BOISE, Idaho — Investments into downtown Boise will benefit all commuters upon completion, according to Boise City Council Member Jimmy Hallyburton.
The 11th Street Rebuild project is a glimpse of what to expect for cyclists - protected bike lanes to separate traffic from cyclists. Building bike infrastructure to make all levels comfortable riding is important to encourage use by more than just the most confident cyclists.
"There's 60% of people who want to ride their bicycles more, but they're too nervous to do it," Hallyburton said. "2023 was probably the deadliest year for bicycle pedestrian fatalities in Ada County's history."
Ada County Highway District (ACHD) manages roads in the City of Boise. The two agencies have not always been on the same page; bike accessibility is now a shared value to keep both on the same page.
"When we're talking about transportation, we're talking about transportation for all users, people who are driving, people who are taking the bus, people who are walking in people who are biking," Hallyburton said. "Speed kills. So, if somebody gets hit going over 20 miles per hour, their likelihood of surviving is really, really small."
New Boise intersections often have very sharp corners. That right turn requires drivers to slow down rather than maintaining a fast speed through a more rounded turn and increasing risk.
The Boise Bicycle Project (BBP) supports protected bike lanes as a template forward in the capitol city, according to BBP Advocacy Director Nina Pienaar. New Boise roads are made of concrete, according to Hallyburton. These projects are expected to last 50 years, he said.
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