Irvine’s First Class IV Protected Bikeway is Now Open

 
A Class IV protected bikeway is one that is not defined by just a stripe or other painted markings but is physically separated from the auto traffic on the road, in this case by a small raised median separating the bike lane from the passing cars.

“The addition of a Class IV lane to Irvine’s vast bikeway and trail system is what will continue to set the City of Irvine apart as a premier bike destination,” said Mayor Farrah N. Khan.

The new bike lane is open to all bicycle types, including e-bikes.

The implications of the new lane are potentially large. Irvine has some 286 miles of on-street bikeways, but bicyclists in the City have long made the point at various public hearings and other forums that a major factor discouraging bicycle use in the City is the unnerving proximity of fast-moving auto traffic, especially on major roads.

The protected bike lane is intended to encourage bike use by allaying these fears with real safety protections that will reduce auto-bicycle accidents.

Reducing car trips and their emissions of greenhouse gases is a major goal in the City’s ambitious Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), and encouraging bicycling is one strategy being brought to bear.

Another strategy is electrifying the City’s vehicle fleet, and also debuting this week is the City’s first electric street sweeper, pointing the way toward maintaining Irvine’s streets — and bikeways — in an environmentally friendly way.