Bike lane additions allow safer route for all travelers

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Mount Pleasant and Central Michigan University continue to work together to provide safer transportation for bike riders.

In the last two years, Bellows Street, Michigan Street and a portion of Washington Street have been transformed to accomodate bikers on the road, Randy Chesney, interim director of public works and city engineer, said.

“It is part of the citywide plan to connect pathways at CMU in cooperation with Union Township,” Chesney said.

Bike lanes were also added around the perimeter of campus, he said.

Chesney said the planning process determines where the bike lanes will be implemented.

“A consultant meets with Union Township and interest points for bikers are marked and bike lanes are added to connect those points,” Chesney said.

Director of Planning and Community Development Jeff Gray said they look at how every street is designed to find the lowest cost solution possible.

It is more cost efficient to paint in bike lanes when the road is wide enough to do so, he said.

Chesney said paint cost is small in comparison to overall reconstruction. He estimated the cost being about $2,000 a mile for painting in lanes.

If the road isn’t wide enough, plans for bike lanes will be incorporated when the street is reconstructed, he said.

They are looking to create “complete streets” all over Mount Pleasant and campus. This means it is built to service the needs of all users of the road including bikers, drivers and pedestrians.

“The university is a very important player in this,” Chesney said. “CMU is working with the city in an area-wide study looking at an overall comprehensive plan throughout Union Township.”

Motorless Motion manager and Downtown Development Board Chair Allison Quast said she promotes a more bicycle-friendly community.

“Adding bike lanes to CMU and the surrounding Mount Pleasant area allows a larger number of cyclists to use the roadways while feeling safe,” she said. “Encouraging students and faculty to choose bicycles over cars to get to and from class, work and play.”

In addition, Quast said a non-motorized transportation plan was recently finalized in Union Township that will help determine where to place bike lanes and sidewalks in the future.

Chesney said next year bike lanes will be added on Michigan Street from Fancher Street to Washington Street.

“The overall plan in progress will take about 10 years to incorporate because of the cost,” Chesney said.