Protected Bike Lane Tested On South Broadway

DENVER (CBS4) - Drivers and bicyclists will sharing the road on one of the busiest stretches of South Broadway for the next 15 months.

The City of Denver is testing a new bike lane on South Broadway between Bayaud and Virginia. It's Denver's first two-way protected bike lane with a parking lane to separate cyclists from traffic.

The bike lane was installed 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.

Cyclists are excited about the changes but there is mixed reaction from businesses who claim the bike lane will keep customers away.

"I love it. I wish it was longer. It's easier to get around. Broadway is kind of a hassle but there's a lot to do on Broadway so you have to sneak back behind the neighborhoods and hop on the sidewalk at some point, so this makes it a lot easier for a guy like me," said cyclist Martin Lavine.

Customers aren't so sure about the changes, either. About 25 percent of parking along that stretch was lost to the bike lane.

"It's actually pretty dangerous. I was making a right turn here and a guy was actually using the bike lane going the other way. I didn't see him until the last minute. I almost hit him," said driver Christopher Kosicki, who frequently shops along South Broadway.

Tom Nguyen owns Studio Urban Wax in the area. He likes the idea of a bike lane but is concerned about the lack of parking.

"All the parking has been removed on our block and now the businesses down there, there's no parking," said Nguyen.

The intent of the temporary bike lane is to study how it impacts traffic on Broadway, local businesses and cyclists.

"It's interesting because a lot of the people in the neighborhood are just worried about losing parking but I think at the same time it will also make a lot more business for people because if they're pedestrians they're much more likely to hang around at businesses and go into new businesses they haven't discovered previously," said Bardo Coffee barista Jimier Murphy.

The results from the testing phase will be taken into consideration as Denver works toward developing a permanent bike corridor.

Feedback from motorists, cyclists and business owners is encouraged online.