License plates fund bicycle safety efforts
Have you noticed those colorful Kentucky license plates with two cyclists and a runner that say “Share the Road?”
I was happy to be one of the first to buy one a couple of years ago. They’ve turned out to be quite popular, both because they’re attractive and because more people are willing to pay a little extra to support cycling, running and walking as ways to have fun, get fit and stay healthy.
Money raised from the specialty plate fee was intended to fund safety efforts, and soon it will. Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo joined Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry and other officials Thursday to announce that the state is putting $63,000 raised from the plates into a foundation that will fund bicycle and pedestrian safety projects.
The money will go to the Kentucky Bicycle and Bikeway Commission for its Paula Nye Memorial Education Grant program. The program is named for Nye, who was the state’s bicycle and pedestrian coordinator for five years before she died of cancer in 2005. Grant applications are available on the commission’s Web site.
Newberry also announced that 40 “Share the Road” signs will be posted soon on Fayette County roads that are frequented by cyclists. The state Transportation Department will pay for 20, and the other 20 will be paid for by the city, with help from the local cycling community. The city, thanks to a state grant, also plans a safety education campaign next year that will include additional signs.
“Lexington is committed to being the most bike-friendly city in the state,” Newberry said.
He noted that Lexington completed 13 off-road trail segments totaling seven miles this year and will begin 10 more, totaling more than 17 miles, next year. Much of the money is coming from grants. The city also is working to add bike lanes to streets as they are resurfaced, and Newberry said six of Lexington’s nine major arterial roads now have bike lanes.
It’s great to see government leaders “get it” when it comes to cycling and fitness. Thanks to Newberry and the Urban County Council — with leadership from Jay McChord, Tom Blues and Chuck Ellinger — a lot of progress has been made in the past couple of years.
As a physician and mountain biker, Mongiardo not only understands it, but he sees an economic opportunity for Kentucky. The state’s backroads and woodland trails already attract many road and mountain bikers from other states. Mongiardo sees an expanded trail system as key to creating a major “adventure tourism” industry in Kentucky.
Speaking of trails: Lexington’s Board of Adjustment meets Friday at 1 p.m. in the Council chambers to again consider approval of a land swap between the University of Kentucky and Vulcan Materials. That swap is essential to plans for the nine-mile Legacy Trail from downtown to the Kentucky Horse Park. At a lightly attended hearing last month, the deal lost approval on a 2-2 vote amid concerns that Vulcan’s limestone mining in the area might hurt the local water supply. Those concerns seem unfounded, and I’m guessing the land swap will win approval this time. But it still wouldn’t hurt for backers of the Legacy Trail to come out to show support.
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