Great news for cyclists from the City of South Pasadena: it was awarded more than $400,000 in Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA) Grant funds to implement its Bicycle Master Plan (BMP). The grant was awarded to fund two high-profile projects from the city’s BMP: the Mission Street Green Sharrow Lane Project and the South Pasadena Bicycle Parking Project.
Here’s the rest of the press release from South Pasadena:
The Mission Street Green Sharrow Lane project is an enhanced class III bicycle facility that will be installed in the center of the right travel lane in both directions on Mission Street from Grand Avenue to Fair Oaks. In addition, bike boxes will be installed at certain intersections as a safety and mobility enhancement for cyclists.
The City’s Bicycle Parking project consists of installing 70 new bike racks, 10 bicycle lockers and 3 bicycle shelters at various locations throughout the City. Locations will include business areas/places of employment, transit stops, government buildings, parks and activity centers. Bike parking is an essential component to support bicycling as a viable mode of transportation. Just as cars need parking, bicycles also need a location to park safely and securely.
“These grant-funded projects will promote healthy, environmentally-friendly mobility options supporting the City’s goal of multi-modalism while maintaining the City’s small-town character. A transportation system that incorporates bicycling can lead to a reduction in vehicle miles traveled, traffic congestion and related auto emissions, while providing healthy lifestyle choices and improved economic vitality,” stated Mayor Schneider.
To find out more information about both projects and the City’s BMP, visit the City’s website. The BMP is also available at the City Clerk’s Office located at 1414 Mission Street and at the South Pasadena Public Library, 1100 Oxley Street.
Categories: Bicycle
While I am happy that South Pasadena is encouraging bicycling, and implementing projects from their bike plan, I am not terribly excited about the fancy sharrows. I also agree with Steve’s comment; green paint should not be used on shared and dedicted bike facilities. That’s $400,000 in BTA funds that is not being spent on an actual bike lane or cycletrack that creates dedicated space for cyclists.
I love the bike boxes and the green paint within the lane with the sharrows. It’s awesome and brings REAL legitimacy to that lane as a shared bicycle facility because there’s more than an occasional icon.
I do wonder, though, if we see a proliferation of green lanes and green sharrow lanes, how confusing it might get for drivers. Drivers who are used to the South Pasadena shared lane may see the Spring Street land and automatically assume it’s the same. Obviously, there are white lines on the side of the bike-only lane, but if a giant green stripe (which is certainly the most visible part) is shared in some places and bike-only in others, we may be in for actual (rather than just claimed) misunderstandings.