Bike Lane Boost For Seattle Cyclists

"Making bicyclists of all ages feel more secure in city traffic is a top goal of the city of Seattle, which will soon release the final draft of its Bicycle Master Plan for public comment."

"At the heart of the 10-year strategy is a call to designate more than 200 miles of roadway as bike lanes, along with guidelines for safely sharing roads and trails with cars and pedestrians. While the city currently offers only 25 miles of designated bike lanes, the plan anticipates a huge increase in recreational and commuting bicyclists."

"What excites Wayne Wentz, the city's director of traffic management, is that the plan was mandated by the people -- as part of a $360 million property tax levy passed last fall -- which means it comes with the funding to make it happen."

"There are signs of progress. Mayor Greg Nickels proposed regulations Tuesday that would require the city to consider how to accommodate bicyclists when designing or rebuilding roads. And the Cascade Bicycle Club is gearing up to start a $50,000 ad campaign aimed at teaching motorists how to safely share the road. The club also intends to post bike-etiquette rules at every trailhead and path."