from age 8 to 80 to get to destinations by bike. Learn more at bikewaysforeveryone.org.

Protected bike lanes put a physical barrier between traffic and bicyclists. The barrier could be a curb, flexible posts, planters or some other barrier that provides separation from moving cars.

Well-designed protected bike lanes also include clear pavement markings that move bicyclists safely through intersections and clearly signal to drivers where they can expect to find crossing bicyclists. Some of the most impressive protected bike lanes also have traffic signals designed specifically for bicycles at intersections.

In addition to making bicyclists feel safer and more comfortable, protected bike lanes add potential for pedestrian-friendly streetscapes and more greenspace. Protected bike lanes are also a great option for busier commercial corridors as a way of attracting more bicycle traffic to local businesses - studies from New York show that businesses along protected bike lanes experienced an increase in revenue.

While Minneapolis has incorporated certain elements of protected bike lane into some bike facilities, a fully functional protected bike lane has yet to be constructed. That will change soon as plans to include a protected bike lane on Washington Avenue downtown have been approved, with construction to occur in 2015.

(Note that the term "cycletrack" is sometimes used instead of "protected bike lane," especially with engineers. The terms refer to the same thing.)