More and more bikeways are popping up in Tacoma. They're a big hit with cyclists, but for drivers it's a bit confusing.
The city hopes a new safety campaign with a familiar slogan can get everyone on board. Instead of "This land is your land, this land is my land" the city is telling people "This lane is your lane."
After adding more than 13 miles of bikeways the city is now working to educate everyone on how to share the road. The improvements include a bike boulevard along Park Avenue, which is marked by sharrows, letting cars and bikes know they share the lane.
"A lot of people don't understand why you're on the road and they're not used to it" cyclist Noah Struthers says. Struthers is the Executive Director of the Second Cycle community bike shop, it's a non-profit that tries to get more Tacoma residents to choose two wheels instead of four.
"We're just working to demystify the bike here, take away the smoke and mirrors of bike mechanics and make it more accessible and understandable" he said. Struthers believes both the extra lanes and the education are making a difference.
Cyclists say a safer ride could bring more people out. Larry Victorino says riding his bike around Tacoma can get a little scary sometimes "the cars are whipping by you and it's dangerous."
The city has several cartoons that encourage cooperation between drivers and cyclists. It's a welcome message for cyclists like Kathy O'Toole "that would be a lot better to have more ways to get to work to get around to play that are safer."
Many of the lanes still seemed empty, Saturday afternoon, but something like this takes time and maybe a familiar jingle to get everyone rolling along. "It's your lane, my lane, everybody's lane... you have to learn how to share it" Struthers said.
For more information about 2nd Cycle, including classes and donating used bikes: http://www.2ndcycle.org/
