Motorists and cyclists can expect to see new, buffered bike lanes on Research Parkway in northern Colorado Springs this week, and a community bike-ride on Saturday marks the official launch.
It's a new test route based on feedback from a recent Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments bike survey. The trial period will last until next summer, when Research Parkway is scheduled to be repaved.
Tim Roberts is a transportation planner for the city's Traffic Engineering department. He says they have two goals for Research Parkway: "Are we bringing the traffic speeds back into compliance with the posted speed?" he said, "and are we getting more bicyclists to use this corridor that was identified in the studies?"
City officials aim to monitor the use and safety of the new bike lanes to decide whether to use the model elsewhere in Colorado Springs. Two of the six traffic lanes will be converted to bike lanes. They'll be separated from traffic by a four-foot-wide, painted zone.
Saturday's ride takes place at 11, and with a start and end at the Briargate YMCA.
