TRAVERSE CITY — A new Grand Traverse Safe Streets Alliance has been formed to promote safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists in the region.
Local advocacy groups enlisted in the alliance include TART Trails, the Cherry Capital Cycling Club, Norte, Groundworks, the Disability Network of Northern Michigan, the Traverse City Track Club, and the League of Michigan Bicyclists.
The Alliance aims to promote the development of safe and effective non-motorized transportation and pedestrian corridors in Traverse City and adjacent counties.
“Our representatives will be attending all applicable Traverse City and county meetings to provide input and support upgrades to transportation projects,” Vice President of the Cherry Capital Cycling Club Rick Venner said.
The US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices defines bike lanes as “a portion of the roadway which has been designated by striping, signing and pavement marking for the preferential or exclusive use by bicyclists.”
In general, this designated lane helps many bicyclists feel more comfortable on a roadway and helps motorists expect to see cyclists and predict their movements.
In appreciation and support of Traverse City’s pedestrian culture, the City Commission added the ability for safety officers to issue a civil infraction to vehicle drivers who fail to stop for pedestrians in marked crosswalks.
Communities that have similar requirements to stop for pedestrians in marked crosswalks include, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and the entire states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina, Florida, Nebraska, Minnesota, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii and Washington D.C. require drivers to stop for pedestrians in marked crosswalks.
“By fostering collaboration, innovation, and education, the Alliance can help support safe, accessible, connected, and inclusive non-motorized transportation networks for cyclists, pedestrians, runners and commuters,” CEO of TART Trails Julie Clark said. “Together, and with wise investment, we will strengthen our community’s health, drive smart economic development, and protect our cherished cultural and natural resources.”
Norte’s Executive Director Jill Sill said increasing safety along with accessibility for riders and pedestrians, especially in high-traffic areas, is key.
“At Norte, our programs take place on the trails, pathways, and streets of our region,” Sill said. “We see firsthand the locations that are easily accessible and those where access is limited or sometimes unsafe. The formation of the Alliance is timely and will provide an intentional and collaborative space to prioritize focus areas, unite our efforts, and amplify our impact. We will improve and increase non-motorized accessibility, directly contributing to happier, healthier, and stronger communities.”
Members of the various groups in the Grand Traverse Safe Streets Alliance will also be encouraged to give their full support to local initiatives that promote car-free corridors and infrastructure in the region.
For more information on the alliance contact Venner at 231-499-1929 or vicepresident@cherrycapitalcyclingclub.org .
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