City Council Approves Bike Lanes, Expanded ‘Sharrows’ Proposal

Bike lanes are coming to Franklin Boulevard this summer, and the proposal for 1.9 miles of sharrows has been extended to 2.5 miles.

That news comes after the Lakewood City Council OK’d a measure to spend an additional $15,000 on the expanded plans — on top of the $20,000 approved last year.

“$35,000 is quite a modest investment compared to the millions (spent on) motor vehicle (investments),” said Ward 2 councilman Tom Bullock.

“We could be doing more.” 

Sharrows are essentially what they sound like: painted arrows on the streets reminding drivers and cyclists alike to share the road.

Council unanimously OK’d the resolution.

“The discussion is now precisely what we had hoped for,” added Ward 1 councilman David Anderson. “The sizable add-on will definitely add mightily to Lakewood’s brand in the bike community.”

The goal is to have the project completed by September, said Dru Siley, the director of planning and development

“We are likely installing sharrows and bike lanes in the next 30 days,” he said. “In Lakewood biking is not alternative transportation, it’s just part of transportation,” he said. 

To read more about Lakewood’s goal to become the most-bikable city in Ohio by 2015, click here.