I had a bit of a treat riding to work today: new paint for the bike lanes on Summit Avenue. Summit is the main east-west bike route west of downtown Saint Paul, extending from the top of the hill near the cathedral to the Mississippi. It is quite well-used, both by recreational cyclists and commuters, and is straight, relatively flat and in decent shape.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOkTdR2BIBymduJvbIVaHlaF9LwzJal3vGZ8VlkxEXhhJn4JNW0ehyJuSUr80jQlLrlGlbtEn1egC9CLA1ZvTB-Qf_ia-57lJA1702ObBUwyjhpcNjNBtf96BwvFoXLO6nSIo01ou-Q/s400/DSC_0278.jpg)
The lane markings weren't disappearing completely (although notice the rather invisible bike stencil, which has not been repainted), but they were getting dull. I wish I had had my camera when they had painted only one of the lines anew; still, the new markings are very noticeable. And I believe it makes a difference. Drivers are more likely to notice the bike lanes, and more likely to look for cyclists; thus, cyclists are more likely to feel safe as they bike. And since a
local cyclist was hit—and I saw him down moments later and am still surprised he was not badly hurt—when riding in one of these lanes by a turning vehicle, the more visibility, the better. In other words, well-painted lines will help drivers to look twice for bikes.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxyX8pwc7Yqmq9Mc0wU2CI8h45ow3Aqrk8yXsg8ufAob4J0zvdfWmXT2aLCJmdMFrIJdjC1KmaG8LdyRrFlSikS9kgJZ-ImGQ3XUDbydgBzzSEl2XEtral-gifRqlbhZa1knMNCbp1A/s400/DSC_0276.jpg)
Now if they would only plow the lanes properly in the winter, and not let them become an icy mess.
[We'll have a long post regarding segregated bike lanes soon]
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