The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
The city has begun designing the first section of a $2.4 million bicycle lane on Shore Drive, the site of several motorist-cyclist collisions this year.
The 4-foot lane will be built on the eastbound side, running four miles from Kendall Street, just west of First Landing State Park, to 83rd Street.
Designers will finish the plans by November, with construction starting in December and completion expected in March, said Phillip Pullen, transportation division manager.
Construction of a second lane on the westbound side of Shore Drive likely will start in July, Pullen said. Officials found money for the new project within the city's existing capital budget, city spokeswoman Mary Hancock said.
Hancock said Mayor Will Sessoms had concerns about biker safety along the heavily traveled road because of the multiple collisions.
The latest occurred the morning of Aug. 17, when a truck hit and injured a bicyclist. Police charged the truck's operator with reckless driving.
That marked at least the fourth time since May that a bicyclist had been hurt by a motor vehicle on Shore Drive.
Sessoms said the bike lane won't entirely solve the problem, but the project shows officials take the issue seriously.
"We want to show that we want to do things to make it safer for bikers," he said. "There's always going to be risks when the roadway is 55 mph, and the bicyclists understand that."
Matt Spinelli, owner of Seashore Bikes & Fitness on Shore Drive, applauded the project.
He said although serious cyclists favor an uninterrupted roadway where they don't have to stop at each intersection, the proposed lane would be perfect for casual riders.
"It's needed and well overdue," Spinelli said. "It'll be a good place to bike."
John Maher, vice president of the Tidewater Bicycle Association, also favored the bike-lane plans.
Maher understands firsthand the importance of biker safety - he was hit by a vehicle while riding a bike in his teen years.
He said riding on sidewalks can be unsafe because cyclists could hit pedestrians or cars backing out of driveways.
"When you have a bike lane, it creates a barrier on the road saying, 'This road is mine,'" Maher said. "It'll create a separation between motorists and cyclists."
Jennifer Jiggetts, (757) 222-5150, jennifer.jiggetts@pilotonline.com
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pandering waste
A bike lane and we drivers are pondering toll roads. Bikers do not pay for roads easy pass at the entrances anybody. Plus they usually drive to the start of the ride in their car DUH. So on shore drive they are putting it on one side only so when the bikers turnaround and return(to their cars!) and go head to head againest against traffic and other cyclist more accidents! The cry will be for one the other side. But wait a state park natural area, Where is the environmentalist crying for an impact statement for some poor swamp rat or turtle is endangered I just know it. The cost will increase since they will have to place buffers only the road way to keep cyclist from running over the rat and going head first in the swamp. Bada bing
Two lanes planned
If you can read you will see that there is a plan for lanes in both directions. East bound first then west bound. This plan is decades past due. Inside the park is not suitable for road bikes, even less so than Shore Drive. Ft. Story is restrictive of civilians (understandably so, it is a military base.)
I applaude the move. Just keep the City Manager's fiscal scapel hidden.
Ride on...
Seriously
I mean really did your mommy not teach you to share when you were a kid?
These non riders kill me. As a "non casual" cyclist I would say you can keep your 2.4 million if you "drivers" can simply learn to share. Stay off your phone and actually pay attention. I pay taxes so dont even go there. We all pay for crap that we dont use. Its called government.
I rode 85mi today. I admit never in a bike lane. Why? 1. there arent many miles. 2. they typically are full of trash off the road. 3. they rarely get swept clean. 4. many roads have room if users work together!
Ive been forced into the lane by downed trees on shore dr.
I'd rather see the path along the road, not in the woods.
How will this path be maintained? How much $ for that?
why not use a design that's up to standard
The AASHTO standard for bike lanes is 5 feet with a buffer, the planned lane is only 4 feet and I don't see any buffer. Does the city make all its infrastructure sub-standard or just the infrastructure for bicycles?
Lane size
I have not seen the plans, but hopefully it will be added to the existing lane that is currently occupied in part by a rumble strip. I am really excited about the proposed lanes. SD is a pretty scary place to ride, but ride it I do. All summer, only 3 cars have not yielded the ENTIRE lane to me and my riding compratiots. Those three were in an obvious tourist convoy. Thanks everyone for giving us the space!
I know Kerry D. thinks we should be off SD, but we (my wife and I) love her anyway. She just needs to be educated on the subject a little better.
Not Serious
Hate to say it, but if you've been to Seashore Bikes & Fitness you know it's not a shop for serious cyclists.
A Good Project
I have no idea who Spinelli is, However, I do understand his point and at least he was gracious enough to applaud this project.
So am I. I think it's a great move by the city and I will use it. Some of the very people who complain about bikers sharing the road will, undoubtedly, now complain about money being spent on a partial remedy for the problem.
I probably pay more city taxes than a good many of you, and I deserve to have some of it spent on something I can use and enjoy.
You know, I've been paying
You know, I've been paying an awful lot of taxes to support the roads I'm not using while I'm deployed. If the cyclists have to pay for the bike lane, can I be exempted from paying tax to maintain the roads that all of you road warriors are using? Fair is fair, after all.
Shore Drivve bicycle lane
Our elected officials are again pandering to a special interest group, bicycle riders. With all the items in our news about layoffs, homeless, and people struggling to stay afloat how can we afford $2.4M for this. It obviously isn't a necessity. The bikers can share the road in accordance with state law. I'm a special interest group too...how about a sidewalk on Aragona Blvd. for our High School kids to walk to school on dark winter mornings instead of in the road. If yo really have to do this, save some money and build on only one side of the street. Bicyclists can cross the street at a light and wave to each other as they pass. After all if you know how to ride a bicycle, you can pass safely going in opposite directions in 4 ft.
WHO???
Virginian Pilot: Who is Matt Spinelli and since when is his opinion representative of 'serious' cyclists in VB? We are all extremely happy about this new bike lane, estatic even. I'm sure there will eventually be 'casual' cyclists using this path but the people jumping for joy right now are all the 'serious' cyclists who ride shore drive everyday risking life and limb to do so. Please find a more representative sample next time you decide to let one speak for the whole