A Bike Master Plan developed by Williams & Works, along with community members, was approved Monday by the Hastings City Council with a general understanding that some details would be worked out before the plan for a more bike-friendly city is implemented.

Planner Lenee Wells of W&W, outlined specifics on the Bike Master Plan. Recommended by the city planning commission, the plan is posted on the city website, hastingsmi.org.

 

Wells stressed that the two-year pilot plan would not tear up streets, but put bike lanes in existing streets through striping, adapting different streets to different configurations depending on widths.

For example, a street with 19.5 feet of width could have driving lanes narrowed to 11.5 feet, still within standards for streets, and 4.5 foot bike lanes added on both sides. Driving lanes on other city streets would depend on widths. Some streets would lose residential parking on one side and some bike lanes would be between lines of traffic, bringing questions from the council.

 

Councilwoman Brenda McNabb-Stange supports the concept, but insisted that problems with young people and other cyclists not knowing or not obeying the rules of the road must be addressed before they roll out the plan. “We need to get over that hurdle before we implement  the entire city, to make it work for everyone.”

 

Wells stressed that they were open to modifying the plan to make bikers and drivers comfortable and will pursue an education and safety campaign, with safety first a motto.

“We will get real time feedback for the public and adjust accordingly,” Wells said. Enforcement will play a big part and education, possibly bike safety classes.