On Thursday morning, city officials, community members and local cyclist groups gathered to celebrate the new bike lanes connecting Texas Tech University to the Canyon lakes Parks System.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held to celebrate the completion of the bike lakes downtown in which city officials thanked contractors, Imagine Lubbock, community members and the West Texas Cycling Association for helping the concept come to fruition.
The bicycle lanes along Broadway are part of the Complete Streets Program which aims to improve safety for all modes of transportation. Mayor Dan Pope spoke at Thursday’s event and said he hopes the installation of the new bike lanes will help to promote a sense of unity and encourage downtown revitalization.
“Many of my neighbors ride their bike to work. That’s what they choose to do, that’s fine, that’s not what I choose to do, but it’s part of living in communities is that we’re different,” said Mayor Pope. “And the strength of our differences, our differences is what makes us strong, okay? So, I’m very supportive of this, and this is just phase one.”
“This is essentially our first major bike lane in Lubbock, and we’re proud to open it up, and hopefully see bicyclists utilize these lanes and provide a better safe alternative for bicyclists in Lubbock,” said Wood Franklin, the City of Lubbock Director of Public Works.
Franklin said plans are currently in the works to install more bike lanes throughout the city.
A reminder for community members: as a result of the added bike lanes, lanes going up and down Broadway have been narrowed and reduced to one, with a continuous left lane in the middle.