Detroit Avenue – Guerrilla Bike Lane Response
Bike Cleveland was made aware of the actions taken this past weekend via social media to paint “guerrilla bike lanes” on Detroit Avenue. While Bike Cleveland does not endorse “guerrilla striping” we certainly understand the frustration in the community that it shouldn’t take a year to install 1.7 miles of bike lanes on Detroit Avenue.
Bike lanes on Detroit Avenue are scheduled to be installed on Detroit Avenue from W. 25th to Lake Ave. The City of Cleveland committed to install the lanes in the fall of 2012 or in the spring of 2013. The commitment was made to Bike Cleveland and the cycling community at two public meetings. Almost 1 year later the bike lanes still are not installed.
Bike Cleveland has been in communication with the City of Cleveland through our engagement on the Complete and Green Streets Task Force. Based on conversations, our understanding is that the project went out to bid in early August and is moving forward through the City’s purchasing process. We encourage the city to respond by expediting the contract to get the bike lanes painted in September.
We also encourage cyclists and residents to take a moment to contact the Mayor at mayorsactioncenter@city.cleveland.oh.us or by filling out the form on the Mayor’s Action Center webpage and tell the Mayor to prioritize the installation of bike lanes on Detroit Avenue for installation in September.
UPDATE: Media response to “Guerrilla Bike Lanes on Detroit”
http://www.19actionnews.com/story/23261399/cleveland-cyclist-controversy?autostart=true
http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2013/08/guerrilla_stripers_add_bike_la.html
In addition, in response to an article about sharrows installed in Shaker Heights, the City of Cleveland communications office noted that the Detroit Avenue bike lanes will be installed late fall 2013 OR spring of 2014: http://www.cleveland.com/