News Headlines

Plan Looks At Protected Bike Lane

Changes could be coming for the area between Downtown Omaha and Midtown. It's something that hasn't been seen before in the metro.

Posted: $util.date("h:mm a MMM d, yyyy",$story.contentLiveDate,$timeZone)
Reporter: Jake Wasikowski

Plans Look At Protected Bike Lane

Changes could be coming for the area between Downtown Omaha and Midtown. It's something that hasn't been seen before in the metro.

What would it be like having an entire lane to bike from Downtown Omaha to Midtown? At Heyday on May Day, hundreds gathered to show the impact that adding a two-way protected bike lane would have on Omaha. It would keep two traffic lanes and add a tree filled median as a buffer.

"Imagine if this was like this all the time. Connecting groups of people, connecting people in the city with different groups in the area that care about these types of things," said Sarah Johnson, the event organizer.

The city says they know they have the capacity on Harney Street, and the potential is great for development to occur.

"This is the kind of active streetscape that we're talking about, people doing business. That's what it's all about economic development, welfare, quality of life, I think it's very possible," said Rick Cunningham the Planning Director with the City of Omaha.

The city says a feasibility study will likely start this year. It will look at the cost, safety, engineering to see if a bike lane could work.