We, the undersigned are residents and members of a coalition of sixteen cycling clubs in Weston Florida representing over a thousand enthusiastic cyclists and thousands of Weston, Florida residents seeking a safer community by widening the bike lanes in Weston from five feet in width to ten feet in width. Wider bike lanes are less likely to cause an accident, making a safer community. Bikers will be more likely to stay in the bike lanes, motorists will be less likely to drive into the bike lanes, and our community will be safer. 

The Weston bike lanes are used by thousands of cyclists weekly ranging from casual cyclists, devoted cyclists and cycling groups to children biking to school. The lane is also utilized and shared with walkers, runners, and maintenance crews. The bike lanes in Weston have become crowded. They also can have considerable debris blocking the bike lanes after thunderstorms. 

With the current five-foot-wide bike lanes, there is not enough room (lane width) in the bike lanes for faster cyclists to pass slower cyclists and others using the bike lanes or avoid debris and safety hazards without veering into the vehicle lane. Veering into vehicle traffic for cycling groups at high speed is inherently dangerous for both cyclists and motorists.  The cyclist in a fast-moving group has to turn his head around, losing sight in front, making the cyclist vulnerable to any obstacles in front of him or a sudden stop by the cyclist in front.  

Additionally, the current five-foot-wide lane forces cyclists in a group to ride at the edge of the bike lane very close to vehicle traffic. This provides very little margin of error for a distracted motorist to correct to avoid an accident.

The most current national bike lane design standard updated in 2019 by the National Association of City Transportation, “NACTO” Conventional Bike Lanes” recommends

“Bike lanes should be made wider than minimum widths wherever possible to provide space for bicyclists to ride side-by-side and in comfort “

NACTO’s design guidance point #6 recommends a bike lane of 7 feet plus a buffer area:

”Where bicyclist volumes are high, bicyclist speed differentials are significant, or where side-by-side riding is desired, the desired bicycle travel width is 7 feet.” (plus the buffer width) “

NACTO latest design guidance for cycling activity similar to Weston is a 7 foot wide bike lane and a buffer area, see . Buffered Bike Lanes.

We are advocating a similar bike lane design as recommended by NACTO for a twenty-mile cycling loop in Weston with a ten-foot-wide bike lane, including rumble strips outside the bike lane as well as a four-foot-wide bicycle passing lane (buffer area) inside the ten-foot-wide bike lane. The bike passing lane (buffer) shall be marked with 2 solid white lines and interior diagonal cross hatching or chevron markings to comply with NACTO safety standards. We are also advocating for an expanded fifteen foot wide right turning lane. The twenty-mile loop should have the least intersections and vehicular traffic as possible and provide for only right-hand turns. The ten-foot-wide lane with rumble strips and a four foot wide bicycle passing lane (buffer area) with 2 solid white lines and interior diagonal cross hatching or chevron markings  will encourage cyclists to remain at least four feet from the vehicle lane, providing ample opportunity for distracted drivers to correct themselves avoiding accidents, and room for faster cyclists to pass slower traffic in the bike passing lane or move around debris while remaining in the bike lane.  The fifteen-foot-wide turning lanes will allow cycling groups to safely make right hand turns without leaving the bike lane. 

Every resident in Weston will benefit from a safer bike lane. Currently motorists in Weston are uncomfortable with cyclists being close to vehicles and forced to frequently veer into the vehicle lane. A better bike lane will make driving and cycling in Weston safer and more enjoyable, make Weston the number one cycling community in the country and most importantly will save lives! 

We, the undersigned, would appreciate a meeting with the commission to discuss improving the bike lanes in Weston at the Commission’s earliest convenience. Our contact person is David G.      with Wild Hogs Cycling Group at petition@wildhogscycle.com.

Sincerely,

The Undesigned,

Residents of Weston, FL

Weston FL Cycling Group Members: