As more residents and students in Lexington choose to bike for transportation to and from school, sports practices, and around town, our town should continue to work to make bicycle travel safer. While our town leaders have already made progress improving bike lanes, there is still work to be done where cyclists must navigate unsafe conditions.
The town should prioritize safe bike routes near our elementary, middle, and high schools. To do this, green protected bike lanes similar to those in Arlington should be installed, pavement should be improved on popular cycling routes, and clearer signs should be placed near busy intersections. These changes would help reduce accidents while encouraging more residents to choose biking instead of driving for short trips.
The addition of clearer bike lanes along busy roads could reduce car traffic in Lexington. The presence of fewer cars on the road could reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and make our neighborhoods healthier and more connected. Bike lanes also give students, young children, and older adults a safer way to get around town.
Lexington is a community that values safe outdoor recreation and sustainability. By continuing to improve our town’s bike network, we invest in a practical change that will make our town safer and more enjoyable for all.
Tate Aldridge
Lexington Student and Scout
Thank you, Tate Aldridge, for raising awareness of a very important topic. I would like to add a few points for walkers along with your thoughtful advocacy about safer biking around town.
I have been an avid walker in Lexington almost a decade now. I work at LPS and always walk to school and back home, regardless of the time of the year. What was once a solitary path quickly turned into a lively community. Student walker population significantly raised over the years. I would absolutely Thank the town officials for trying their best for keeping our roads safe for walkers and bikers. There are still a few challenges we can tackle just to encourage year round walking and biking. During winter months, it remains a bit of a challenge to access the side walks, especially after a heavy snow storm. I often have to walk on the main streets along with oncoming vehicle traffic. I could imagine an easy commute for people like me and the bikers could be done by pre-treating pavements, enforcing parking bans, and prioritizing emergency routes for people like me and for the biker population in our town. Happy summer to all the fellow walkers and bikers!