Washington D.C.

Washington, D.C., is a national showcase, with a steady stream of influential visitors. A recent study showed that bicycling tripled on 15th Street NW and Pennsylvania Avenue following the installation of green lanes. The city is now completing new projects on L and M Streets NW, 1st Street near Union Station and in other areas. The red bikes of the Capital Bikeshare system are being used at least 6,000 times a day, building significant support for better places to ride.

 

Updates from D.C. GLP blogger David Cranor:

• Washington, DC to kick off new green lanes in 2013, May 6, 2013
• Arlington, VA makes sure that every cyclist counts, May 3, 2013
• Washington, DC prepares to double down on bicycling, April 12 2013
• Bike industry leaders tour D.C.'s protected bike lanes, March 4, 2013
• Improved Pennsylvania Avenue green lane in the spotlight, Feb. 18, 2013
• Ed Koch force behind creation and removal of first green lanes passes away, Feb. 5, 2013
• Pennsylvania Ave. green lane showcased during inauguration, Jan. 23, 2013
• New L Street green lane opens with promises of more, Dec. 28, 2012
• Washington D.C. welcomes newest green lane on L Street, Nov. 13, 2012
• Green lane to connect rail trail with transportation hub, Oct. 31, 2012
• D.C. proposes extending the 15th Street green lane, Oct. 5, 2012
• Road diet would connect city's waterfronts, Sept. 24, 2012
• Work begins on L Street cycletrack, Sept. 11, 2012
• Nation's Capitol commits to green lanes, Aug. 29, 2012
• Renderings of the new green lane to be installed at 15th St. NW, Aug. 22, 2012

 

The city of Washington, D.C. currently has the following green lanes in place:

Pennsylvania Ave.
Built in 2010, the Pennsylvania Ave. two-way green lane is 2.08 miles long. It is in the center of the street and is separated from car traffic by flexible delineators.

To learn more about the Pennyslvania Ave. dedicated green lanes, click here.

15th St. NW
Washington, D.C. finished 3.3 miles of green lanes on 15th St. in 2010. It is a two-way, one-sided bike lane that is separated by parked cars.

To learn more about the 15th St. green lane, click here.

R St. NE
In 2012, Washington, D.C. built a one block contraflow green lane on R St. NE. The green lane is approximately 0.16 miles long and is separated by parked cars.

To learn more about the contraflow green lane on R St. NE, click here.

L St. NW (12th to 25th)

In November 2012, Washington, D.C. built 1.12 miles of green lanes on L St. NW. The green lane is painted green and is separated from car traffic by flexible delineators.

To learn more about the L St. NW dedicated green lane, click here.

 

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA, is quickly catching up after a three-year injunction stalled most bicycle-related improvements from 2007-2010. A new green lane on JFK Boulevard in Golden Gate Park was recently completed, and additional green lane pilot projects are being explored on Polk, 2nd, and the Embarcadero. San Francisco residents ride bikes often already and the numbers are growing. Political support is strong.

 

Updates from San Francisco GLP blogger Alexis Chavez:

• Bikes allowed on BART for another test run, Feb. 27, 2013
• SFMTA releases new bicycle strategy, Feb. 14, 2013
• Looking back at San Francisco's big year, Jan. 20, 2013
• San Francisco welcomes first bicycle bay, Dec. 20, 2012
• Relaxing rides in San Francisco, Nov. 25, 2012
• Introducing green lanes on Oak and Fell street in San Francisco, Nov. 6, 2012
• San Francisco city leader learns lessons in Denmark, Oct. 2, 2012
• Cycling in the city, Aug. 24, 2012

 

The city of San Francisco, CA currently has the following green lanes:

Market St.

In 2010, the city of San Francisco built 0.50 miles of green lanes on Market St. It is one-way on both sides of the road and is separated by flexible delineators and a two foot painted buffer. Several bike boxes and sharrows were also added.

Laguna Honda Blvd.

The city of San Francisco built a 0.70 green lane on each side of Laguna Honda Blvd. in 2011. Each green lane is separated from traffic by flexible delineators.

To learn more about the Laguna Honda Blvd. green lane, click here.

 

Division St.
In 2011, the city of San Francisco built a green lane on Division St from 11th to 12th.

 

JFK Drive
Three miles of green lanes were built on JFK Dr. There is one green lane on each side of the road and is separated by parked cars.

To learn more about the JFK Dr. green lanes, click here.

 

Cargo Way
The city of San Francisco built a two-way green lane on Cargo Way in 2012. The green lane is protected by a raise one foot curb with a chain link fence. The green lane also has protected bike signal phase and green sharrows.

To learn more about the two-way green lane on Cargo Way, click here.

 

John Muir Dr.
In 2012, the city of San Francisco built a 0.70 mile green lane on John Muir Dr. The green lane is separated from traffic by flexible delineators.

 

Duboce Ave.
In 2012, a 0.5 mile section of Duboce Ave. was re-opened as a newly painted green lane for cyclists. The green lane is one way on one side of the car-free street. Cyclists only share the section with public transit.

To learn more about the Duboce Ave. green lane, click here.

 

Cesar Chavez St.
One mile of green lanes were built on Cesar Chavez St. in 2012. There is one green lane on each side of the road, separated from traffic by flexible delineators.

To learn more about the Cesar Chavez St. green lane, click here.

Memphis, TN

Memphis, TN, has installed 35 miles of green lanes in the last two years and is planning two significant green lane projects. The Broad-Overton project will connect a popular rail-trail with the city’s central park and help to revitalize businesses on the corridor in between. The leadership of mayor A.C. Wharton catalyzed this dramatic turnaround after Memphis was named one of the worst cities for riding by Bicycling Magazine in 2008.

 

Updates from Memphis GLP blogger Anthony Siracusa

• Memphis Mayor A C Wharton issues Complete Streets Executive Order, March 10, 2013
• Green Lane Project improves development, Dec. 12. 2012
• Here comes the neighborhood -- building green lanes and battling blight, Nov. 21, 2012
• Memphis in the Netherlands: "blown away", Nov. 9 2012
• Memphis on Broadway, Oct. 22, 2012
• Building a better city, one green lane at a time, Oct. 9, 2012
• The Overton Broad Connector, Sept. 24, 2012
• Building the missing link, Sept. 4, 2012
• Shifting gears in the Bluff City, Aug. 22, 2012

Chicago, IL

Chicago, IL, is leading the way with a bold commitment by mayor Rahm Emanuel to build 100 miles of new green lanes during his four-year term and make Chicago "the bike-friendliest city in the country." These projects will significantly transform city streets and provide a model for rapid implementation of a strong vision for better bicycling.

 

Updates from Chicago GLP blogger John Greenfield

• Chicago proposes relocating parking to make room for PBLS, May 9, 2013
• Chicago businesses stand up for green lanes, May 8, 2013
• Building support in Chicago, neighborhood by neighborhood, April 16, 2013
• Elevating the conversation: Raised lanes are coming to Chicago, April 10, 2013
• It's official: It's legal to ride outside Chicago's protected lanes, March 25, 2013
• How to create protected lanes all cyclists will enjoy, March 25, 2013
• Chicago considers bold steps to make room for protected lanes, March 21, 2013
• CDOT looks back at Chicago's bikeway progress in 2012, Feb. 12, 2013
• A great day in Chicago: green lanes open in the heart of the loop, Dec. 15, 2012
• Oh Dearborn! A virtual tour of Chicago's first 2-way green lane, Dec. 3, 2012
• Desplaines boss, desplaines! A new green lane takes shape, Nov. 20, 2012
• Active Trans takes an active role in promoting green lanes, Nov. 8, 2012
• What do people really think of the green lanes on 55th street?, Oct. 12, 2012
• Can Chicago hit 30 miles of green lanes before the snow flies?, Sept. 17, 2012
• Getting ready for the green lane breakthrough, Aug. 31, 2012

 

The city of Chicago, IL currently has the following green lanes:

18th St.
In 2012, the city of Chicago built a 0.60 mile green lane on 18th St. They are one-way on each side of the road and are separated by flexible delineators.

To learn more about the 18th St. green lane, click here.

55th St.
The city of Chicago built 0.70 miles of green lanes on 55th St. in 2012. They are one-way on each side of the road and are separated by flexible delineators and parked cars.

To learn more about the 55th St. green lane, click here.

Elston Ave.
A 1.68 mile green lane was built on Elston Ave. by the city of Chicago in 2012. The green lane is separated by flexible delineators and parked cars. Stripes were also painted in each intersection.

To learn more about the Elston Ave. green lane, click here.

Franklin Blvd.
In 2012, the city of Chicago installed a 0.75 mile green lane on Franklin Blvd. The green lane is separated by flexible delineators.

To learn more about the Franklin Blvd. green lane, click here.

Jackson Blvd.
Throughout 2012, the city of Chicago built a total of 2.3 miles of green lanes on Jackson Blvd. The green lanes are one-way on each side of the road and are separated by a combination of flexible delineators and parked cars.

Kinzie St.
The city of Chicago built 0.60 miles of green lanes on Kinzie St. in 2012. There is one bike lane on each side of the road and they are separated from traffic by flexible delineators, parked cars and a painted buffer in spots.

To learn more about the Kinzie St. green lane, click here.

Lake St.
In 2012, the city of Chicago built two miles of green lanes on Lake St. between Damen Ave and Conservatory Drive/Central Park Ave. There is one green lane on each side of the road and they are separated by flexible delineators and parked cars. Stripes were painted through each intersection.

31st St.
The city of Chicago built  1.5 miles of green lanes on 31st St from Lakefront Trail to Wells St. in 2012. There is one green lane on each side of the road and they are separated from traffic by flexible delineators and parked cars. Stripes were painted through each intersection.

Desplaines St.
In 2012, the city of Chicago installed a 1.5 mile green lane on Desplaines St. The green lane is protected by a cominbation of flexible delineators and parked cars. Stripes were painted through each intersection.

To learn more about the Desplaines St. green lane, click here.

Dearborn St.
In 2012, the city of Chicago installed a 2.3 mile green lane on Dearborn St. The two-way green lane is separated from traffic by flexible delineators and parked cars. Bicycle signals were also installed.

Halsted St.
One mile of green lanes were installed on Halsted St. by the city of Chicago in 2012. There is one green lane on each side of the one mile stretch and they are separated from traffic by flexible delineators and parked cars.

The West Side Boulevards (Independence Blvd, Douglas Blvd, Marshall Blvd., 24th Blvd.)
In 2012, the city of Chicago installed a 3.25 mile green lane to connect the "West Side Boulevards". There is one green lane on each side of the road and they are separated from traffic by flexible delineators and parked cars.

 

Austin, TX

Austin, TX, celebrated the opening of a two-way protected green lane on Rio Grande Avenue in April 2012 and will complete green lane projects in fall 2012 on Barton Springs Road, serving the citys beloved pool, and on Bluebonnet, connecting to an elementary school. The city is tackling major connections in a revitalizing downtown area. The presence of the state capitol, a major university, and a thriving music scene make it a diverse and dynamic city that sees bicycling as a way to attract top-tier businesses and ease congestion.

Updates from Austin GLP blogger Jen Reel

• Green Lane Project to host summit on bike lanes and equity, April 20, 2013
• Rolling through SXSW on two wheels, March 19, 2013
• Mueller District finds cycle tracks good for business, Feb. 1, 2013
• Pedaling for Safer Roads bike rally, Dec. 6, 2012
• Dutch Embassy brings expertise to Austin, Nov. 11, 2012
• Imagine Austin -- compact and connected, Sept. 28, 2012
• Back to School time -- let's bike!, Aug. 31, 2012

 

The city of Austin, TX currently has the following green lanes:

Lance Armstrong Bikeway

Two miles of two-way, one-sided green lanes were built on the Lance Armstrong Bikeway at Cesar Chavez in 2008. The green lane is protected by both curb and grass.

Also in 2008, a 0.5 mile long green lane was built at the 4th St. on the Lance Armstrong Bikeway. The green lane is two-way, one-sided and is separated by rail tracks and turtle bumps.

To view a map of the Lance Armstrong Bikeway, click here.

4th St.

In 2010, Austin built 0.66 miles of green lane on 4th Street from I35 to Trinity Blvd. It is a two-way, one sided green lane that is separated by commuter rail tracks, turtle bumps and furniture.

Barton Springs Road

The city of Austin built one mile of green lane on Barton Springs Road between S. 1st Street and South Lamar Blvd. in 2012. The green lane is one way on each side of the road. The westbound lane is separated by a six inch curb, two feet of vegetation and street light poles. The eastbound lane is protected by a 1.5 foot painted buffer and delineator sticks.

To read more about the Barton Springs Road green lane, click here.

Robert E. Lee Cycle Track

In 2012, 0.6 miles of green lane was added to the Robert E. Lee Cycle Track in Austin. The two-way, one-sided green lane is protected by a curb.

Bluebonnet Lane

In the summer of 2012, 1.5 miles of two-way, one-sided green lanes on Bluebonnet Lane from Barton Hills to Rabb Glen Street. The green lane is separated by a two foot painted buffer and delineator sticks.

To read more about the Bluebonnet Lane green lane, click here.

Portland, OR

Portland, OR, leads the nation in the development of neighborhood greenways and other innovative street designs. Its attention to detail for bicycle operations at intersections and other transition points is unmatched. Portland has several significant projects in the pipeline, including two new bridges over the Williamette River, a green lane on Williams, and proposed green lanes on NE Multnomah.

 

Updates from Portland GLP blogger Michael Andersen

• 3 reasons Portland retailers have embraced bike parking, April 24, 2013
• Race on wheels: 4 lessons for green lanes amid gentrification, April 9, 2013
• Portland retailers swoop into storefronts along bikeways, March 4, 2013
• Boxed in by politics, Portland tries a splash of color, Feb. 15, 2013
• Good bike access helps score great workers, Portland firm says, Jan. 21, 2013
• How economic growth sold Portland landlords on a bikeway, Jan. 6, 2013
• Three electronic tools that help build great bikeways, Dec. 7, 2012
• Standing up for bikes: four ideas from a Portland strategist, Nov. 19, 2012
• Protected bikeways are far safer than just paint, study shows, Oct. 24, 2012
• "Empowered Bureacracy": 7 questions for Portland's Roger Geller, Oct. 10, 2012
• What makes a great neighborhood greenway, Sept. 28, 2012
• Should neighborhood greenways count as quality bikeways?, Sept. 27, 2012
• Time-lapse video shows a beautiful intersection at work, Sept. 14, 2012
• How Portland won its crown -- and how to keep it, Sept. 4, 2012

 

The city of Portland, OR currently has the following green lanes:

SW Broadway
In 2009, the city of Portland built its first green lane on SW Broadway. The green lane is 0.33 miles long and runs from SW Clay to SW Jackson. It is on one side of the road and is separated by parked cars.

To learn more about the SW Broadway green lane, click here.

SW Moody
The city of Portland built a 0.60 mile two-way green lane on SW Moody in 2011. The green lane is separated by both curb and sidewalk and features protected signal phases at the entrance and exit.

To learn more about the SW Moody green lane, click here.

NE Cully Blvd.
In 2011, the city of Portland completed a 1.18 mile green lane on NE Cully Blvd. The green lane is one-way on each side of the road and is separated from traffic by parked cars and a mid-level grade.

To learn more about the SW Moody green lane, click here.

NE Multnomah St.
In 2012, the city of Portland completed a 1.22 mile green lane on NE Multnomah St. The green lane is one-way on each side of the road and is separated by flexible delineators, planters and a painted buffer. Green stripes were also painted at the intersections.

To learn more about the NE Multnomah St. green lane, click here.