Lexington-Euclid Avenue
Despite being the home of the University of Kentucky (UK), Lexington was a city bereft of bike lanes and sidewalks. When students, university staff and other residents called for more facilities for biking, the city was responsive to their needs.
In 2000 the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet created a plan for expanding an 0.8-mile stretch of Euclid Avenue from four lanes to five. City officials, however, had other ideas, fearing that increased speeds and traffic loads would make the street even worse for pedestrians and bicyclists. Euclid, which neighbors the UK campus and passes through residential and commercial districts, was seen as an ideal launch venue for a new commitment to bicycle and pedestrian-friendly design. In conjunction with UK.s Department of Civil Engineering, the city came up with a plan to reduce the amount of lanes to three while adding bike lanes.
The plan was developed and finalized with extensive public input, with citizens proffering suggested plan changes and lobbying the Transportation Cabinet. The Cabinet was receptive to the suggestions, and implemented the city.s plan in 2000. In 2004, the city decided to extend the bike-friendly section of the street.
Goal
Making Lexington More Bike-Friendly