
A work crew has been painting a new bike lane around the Big Circle during the week between Winter and Spring Semesters that will allow bicyclers, skateboarders and non-motorized scooters to ride opposite of traffic.
“The biggest reason for this change is the safety of the students, faculty and staff,” said Vice President of Administration Norm Black. “There are a lot of people who ride bikes or skateboards…and the hope is students on bikes and skateboards will get off the sidewalks.”
Black said the sidewalks are for pedestrians and the new bike lane is now a safe place off the sidewalks and on the roadway for bicyclists and skateboarders. Creating the bike lane was in the master plan for the development of the university, he said, “But the problem exists today, so we need to provide a solution today. We thought this couldn’t wait.”
Discussions for the bike lane began two years ago when it became apparent to Security personnel there was a problem with bikers and skateboarders going the opposite way on the one-way Big Circle.
“It was our emphasis to become a campus where we encourage skateboards or bicycles, so why aren’t we providing the avenue or pathway or ability for students to go contrary to traffic, and be able to get to where they need to go?” said Earl Morris, the director of Security.
Black agreed, saying the university is encouraging biking and skateboarding instead of driving cars, so making a safe place for bicyclists and skateboarders is part of that initiative.
Elder Leonard Pavia, the project manager for the bike lane said architects on campus, Jim Brown and Ajri McArthur, designed the blueprints. The bike lane “goes in the opposite direction of the flow of traffic, so students can shorten their time going from building to building,” Pavia said.
Skateboarding and biking in the McKay Hallway and other sidewalks on campus is prohibited, said Black, so the new bike path provides riders a way to get around campus that is safe and easy to use. The bike lane is on the roadway at the right entrance to the Little Circle and goes around the Big Circle back to the left exit of the Little Circle and connects with the bike lanes on Kulanui Street.
The lane is only for traveling opposite the flow of traffic according to Morris. The bike lane has arrows that show riders which way to ride against traffic. When riding in the same direction as car traffic, riders are permitted on the roadway.
In order for the bike lane to go around the campus, some islands were removed or to cut through, like the planter in between of the Lorenzo Snow Building and the Aloha Center, and the planters across the road from the GCB.
Also during the semester break, the parking across the street from the GCB has been moved to directly in front of the GCB. Pavia said just a few parking spaces were lost in the reconfiguration.
Bike lane sections that are painted green are areas where drivers and riders need to be aware of one another. For example, the bike lane that crosses in front of the driveway up to the Post Office in the Aloha Center and also the driveway into the Cafeteria’s loading dock, are painted green to remind drivers and riders to look out for each other when they share the same space.“
From a risk management standpoint, it's certainly going to enhance movement on campus and minimize these potential accidents where we worry about people backing out,” said Morris.
A BYUH Newsroom story warns: “Because of the new counter-flow lane, all drivers and pedestrians must exercise a heightened awareness of bikers and skateboarders that will be coming clockwise around the circle.
"Green sections along the lane indicate where vehicles may be entering the circle to remind both drivers and riders to use more caution in these intersections. Pedestrians should always exercise caution when crossing the road, looking both left and right to check that the way is clear.”
It also states the speed limit on campus is 15 mph.“While the campus community gets accustomed to this new traffic flow,” the Newsroom article continues, “Security will have increased patrols to help educate on the proper use of the traffic lanes. Anyone found to be violating traffic rules, pertaining to traffic flow and bike lane usage, may be subject to a $20 fine.”