By WMBD-TV
BLOOMINGTON – Reviews are mixed when it comes to whether Bloomington should add new bikes lanes to one of city’s main artery streets.
The city is considering adding one bike lane, and one mixed parking and bike lane along Washington Street when it is resurfaced. The consideration is in step with the city’s Complete Streets Policy. The lanes would connect a rectangle of bike routes through Bloomington.
Some residents believe it should be easier to bike through town, because of its fitness, economic and environmental benefits.
Dan Handel said Washington would be a good place to add bike lanes.
“It’s got a school right there. It’s already a fairly busy road. So, just providing a dedicated space for bikes on the road will hopefully give it an appeal for bikes and bikers to use it,” he says.
Larry Blake said while he’s not against bikes, there are too many questions about the implementation.
“Are you going to increase the width of the streets? Are you going to require bikes now to have lights, headlights and tail lights? Is there going to be an age restriction on who can ride on the street?”
He said the biggest concern is safety.
“Bloomington does not pay attention to the bikes. The bikes don’t pay attention to the cars,” he explained. “There’s a lot of education that needs to be done. It really does. The drivers in this town are just not ready for bikes, they really aren’t. And somebody’s going to get hurt.”
Handel said he understands the safety concerns, and even holds a few of his own, but doesn’t think that should stand in the way of the bike lanes.
“I don’t think it should prevent incorporating bike lanes. Every form of transportation you take is going to have some dangers associated with it,” Handel said.
Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin and Patti Penn the city will have to increase public education and law enforcement as it prepares for an increase in bicycle traffic, but he added motorists will need to learn to share the road.
“We recognize the streets are our transportation is not just for cars, it’s also for bikes, it’s also for pedestrians, it’s also for mass transit,” Renner said, referring to Bloomington and Normal’s Complete Streets ordinance. “That’s actually the multi-modal city for the future.”
PODCAST: Listen to Scott and Patti’s interview with Bloomington mayor Tari Renner on WJBC.
There is another open house on June 13 at the McLean County Museum of History.
