A new protected bikeway is coming to Silver Spring. We recently got a better idea of what it will look like.

Image from Montgomery County.

At a recent public meeting, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation shared three maps (1, 2, 3) and details about the project, which will start construction this spring. The bikeway will be an important link between bike lanes, trails, and the Purple Line in the Silver Spring area.

A pair of one-way separated bike lanes will run on either side of Spring and Cedar Streets, stretching 0.8 miles from Second Avenue to Wayne Avenue. Because travel lanes are wider than necessary on this corridor, the bikeway will fit into the street without removing any travel lanes and only removing a few parking spaces.

Map of the proposed separated bike lanes. Image from Montgomery County.

The bikeway will be primarily protected by parking spaces, a painted buffer, and flexposts. At intersections, bike boxes, green paint, and two-stage queue boxes will make it easier for cyclists to safely turn to/from the bikeway.

Bikeway intersection. Image from Montgomery County.

However, at some intersections there will be mixing zones where vehicle traffic must cross over the bikeway to turn right. Similar mixing zones on the L Street protected bike lane in DC have been called confusing and dangerous.

One unique element of the plan is floating bus stops. Medians between the bikeway and the roadway will serve as bus stops, providing another form of separation between the bikeway and the roadway, and curbing possible conflicts between cyclists and buses.

Bikeway mixing zones and floating bus stop. Image from Montgomery County.

Once this project is finished, Montgomery County will have 1.6 miles of protected bikeways, passing Arlington County’s current total of 0.7 miles. Planning is underway for additional bikeways in White Flint, Shady Grove, and other parts of Silver Spring.

Montgomery County is taking comments on the project until February 19th.

Canaan Merchant was born and raised in Powhatan, Virginia and attended George Mason University where he studied English. He became interested in urban design and transportation issues when listening to a presentation by Jeff Speck while attending GMU. He lives in Reston.