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Show Master Plan Calls for Bike Lanes in Pleasant Grove . .... ft-' " , r - The Transportation Master Plan for Pleasant Grove allocates bike lanes for most collector streets in the city, which would eliminate on-street on-street parking for residents on these roads. Not only do the proposals call for limited parking, but certain areas in the city would go from two lanes to one to accommodate the bike lane. . If you don't ride a bicycle it isn't easy to understand why so much space is being apportioned to those who do, even though they are in the minority. One might ask why bike lanes are even necessary when most automobile drivers already give wide berth to bikers. Bicyclists, on the other hand,have expressed an interest in having dedicated bike lanes, especially along 100 East and Canyon Road, citing safety as their main objective. One sticking point in many motorists minds is why cyclists don't have to obey the traffic laws such as stopping at stop signs and obeying speed limits. Another bone of contention comes from losing certain lane freedoms including limited right-hand turning lane length. As with any change to "the way things have been done for years," there are pros and cons that must be addressed , assessed and common ground reached. As with the recent water rate hike, it is important for citizens to have input that is not only listened to but considered. While bike lanes may or may not affect everyone, it is the intent of the city council and city staff to make sure residents are informed of the proposals and allow for feedback andor suggestions. City Engineer Degcn Lewis has recently prepared a proposal for bike lanes in Pleasant Grove and has stated his reasons why they should be implemented some time in the future. He said those citizens directly impacted by the proposed parking restrictions will be notified and given an opportunity to express their concerns, with an emphasis that city council has not voted on any measures as of yet. Lewis also noted that the Transportation Master Plan takes into consideration all forms of traffic including pedestrian, bicycles and motorists, with safety being the primary issue. He stated it is the responsibility of the city to balance the needs of the whole community and that is how the proposal will be presented. Several preliminary bike lanes have already been marked, with most citizens unaware of either their existence or their function. Two questions: Are these lanes being used and what is considered a lane violation? It is the intent of this writer to present both sides of the issue in an unbiased forum and welcome any and all input from citizens of the three cities serviced by this paper. Several preliminary bike lanes have already been marked in Pleasant Grove jvith most citizens unaware of either their existence or ' thelFfTinciion . "' " ' Photo courtesy of Timpanogos Times In an effort to present relevant data, city planners from surrounding cities are being surveyed as to how their bike lanes, or lack of bike lanes, affect the flow of traffic and what works for their particular area. Please email comments to timpanogostimes yahoo. com. |