| Every three days someone is hit while walking or bicycling in Lansing, Michigan, on average. (Lansing Police Department Traffic Crash Reporting System Data) |
| In Lansing, 2.45% of trips are by foot and 0.42% by bike. vs. In Ann Arbor, 15.79% of trips are by foot, and in Madison 3.19% of trips are by bike. (U.S. Census Decennial, 2000) |
Bike Lanes Keep Cyclists Safe and Encourage Cycling
| Lansing Walking & Bicycling Task Force, c/o Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council P.O. Box 17164, Lansing, MI 48901 517-214-5684 |
Here are the details about bike lanes, and how you can log support and spread the word.
| The walkability and bikeability of our city shapes our everyday experiences. |
 |  |  |  |  |
In May of 2007, the Walking & Bicycling Task Force began a Bike Lane Education
campaign, to increase Lansing residents’ understanding of the benefits of bike lanes.
The campaign included distributing literature at dozens of events throughout the year,
and promoting a special web page (at www.midmeac.org/walkandbike) through emails
to thousands of Greater Lansing area residents. Below is the text that appeared in the
literature and website. See also Appendix B of the Walk and Bike Lansing! Plan:
Walking, Cycling, and Neighborhood Quality of Life.
The bottom line is that bike lanes make walk-able, bike-able
communities safer for all road users.
Click here to log your support for bike lanes.
campaign, to increase Lansing residents’ understanding of the benefits of bike lanes.
The campaign included distributing literature at dozens of events throughout the year,
and promoting a special web page (at www.midmeac.org/walkandbike) through emails
to thousands of Greater Lansing area residents. Below is the text that appeared in the
literature and website. See also Appendix B of the Walk and Bike Lansing! Plan:
Walking, Cycling, and Neighborhood Quality of Life.
The bottom line is that bike lanes make walk-able, bike-able
communities safer for all road users.
Click here to log your support for bike lanes.
Education Campaign
Research Footnotes
Numerous studies show that bicycle lanes improve safety and
promote proper riding behavior:
1. In a major study in Denmark, marking bicycle lanes in blue across intersections resulted
in a 38% decrease in bicycle crashes and a 71% decrease in fatalities and serious injuries.
Source: Søren Underlien Jensen, Karina Vestergaard Andersen and Erling Dan Nielsen,
"Junctions and Cyclists," paper presented at Velo-City‘97.
2. Other Danish studies show that bicycle lanes reduced the number of bicycle crashes by
35%, (Danish Road Directorate, “Safety of Cyclists in Urban Areas”, 1994) and that some
of the bike lanes reached risk reductions of 70 to 80% (Jan Grubb Laursen, “Nordic
Experience with the Safety of Bicycling”, 1993).
3. According to the Federal Highway Administration, Bicycle Safety-Related Research
Synthesis, 1995:
4. In 1996, over 2,000 League of American Bicyclist (LAB) members were surveyed about
the crashes (accidents) they were involved in over the course of the previous year. From
the information, a relative danger index was calculated which shows that streets with bike
lanes were the safest places to ride, having a significantly lower crash rate then either
major or minor streets without any bicycle facilities; moreover, they are safer than trails
and sidewalks as well. Below is a summary of the Facility Danger Indexes that were
determined through the study.
The findings of the 1996 LAB study are consistent with the findings of a similar study done
by the LAB in 1974 (LAW 74), and another similar study done by Washington State in 1994
(WA 94). The table to the right provides a summary of the Facility Danger Index calculated
from each of these studies.
Source: William E. Moritz, Ph.D., “Adult Bicyclists In The United States Characteristics And
Riding Experience In 1996,” TRB Preprint Paper, 1998.
5. In a national study comparing streets with bike lanes and those without, several
important observations were made:
Operational and Safety Findings”, May 1998.
promote proper riding behavior:
1. In a major study in Denmark, marking bicycle lanes in blue across intersections resulted
in a 38% decrease in bicycle crashes and a 71% decrease in fatalities and serious injuries.
Source: Søren Underlien Jensen, Karina Vestergaard Andersen and Erling Dan Nielsen,
"Junctions and Cyclists," paper presented at Velo-City‘97.
2. Other Danish studies show that bicycle lanes reduced the number of bicycle crashes by
35%, (Danish Road Directorate, “Safety of Cyclists in Urban Areas”, 1994) and that some
of the bike lanes reached risk reductions of 70 to 80% (Jan Grubb Laursen, “Nordic
Experience with the Safety of Bicycling”, 1993).
3. According to the Federal Highway Administration, Bicycle Safety-Related Research
Synthesis, 1995:
- The addition of bicycle lanes in Davis, California reduced crashes by 31%.
- Bicycle lanes on a major avenue in Eugene, Oregon resulted in an increase in
bicycle use and a substantial reduction in the bicycle crash rate. The crash rate per
100,000 bike miles fell by almost half and the motor vehicle crash rate also fell
significantly. - When the city of Corvallis, Oregon installed 13 miles of bicycle lanes in one year,
the number of bicycle crashes fell from 40 in the year prior to the installation to just
16 in the year afterwards.
4. In 1996, over 2,000 League of American Bicyclist (LAB) members were surveyed about
the crashes (accidents) they were involved in over the course of the previous year. From
the information, a relative danger index was calculated which shows that streets with bike
lanes were the safest places to ride, having a significantly lower crash rate then either
major or minor streets without any bicycle facilities; moreover, they are safer than trails
and sidewalks as well. Below is a summary of the Facility Danger Indexes that were
determined through the study.
The findings of the 1996 LAB study are consistent with the findings of a similar study done
by the LAB in 1974 (LAW 74), and another similar study done by Washington State in 1994
(WA 94). The table to the right provides a summary of the Facility Danger Index calculated
from each of these studies.
Source: William E. Moritz, Ph.D., “Adult Bicyclists In The United States Characteristics And
Riding Experience In 1996,” TRB Preprint Paper, 1998.
5. In a national study comparing streets with bike lanes and those without, several
important observations were made:
- Wrong-way riding was significantly lower on the streets with bike lanes.
- In approaching intersections, 15% of cyclists on streets without bike lanes rode on
the sidewalks, vs. 3% on the streets with bike lanes. - On streets with bike lanes, 81% of cyclists obeyed stop signs, vs. 55% on streets
without.
Operational and Safety Findings”, May 1998.
What Is A Bike Lane?
What is a bike lane? No those aren’t tiny
right turn lanes—the new narrow lanes you
may be noticing around town are bike
lanes. The official definition of a bike lane
is “a portion of the road that has been
designated by striping, signing, and
pavement marking for the preferential or
exclusive use by cyclists.”
The bottom line is that bike lanes are safer
for both motorists and cyclists in the
Lansing area.
What is the difference between a
bike lane and an off-road trail? Just
like it sounds, a bike lane is a lane for
bikes on the same roadway cars use. A
trail is a separate path along a roadway or
through a park that cyclists as well as
pedestrians and inline skaters can use.
The Lansing Mayor’s Walking & Bicycling
Task Force is working to create a network
of bike lanes throughout the city of
Lansing. We are also big supporters of
trails, are excited about the Lansing River
Trail extension from Potter Park to Hawk
Island, as well as other new trail projects
of the Heart of Michigan Trails group.
right turn lanes—the new narrow lanes you
may be noticing around town are bike
lanes. The official definition of a bike lane
is “a portion of the road that has been
designated by striping, signing, and
pavement marking for the preferential or
exclusive use by cyclists.”
The bottom line is that bike lanes are safer
for both motorists and cyclists in the
Lansing area.
What is the difference between a
bike lane and an off-road trail? Just
like it sounds, a bike lane is a lane for
bikes on the same roadway cars use. A
trail is a separate path along a roadway or
through a park that cyclists as well as
pedestrians and inline skaters can use.
The Lansing Mayor’s Walking & Bicycling
Task Force is working to create a network
of bike lanes throughout the city of
Lansing. We are also big supporters of
trails, are excited about the Lansing River
Trail extension from Potter Park to Hawk
Island, as well as other new trail projects
of the Heart of Michigan Trails group.
- Roadways: ALL roads except
limited access highways are
shared roadways, and are
legally open to bicyclists.
- Bike routes: roadways given
a preferred designation for
cyclists though the use of way
finding signs.
- Bike lanes: portions of a
roadway dedicated for use by
bicyclists, designated by
striping, pavement markings
and signs.
- Walkways: pedestrian
facilities separated from the
road, such as sidewalks and
paths, or part of the roadway,
such as crosswalks or wide
shoulders.
- Shared Use Paths: facilities,
such as the River Trail, which
are physically separated from
the roadway by a buffer or
physical barrier. They may be
used by bicyclists, pedestrians,
skaters, runners, etc.
Parts of the
Non-Motorized Network
Non-Motorized Network
1. SAFETY
One of the most frequently asked questions about biking is “Why can’t cyclists just
ride on the sidewalk?” Although you may think sidewalks are safest, national studies
show that bicyclists are much safer on the street.
Numerous studies have shown how bicycle lanes have reduced bicycling
crashes, typically by 30% or more.
Why? A big reason is that when bicyclists are in bike lanes they are always visible to
cars, instead of darting on and off the sidewalk, behind trees and parked cars, and out of
the view of motorists. In addition, the most common accident for bicyclists is cars turning
into them, not cars hitting them from behind. When a bicyclist is on the sidewalk, they
must cross many driveways that drivers turn into not expecting to see a bicyclist on the
sidewalk.
But, what about trails, can’t we use those instead?
Off-road paved trails (like East Lansing’s Northern Tier Trail, and the Lansing River Trail)
are another great option for cyclists (especially infrequent or inexperienced cyclists) and
should be built when possible. However linking all the places people want to go in the
Lansing area by trail would be difficult because land would need to be secured from
businesses and homes.
Bike lanes can be installed on almost any road fairly easily and give people a bicycle link
to destinations around the City. Further, trails are used by modes traveling at many
different speeds, which do not always mix easily with people bicycling for transportation.
2. EQUALITY
Roads should be for all users including bicyclists, who legally have the right to bicycle on
the road, regardless of whether bike lanes are present or not. Bike lanes are only four to
six feet wide and relatively inexpensive, and they reduce cycling accidents by 30% or
more. Bike lanes are a winning solution to improve the safety of our community for all
road users. In addition, some community members in the Lansing area do not own cars
and rely on bicycling, walking, and public transit to reach work, run errands, and go to
appointments. These "invisible cyclists", as they are sometimes called, rely on bicycling
for transportation and deserve safe routes to travel throughout the City.*
3. BIKING IS GROWING
One frequent comment we hear is "Nobody bicycles in Lansing-why do we need bike
lanes?". However, more and more people in the Lansing area are choosing biking as an
active and inexpensive way to get around town. Unlike recreational biking where scenery
is key, people choosing biking for transportation want to get to their destinations in a
timely fashion (just like people in cars).
Bike lanes allow cyclists to travel on uninterrupted pavement just like vehicles and travel
quickly (while still obeying traffic laws). With bike lanes people can get to most of the
destinations in Lansing in 15-20 minutes.
In addition, young adults in Michigan name a walkable/bikeable community as one of the
top five attributes that they look for in choosing a place to live. Lansing community
members choosing bicycling for transportation will only continue to grow and they need
safe places to ride.
What is happening currently to make the Lansing area more bike-friendly?
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS
Lansing, East Lansing, Okemos, Lansing Township, MSU and other communities have
been working to install some bike lanes where feasible. Meridian, Delhi, and Delta
Townships, and MSU have all created non-motorized transportation plans. However, this
is just a start.
A complete network needs to be installed, and adjacent municipalities need to coordinate
their infrastructure and facility maintenance plans to make it convenient and safe for
people to bike around town. It makes sense to install bike lanes next to the curb in
places where parking isn’t allowed, and to accommodate parking in other areas. In
addition to bike lanes, we also need signed bike routes, whether we plan to put bike
lanes on those routes in the future or not. The signage make cyclists and drivers aware
that the route is a preferred bicycling route, meaning drivers need to exercise extra
caution for cyclists on that road.
INCREASED EDUCATION
Infrastructure alone won’t make everything safer for bicyclists in the Lansing area. There
still needs to be a lot of work to educate both drivers and bicyclists about how to behave
around each other. One aspect is educating bicyclists about proper use of the bike lanes.
Bicyclists should travel with traffic and obey all traffic signals. In turn, drivers should not
pull into or park on bike lanes. For complete bicycling safety practices, visit www.
midmeac.org/smartcommute. (See also Chapter 5: Education.)
*In the 2000 U.S. Census, 8,713 Ingham County households did not have a vehicle. Further, Lansing residents include 11,132
seniors over age 65; 9,594people with two or more disabilities; and 20,657 children between age 5 and 16.
One of the most frequently asked questions about biking is “Why can’t cyclists just
ride on the sidewalk?” Although you may think sidewalks are safest, national studies
show that bicyclists are much safer on the street.
Numerous studies have shown how bicycle lanes have reduced bicycling
crashes, typically by 30% or more.
Why? A big reason is that when bicyclists are in bike lanes they are always visible to
cars, instead of darting on and off the sidewalk, behind trees and parked cars, and out of
the view of motorists. In addition, the most common accident for bicyclists is cars turning
into them, not cars hitting them from behind. When a bicyclist is on the sidewalk, they
must cross many driveways that drivers turn into not expecting to see a bicyclist on the
sidewalk.
But, what about trails, can’t we use those instead?
Off-road paved trails (like East Lansing’s Northern Tier Trail, and the Lansing River Trail)
are another great option for cyclists (especially infrequent or inexperienced cyclists) and
should be built when possible. However linking all the places people want to go in the
Lansing area by trail would be difficult because land would need to be secured from
businesses and homes.
Bike lanes can be installed on almost any road fairly easily and give people a bicycle link
to destinations around the City. Further, trails are used by modes traveling at many
different speeds, which do not always mix easily with people bicycling for transportation.
2. EQUALITY
Roads should be for all users including bicyclists, who legally have the right to bicycle on
the road, regardless of whether bike lanes are present or not. Bike lanes are only four to
six feet wide and relatively inexpensive, and they reduce cycling accidents by 30% or
more. Bike lanes are a winning solution to improve the safety of our community for all
road users. In addition, some community members in the Lansing area do not own cars
and rely on bicycling, walking, and public transit to reach work, run errands, and go to
appointments. These "invisible cyclists", as they are sometimes called, rely on bicycling
for transportation and deserve safe routes to travel throughout the City.*
3. BIKING IS GROWING
One frequent comment we hear is "Nobody bicycles in Lansing-why do we need bike
lanes?". However, more and more people in the Lansing area are choosing biking as an
active and inexpensive way to get around town. Unlike recreational biking where scenery
is key, people choosing biking for transportation want to get to their destinations in a
timely fashion (just like people in cars).
Bike lanes allow cyclists to travel on uninterrupted pavement just like vehicles and travel
quickly (while still obeying traffic laws). With bike lanes people can get to most of the
destinations in Lansing in 15-20 minutes.
In addition, young adults in Michigan name a walkable/bikeable community as one of the
top five attributes that they look for in choosing a place to live. Lansing community
members choosing bicycling for transportation will only continue to grow and they need
safe places to ride.
What is happening currently to make the Lansing area more bike-friendly?
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS
Lansing, East Lansing, Okemos, Lansing Township, MSU and other communities have
been working to install some bike lanes where feasible. Meridian, Delhi, and Delta
Townships, and MSU have all created non-motorized transportation plans. However, this
is just a start.
A complete network needs to be installed, and adjacent municipalities need to coordinate
their infrastructure and facility maintenance plans to make it convenient and safe for
people to bike around town. It makes sense to install bike lanes next to the curb in
places where parking isn’t allowed, and to accommodate parking in other areas. In
addition to bike lanes, we also need signed bike routes, whether we plan to put bike
lanes on those routes in the future or not. The signage make cyclists and drivers aware
that the route is a preferred bicycling route, meaning drivers need to exercise extra
caution for cyclists on that road.
INCREASED EDUCATION
Infrastructure alone won’t make everything safer for bicyclists in the Lansing area. There
still needs to be a lot of work to educate both drivers and bicyclists about how to behave
around each other. One aspect is educating bicyclists about proper use of the bike lanes.
Bicyclists should travel with traffic and obey all traffic signals. In turn, drivers should not
pull into or park on bike lanes. For complete bicycling safety practices, visit www.
midmeac.org/smartcommute. (See also Chapter 5: Education.)
*In the 2000 U.S. Census, 8,713 Ingham County households did not have a vehicle. Further, Lansing residents include 11,132
seniors over age 65; 9,594people with two or more disabilities; and 20,657 children between age 5 and 16.
Why Are Bike Lanes
Important?
Important?
| Federal Highway Administration, Bicycle Safety-Related Research Synthesis in 1995 revealed the following: 1. The addition of bicycle lanes in Davis, California reduced crashes by 31%. 2. Bicycle lanes on a major avenue in Eugene, Oregon resulted in an increase in bicycle use and a substantial reduction in the bicycle crash rate. (The crash rate per 100,000 bike miles fell by almost half and the motor vehicle crash rate also fell significantly.) 3. When the city of Corvallis, Oregon installed 13 miles of bicycle lanes in one year, the number of bicycle crashes fell from 40 in the year prior to the installation to just 16 in the year afterwards. |
| Photo by Heidi Potter |
| Corbis Royalty Free Photography |
| Photo by Steve Longrove |
| Photo by Dan Burden |
| Making Lansing, Michigan Accessible and Walk & Bike Friendly! |