Be Our Guest: Stevens Point got a new paint job, and a learning curve
By Trevor Roark
Stevens Point Bicycle and Pedestrian Street Safety Commission Chair
The new lane markings on central Stevens Point streets are part of the city’s effort to improve transportation options and safety for all road users – driving, biking, and walking.
The project is mostly funded with grant dollars from the WisDOT Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) awarded to Stevens Point in 2016.
Lane markings signal to all users where they should be in the road. Even without bicyclists present, the markings calm traffic making our neighborhoods safer and more pedestrian friendly.
However, some confusion over the new markings has developed for both bicyclists and drivers. F
or safely and respectfully sharing the road, please keep the following in mind:
Bicycles are vehicles by law and share the road and bicyclists are safest when behaving like a vehicle;
Stay off the sidewalk – while it’s not illegal to bike on the sidewalk in Stevens Point, safety and transportation experts agree that teenagers and adults are safest when riding on the street, except roadways with very fast traffic and no bicycle facilities such as Division or Hwy 10 East;
Give three feet – Bicyclists need three feet between them and a passing vehicle to feel safe. The new lane markings help insure this minimal distance;
Bicyclists and drivers should obey all traffic laws including signaling turns and lane changes, always riding in the same direction as traffic, etc.
See photos for what the different bike facilities mean. For more information, visit https://stevenspoint.com/634/Bicycling.
