This is what I'd like to see on Northwest Ave.: a 'cycle track'

Bikeportland notes that the City of Portland recently completed a 0.6 mile-long separated bike lane, their first example of a physically separate, bike-only, on-street cycle track. It's the kind of thing Copenhagen is known for.

(Photo © J. Maus)

Key features:

• Made of concrete to contrast with the asphalt street
• Raised above the street like a sidewalk
• Parking area between the street and the track as a buffer
• Cycle track is for bikes only; pedestrians get their own sidewalk

The Bikeportland article also notes the importance of the pavement markings for clarity on how to use the thing.

With the project to add bike lanes and other enhancements to Northwest/Elm/Dupont being designed this summer, I hope Bellingham's engineers can incorporate these great ideas into their final plans.

(Via Seattle Bike Blog)