Protected Bike Lane Will Stay On South Broadway, For Now

DENVER (CBS4)- Drivers and bicyclists will continue to share the road on one of the busiest stretches of South Broadway through the end of 2017.

Denver Public Works says the testing of a new bike lane on South Broadway between Bayaud and Virginia will be extended through the end of next year.

It's Denver's first two-way protected bike lane with a parking lane to separate cyclists from traffic.

The bike lane was installed four months ago on the left hand lane in an effort to reduce accidents between vehicles and bicycles. The parking lane is located between the bike lane and traffic lanes.

Denver Public Works said the feedback has been positive so the lane will stay a little longer.

According to the preliminary data gathered:

• People are now riding bikes in the bikeway. There has been a 30% reduction in sidewalk-riding and a 28% reduction of bikes in the transit lane.
• People in cars and buses are still using Broadway to reach their destinations, utilizing three travel lanes instead of four.
• 62% of people responding to city's online survey said they liked the Broadway bikeway.
• "I feel safer" was the #1 survey response from people walking and biking in the study area.
• 350 community members attended bikeway events in 2016.

Denver Public Works says over the next 12 months they will continue to receive input from the public with another report scheduled for release in February 2017.

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