| ©2004 Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council P.O. Box 17164, Lansing, Michigan 48901-7164 (517) 214-5684 jessicayorko@sustainablesolutions.biz |
| Why are Bike Lanes so Important? |
Photo by Dan Burden
Smart Commuting on the bus
Support Bike Lanes!
Smart Commute bike
commuting classes
commuting classes
Mothers on the riverwalk
Smart Commuting Class
Mayor Virg Benero walks
Bingham students to school
Bingham students to school
Mayor Virg Benero walks
Bingham students to school
Bingham students to school
Sargent Emmons smart
commuting
commuting
Smart Commuting Mom
| Make Lansing a bike-friendly community!!! REGISTER YOUR SUPPORT FOR BIKE LANES - CLICK HERE |
Task Force Co-Chairs:
- Andy Kilpatrick, City of Lansing Transportation Office
- Jessica Yorko, Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council
Active Task Force Members:
- Alicia Armstrong, Community Partners in Health
- Lyndon Babcock, Tri-County Complete Streets
- Josh DeBruyn, Michigan Department of Transportation
- Jane Dykema, City of Lansing Public Service Department
- Sgt. Dave Emmons, Lansing Police Department
- Eric Glohr, Lansing Community College
- Lina Goodwin, NorthWest Initiative
- John Hodges, City of Lansing Planning Department
- Jen Hoffman, Allen Neighborhood Center
- Josh Hovey, Mayor Virg Bernero's Office
- John Lindenmayer, League of Michigan Bicyclists
- Murdoch Jemerson, City of Lansing Parks Director
- Sarah Panken, Governor's Council on Physical Fitness
- Karen Patterson, Michigan Department of Community Health, Obesity Prevention
- Tim Potter, MSU Bikes
- Bill Savage, Tri-County Bicycle Association
- Janine Sinno, Ingham County Health Department
- Chris Thelen, Consumers Energy
Additional stakeholders from Task Force planning sessions:
- Tom Carmoney, NorthWest Initiative
- Todd Kauffman, MDOT
- Helen & Dave Keeney, seniors
- Katherine Knoll. American Heart Association
- Mickie Kreft, Sparrow Hospital, Children's Safety
- Joel Maatman, Lansing School District
- Bill Rieske, City of Lansing Planning Department
- Nate Rowen, Lansing School District
- Steve Shaughnessy, MDOT
- Karen Smith, Ingham Regional Medical Center
- Jamie Schriner-Hooper, Old Town Main Street
- Deirdre Thompson, MDOT
- Andy Kilpatrick, City of Lansing Transportation Office
- Jessica Yorko, Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council
Active Task Force Members:
- Alicia Armstrong, Community Partners in Health
- Lyndon Babcock, Tri-County Complete Streets
- Josh DeBruyn, Michigan Department of Transportation
- Jane Dykema, City of Lansing Public Service Department
- Sgt. Dave Emmons, Lansing Police Department
- Eric Glohr, Lansing Community College
- Lina Goodwin, NorthWest Initiative
- John Hodges, City of Lansing Planning Department
- Jen Hoffman, Allen Neighborhood Center
- Josh Hovey, Mayor Virg Bernero's Office
- John Lindenmayer, League of Michigan Bicyclists
- Murdoch Jemerson, City of Lansing Parks Director
- Sarah Panken, Governor's Council on Physical Fitness
- Karen Patterson, Michigan Department of Community Health, Obesity Prevention
- Tim Potter, MSU Bikes
- Bill Savage, Tri-County Bicycle Association
- Janine Sinno, Ingham County Health Department
- Chris Thelen, Consumers Energy
Additional stakeholders from Task Force planning sessions:
- Tom Carmoney, NorthWest Initiative
- Todd Kauffman, MDOT
- Helen & Dave Keeney, seniors
- Katherine Knoll. American Heart Association
- Mickie Kreft, Sparrow Hospital, Children's Safety
- Joel Maatman, Lansing School District
- Bill Rieske, City of Lansing Planning Department
- Nate Rowen, Lansing School District
- Steve Shaughnessy, MDOT
- Karen Smith, Ingham Regional Medical Center
- Jamie Schriner-Hooper, Old Town Main Street
- Deirdre Thompson, MDOT
Why are bike lanes important?
Safety
One of the most frequently asked questions about biking is “Why can’t cyclists just ride on the
sidewalk?” Although you may think sidewalks are safest, national studies show that bicyclists
are much safer on the street.
Studies have shown that roads with wide lanes and signage have a 23% reduction in cycling
accidents, and striped bike lanes decrease bicycle accidents by 38%. Why? A big reason is
that when bicyclists are in bike lanes they are always visible to cars, instead of darting on and off
the sidewalk, behind trees and parked
cars, and out of the view of motorists. In addition, the most common accident for bicyclists is cars
turning into them, not cars hitting them from behind. When a bicyclist is on the sidewalk, they
must cross many driveways that drivers turn into not expecting to see a bicyclist on the sidewalk.
But, what about trails, can’t we use those instead?
another great option for cyclists (especially infrequent or inexperienced cyclists) and should be
built when possible. However linking all the places people want to go in the Lansing area by trail
would be hard because land would need to be secured from businesses and homes. Bike lanes
can be installed on almost any road fairly easily and give people a bicycle link to destinations
around the City. Further, trails are used by modes traveling at many different speeds, which do
not always mix easily with people bicycling for transportation.
Equality
Roads should be for all users including bicyclists. Bike lanes are only five to six feet wide and
relatively inexpensive, and they reduce cycling accidents by 23%. Bike lanes are a winning
solution to improve the safety of our community for all road users. In addition, some community
members in the Lansing area do not own cars and rely on bicycling, walking, and public transit to
reach work, run errands, and go to appointments. These "invisible cyclists", as they are
sometimes called, rely on bicycling for transportation and deserve safe routes to travel throughout
the City.
Biking is Growing
More and more people in the Lansing area are choosing biking as an active and inexpensive way
to get around town. It also helps you get in shape, is relaxing, and is better for the environment
than driving. Click here to read about all the reasons for "Smart Commuting" - including mitigating
global warming, improving local air quality, and fighting obesity.
Unlike recreational biking where scenery is key, people choosing biking for transportation want to
get to their destinations in a timely fashion (just like people in cars). Bike lanes allow cyclists to
travel on uninterrupted pavement just like vehicles and travel quickly (while still obeying traffic
laws). With bike lanes people can get to most of the destinations in Lansing in 15-20 minutes.
In addition, young adults in Michigan name a walkable/bikeable community as one of the top five
attributes that they look for in choosing a place to live.
Lansing community members choosing bicycling for transportation will only continue to grow
and they need safe places to ride.
What is happening currently to make the Lansing area more bike-friendly?
Infrastructure Improvements
Lansing, East Lansing, Okemos, Lansing Township and other communities have been working
to install some bike lanes where feasible. Meridian, Delhi, and Delta Townships have all created
non-motorized transportation plans. However, this is just a start. A complete network needs to be
installed, and adjacent municipalities need to coordinate their infrastructure, and facility
maintenance plans to make it convenient and safe for people to bike around town. It makes
sense to install bike lanes next to the curb in places where parking isn’t allowed, and to
accommodate parking in other areas. In addition to bike lanes, we also need signed bike routes,
whether we plan to put bike lanes on those routes in the future or not. The signage make cyclists
and drivers aware that the route is a preferred bicycling route, meaning drivers need to exercise
extra caution for cyclists on that road, and cyclists know that they are welcome on that road.
Increased Education
Infrastructure alone won’t make everything safer for bicyclists in the Lansing area. There still
needs to be a lot of work to educate both drivers and bicyclists about how to behave around each
other. One aspect is educating bicyclists about proper use of the bike lanes. Bicyclists should
travel with traffic and obey all traffic signals. In turn, drivers should not pull into or park on bike
lanes. For complete safety bicycling practices, see Mid-MEAC’s new Capital Area Smart
Commute Guide, online at www.midmeac.org or by calling 214-5684.
Why do I need to register my support?
Putting in bike lanes is a new venture for the City of Lansing and surrounding municipalities. In
order to continue completing the bicycle network and making the Lansing area more bike-friendly
we need people to indicate how much they enjoy using bike lanes and the benefits they see in
having bike lanes. Often we only hear from the few people who dislike something and not from
many people enjoying it. We know people like you are enjoying the Lansing area’s bike lanes
and trails and want more of them. Let us know about it! In turn we will keep you updated about
when new bike lanes and trails are being installed and if your support is needed to advocate for
additional bike lanes. Register your support by online today by clicking here!!
Safety
One of the most frequently asked questions about biking is “Why can’t cyclists just ride on the
sidewalk?” Although you may think sidewalks are safest, national studies show that bicyclists
are much safer on the street.
Studies have shown that roads with wide lanes and signage have a 23% reduction in cycling
accidents, and striped bike lanes decrease bicycle accidents by 38%. Why? A big reason is
that when bicyclists are in bike lanes they are always visible to cars, instead of darting on and off
the sidewalk, behind trees and parked
cars, and out of the view of motorists. In addition, the most common accident for bicyclists is cars
turning into them, not cars hitting them from behind. When a bicyclist is on the sidewalk, they
must cross many driveways that drivers turn into not expecting to see a bicyclist on the sidewalk.
But, what about trails, can’t we use those instead?
another great option for cyclists (especially infrequent or inexperienced cyclists) and should be
built when possible. However linking all the places people want to go in the Lansing area by trail
would be hard because land would need to be secured from businesses and homes. Bike lanes
can be installed on almost any road fairly easily and give people a bicycle link to destinations
around the City. Further, trails are used by modes traveling at many different speeds, which do
not always mix easily with people bicycling for transportation.
Equality
Roads should be for all users including bicyclists. Bike lanes are only five to six feet wide and
relatively inexpensive, and they reduce cycling accidents by 23%. Bike lanes are a winning
solution to improve the safety of our community for all road users. In addition, some community
members in the Lansing area do not own cars and rely on bicycling, walking, and public transit to
reach work, run errands, and go to appointments. These "invisible cyclists", as they are
sometimes called, rely on bicycling for transportation and deserve safe routes to travel throughout
the City.
Biking is Growing
More and more people in the Lansing area are choosing biking as an active and inexpensive way
to get around town. It also helps you get in shape, is relaxing, and is better for the environment
than driving. Click here to read about all the reasons for "Smart Commuting" - including mitigating
global warming, improving local air quality, and fighting obesity.
Unlike recreational biking where scenery is key, people choosing biking for transportation want to
get to their destinations in a timely fashion (just like people in cars). Bike lanes allow cyclists to
travel on uninterrupted pavement just like vehicles and travel quickly (while still obeying traffic
laws). With bike lanes people can get to most of the destinations in Lansing in 15-20 minutes.
In addition, young adults in Michigan name a walkable/bikeable community as one of the top five
attributes that they look for in choosing a place to live.
Lansing community members choosing bicycling for transportation will only continue to grow
and they need safe places to ride.
What is happening currently to make the Lansing area more bike-friendly?
Infrastructure Improvements
Lansing, East Lansing, Okemos, Lansing Township and other communities have been working
to install some bike lanes where feasible. Meridian, Delhi, and Delta Townships have all created
non-motorized transportation plans. However, this is just a start. A complete network needs to be
installed, and adjacent municipalities need to coordinate their infrastructure, and facility
maintenance plans to make it convenient and safe for people to bike around town. It makes
sense to install bike lanes next to the curb in places where parking isn’t allowed, and to
accommodate parking in other areas. In addition to bike lanes, we also need signed bike routes,
whether we plan to put bike lanes on those routes in the future or not. The signage make cyclists
and drivers aware that the route is a preferred bicycling route, meaning drivers need to exercise
extra caution for cyclists on that road, and cyclists know that they are welcome on that road.
Increased Education
Infrastructure alone won’t make everything safer for bicyclists in the Lansing area. There still
needs to be a lot of work to educate both drivers and bicyclists about how to behave around each
other. One aspect is educating bicyclists about proper use of the bike lanes. Bicyclists should
travel with traffic and obey all traffic signals. In turn, drivers should not pull into or park on bike
lanes. For complete safety bicycling practices, see Mid-MEAC’s new Capital Area Smart
Commute Guide, online at www.midmeac.org or by calling 214-5684.
Why do I need to register my support?
Putting in bike lanes is a new venture for the City of Lansing and surrounding municipalities. In
order to continue completing the bicycle network and making the Lansing area more bike-friendly
we need people to indicate how much they enjoy using bike lanes and the benefits they see in
having bike lanes. Often we only hear from the few people who dislike something and not from
many people enjoying it. We know people like you are enjoying the Lansing area’s bike lanes
and trails and want more of them. Let us know about it! In turn we will keep you updated about
when new bike lanes and trails are being installed and if your support is needed to advocate for
additional bike lanes. Register your support by online today by clicking here!!
| Thank you Jackson Fitness Council for providing information for this section! |
What is a bike lane?
No those aren’t tiny right turn lanes—the new narrow lanes you may be noticing around town are
bike lanes. The official definition of a bike lane is “a portion of the road that has been designated
by striping, signing, and pavement marking for the preferential or exclusive use by cyclists.” The
bottom line is that bike lanes are safer for both motorists and cyclists in the Lansing area.
What is the difference between a bike lane and an off-road trail? Just like it sounds, a bike lane is
a lane for bikes on the same roadway cars use. A trail is a separate path along a roadway or
through a park that cyclists as well as pedestrians and inline skaters can use. The Lansing Mayor’
s Task Force on Walking & Bicycling is working to create a network of bike lanes throughout the
city of Lansing. We are also big supporters of trails, are excited about the Lansing River Trail
extension from Potter Park to Hawk Island, as well as other new trail projects of the Heart of
Michigan Trails group.
No those aren’t tiny right turn lanes—the new narrow lanes you may be noticing around town are
bike lanes. The official definition of a bike lane is “a portion of the road that has been designated
by striping, signing, and pavement marking for the preferential or exclusive use by cyclists.” The
bottom line is that bike lanes are safer for both motorists and cyclists in the Lansing area.
What is the difference between a bike lane and an off-road trail? Just like it sounds, a bike lane is
a lane for bikes on the same roadway cars use. A trail is a separate path along a roadway or
through a park that cyclists as well as pedestrians and inline skaters can use. The Lansing Mayor’
s Task Force on Walking & Bicycling is working to create a network of bike lanes throughout the
city of Lansing. We are also big supporters of trails, are excited about the Lansing River Trail
extension from Potter Park to Hawk Island, as well as other new trail projects of the Heart of
Michigan Trails group.