Better Biking Facilities, More Education Needed

Bicycling in Kootenai County can provide exercise, family recreation and a way to reduce motorized traffic. However, the attitude of motorists towards bicyclists, the inappropriate actions of some bicyclists and the lack of safe, bikeable routes prevent many from using this alternate means of transportation.

Bicycles are vehicles under Idaho law. As such, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. Bicyclists can travel on the roadway and are not required to use sidewalks, bike lanes, or trails if they are deemed unsafe by the cyclist.

The bicycling community also must comply with the laws. Organized group or club rides must set an example of compliant riding techniques. If cyclists demonstrate compliant and courteous riding habits, the motorized community may more readily accept cyclists.

Bicyclists can be broken into three categories: casual, recreational and competitive. Casual cyclists are beginners and families where multiple-use trails and sidewalks are ideal locations. Recreational and competitive cyclists, however, are going at higher speeds and longer distances and are vehicles requiring roadway types of facilities. As vehicles under Idaho law, they must share the road.

Driving a car and bicycling involve risk, but the risk is significantly higher for a bicyclist. Sharing the road requires both bicyclists and motorists to use due care when using roadways. Consideration and courtesy by both motorists and cyclists are a far better solution than the verbal confrontations commonly encountered.

Although Idaho law does not require helmets, they clearly are lifesavers. All crash survivors will tell you that their helmet saved their lives.

Bicyclists try to pick low speed and volume routes and avoid high-speed, main arterial roadways. Few adequate bike facilities exist in Kootenai County. A brief review of some existing facilities will provide a recreational cyclists perspective on specific sites in the county:

Government Way (recent construction between Locust and Harrison) This is an example of a properly designed roadway with bike lanes on both sides of a four-lane road. The obvious problem is that the bike lanes terminate at Harrison and Locust.

Centennial Trail from Mullan to Higgens Point. It is a good example of a well-planned, multiple-use trail. It works for westbound cyclists since it has a barrier between the trail and the roadway. Coming west down the hill towards town, cyclists will exceed 25 mph and will correctly elect to use the roadway.

Bike path along U.S. Highway 95 (Appleway to Garwood). This is a well-intended, multiple-use trail that serves walkers, rollerbladers, and casual cyclists. It is inadequate for recreational and competitive cyclists due to the numerous road crossings.

Fourth and 15th streets provide an example of a poorly designed facility. It serves as a sidewalk in a school area and is an inadequate bike lane. The section of Fourth near Honeysuckle and Prairie is a nightmare for any cyclist trying to use the sidewalk/bike lane. When cyclists try to use a sidewalk or trail, they in effect become a pedestrian. It is not safe for a cyclist to use the sidewalk/bike lane when traveling north, since it puts the cyclist on the side facing traffic. And 15th has a similar problem with a single shoulder paved for use as a bike lane and sidewalk.

Prairie Avenue west of state Highway 41 and Lancaster east of Highway 95 provide a comparison of speed limits and road conditions. Prairie Avenue is a relatively flat and wide road with a posted speed limit of 35 mph. However, Lancaster is hilly, curvy and narrow with a posted speed limit of 50 mph. Lancaster has become a very high-risk road for bicyclist!

Hopefully, better coordination, cooperation, education and courtesy will improve the bikeability of Kootenai County.