New Signs in Center: Walk Bikes on Sidewalks

The black metal trash barrels dotting the sidewalks throughout Lexington center are now more than just a receptacle for refuse. As of Monday, white signs placed on the side of the cans offer a reminder about a town code prohibiting bicycles from being ridden on sidewalks downtown.

The sign, which reads: "Walk bicycles on sidewalks," refers to a Lexington town code, Chapter 100, Section 100-2D, which says in part that, "in the interest of public safety, non-motorized bicycles may be ridden on sidewalks, except within business districts."

The push to create the signs came from Andy Friedlich, who with Dawn McKenna,  began a year-long process to get signage approved and created.

Friedlich said that after fulltime police coverage in the center ceased several years ago, there was no one to enforce of the rule banning bikes from being ridden on the sidewalk, and slowly more people began to violate that rule.

A few times, residents were struck by bicyclists on the sidewalks, including two women who were hit after exiting CVS. Another resident was struck on the opposite side of Massachusetts Avenue, Friedlich said.

"The reason we wanted to do (the signs) was that statistical induction showed that some young child coming out of a store, or bolting from their parent's hand, was going to get struck and seriously injured," he said.

A number of residents began policing the sidewalk policy themselves, politely asking bikers to get off and walk their bikes through town when they noticed a biker cruising the sidewalk.

"Ninety-five percent of people were great, it was the other five percent that could give you static," Friedlich said. "We decided we really had to get better signs up."

Friedlich and McKenna sought approval from the Historic District Commission, Lexington Center Committee, the Tourism Committee , the Bicycle Advisory Committee, the Design Advisory Committee and the Board of Selectmen to have the signs made and posted.

This week, that process came to completion when14 rectangular signs were placed on the trash barrels throughout downtown, because sign posts would not be needed and the signs would not be visible to drivers on Massachusetts Avenue.

The signs cost less than $800, and were purchased with town budget funds for signage, Friedlich said. Already, he's heard from residents who are happy to see the signs in place.

"It gives those of us asking people to walk their bikes something to point at," Friedlich said. "We're just trying to make people aware of the law – it's a pubic safety issue and we're asking them to comply."