One of the most interesting safety concepts being pushed in cities with eco-friendly reputations is the concept of a protected bike lane, and now Salt Lake City is looking to be tossed into that mix.
Protected bike lanes work by having cars park about a car’s length away from the curb, creating a bike lane that’s further away from speeding traffic. Because the area between parked cars and the curb is so large, it also helps to prevent collisions between bicycles and passengers opening their car door in the lane.
Salt Lake City has received a $25,000 grant from the Bikes Belong Foundation to create such a lane. A test of the new system is scheduled to run along a three-block stretch of road in the city. The measure is said to be cost-effective since all it really entails is painting the current roads in a different manner.
With their protected bike lane, Salt Lake joins the ranks of cities like San Francisco and Boulder, Colorado. Bike commutes increased 27% in the city, which helped contribute to the bestowal of the grant.
As a car accident attorney in San Bernardino, I’m glad to see any measures that help to keep people safe on the road. Bicycles aren’t afforded the same protections as motorists, so it’s my opinion as a San Bernardino personal injury lawyer that something like this could go a long way toward saving lives and promoting a healthy environment.