COLORADO SPRINGS – There is a transition period happening as new bike lanes change driving patterns in downtown Colorado Springs.
Out along some of the new bike routes you hear some negative comments yelled from passing vehicles, but you also see plenty of bikes in the new lanes.
“They are being used really regularly and not just by college students,” said Megan Robbins who lives and works along Cascade Avenue where there are new bike lanes.
City bike planners say many of the changes are beyond making way for cyclists. “This gave us an opportunity to improve safety for pedestrians, safety for bicycles and also operations for roadways,” said Colorado Springs Senior Bicycle Planner, Kate Brady.
The bike lanes added on Cascade Avenue, for example, came about because of pedestrian safety issues. Robbins, who walks along the road daily, says she sees a difference.
“I notice that people are more cognizant of pedestrians. Also as a runner, I’ve had less close calls with oncoming traffic just because there is an extra space.”
