Frequently Asked Questions

What is a parking protected bike lane?

A parking protected bike lane moves the on-street vehicle parking away from the curb and places the bike lane between the curb and the on-street parking. The line of parked vehicles in the roadway act as a physical barrier between moving vehicles and people riding in the bike lane. This style of bike lane is safer and more comfortable for people riding bikes compared to a standard painted bike lane. Experienced cyclists can still choose to ride in the vehicle travel lane if they desire.

Why have two different types of bike lanes?

The primary reason behind the new bike lane configuration is to help narrow the excessively wide street. Sections of 300 North are over 60 feet wide! Research shows that narrowing travel lanes can help improve safety and reduce crashes. The new two-way parking protected bike lane is wider than a typical bike lane, which effectively narrows the street and moves vehicles to the center of the road where there is better visibility.

A secondary benefit is easier access to the 300 North bridge. Instead of crossing the street to access the bridge, people riding bikes can stay on the south side of the street. The addition of a four-way stop at 800 West and protected intersection at 1000 West will make it safer and easier to cross back over to the north side of the street.

What is a protected intersection?

A protected intersection is designed to make crossing safer for cyclists and pedestrians by keeping them separate from cars. It features special waiting areas for bikes and people, and paths set back from the intersection for better visibility. These design elements help reduce the risk of accidents by ensuring that everyone can see and react to each other more easily. This setup creates a safer, more organized flow of traffic for all road users.

Why is there a reduction in on-street parking?

Parking protected bikes lanes require a 30-foot no parking area at intersections and driveways to improve sightlines. This clear zone enhances visibility for both cyclists and drivers, reducing the likelihood of conflicts and improving overall safety at these potential conflict points.

What is a raised crosswalk?

A raised crosswalk acts like a gentle speed bump, slightly elevating the crosswalk to make pedestrians more visible to drivers and to encourage safer speeds.

Public Participation Recap

Summer 2021

The project team held a focus group in July 2021 with residents and neighborhood organizations to discuss future improvements to safety, comfort, and accessibility. Key takeaways from the focus group include:

• Sense of community is an important value, and the group wants to see more people on the street. More destinations on the corridor, such as cafes and restaurants, would help to draw the community to 300 North.

• Public art and beautification would make the corridor more pleasant for pedestrians and cyclists.

• The group enjoys 300 North and believes it is a valuable corridor. It’s important that it stays a community amenity and is safe enough for kids to walk to school and provide space for people to enjoy the outdoors.

To learn more, review the 300 North Focus Group Meeting Report.

Spring and Summer 2022

In May 2022, the project team prepared two draft concepts for public comment based on initial community input. Both options aimed to improve safety for cyclists by shifting the vehicle travel lanes to the center of the street and by placing the bike lane between the curb and on-street parking. Additionally, the two-way bike lane option would give cyclists traveling in either direction convenient access to the 300 North pedestrian bridge, which was completed in October 2023.

We heard from over 350 community members through online and in-person engagements. Online engagement was tailored to community members adjacent the project and was conducted through a survey. In-person events were tailored to students and other young people in the community and were held at West High, Spy Hop’s Block Party, and UNP’s Partners in the Park. Community consensus was split over the two options. Some key takeaways were:

• Some residents preferred the two-way bike lane concept because it provides easier access to the 300 North bridge, West High, and new housing along 300 North

• Other residents preferred the standard bike lane configuration due to its familiarity

• Neighbors who live on 300 North were concerned about on-street parking removal

For a more details, review the full engagement report.

Funding Our Future

This project is funded through the 2018 voter-approved Funding Our Future street reconstruction bond.