Exciting New Buffered Bicycle Lanes Coming to River Drive in Columbia, S.C.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Exciting Changes Coming to River Drive!

Hey there, Columbia residents! If you’ve been driving around the Earlewood area, especially near North Main and River Drive, you might have noticed some changes happening. That’s right—get ready, because the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is adding new buffered bicycle lanes along River Drive, making it a lot more bicycle-friendly!

What’s Happening?

The addition of these bike lanes is based on recommendations from the City of Columbia’s Walk, Bike Columbia Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan. It’s all about making our streets safer and more accessible for cyclists as well as encouraging more people to hop on their bikes. After all, who doesn’t love a good bike ride?

Now, here’s a little background: SCDOT started resurfacing River Drive back in February as part of their regular maintenance schedule, and now they’re taking it a step further by installing those fancy buffered bike lanes. Once all the work is done, you’ll see how these lanes connect neighborhoods in northern Columbia to Broad River Road and the popular Three Rivers Greenway. Plus, it’s all leading up to the soon-to-be-designed Vista Greenway—talk about exciting developments!

What Do the New Lanes Look Like?

Curious about what to expect? Well, River Drive will now feature 11-foot-wide traffic lanes and 5-foot-wide bicycle lanes on both sides. But wait, there’s more! To keep cyclists safe, there will be 2-foot-wide striped buffers separating the vehicle lanes from the bike lanes. This means both cyclists and drivers can share the road more safely and comfortably.

After everything is completed, here’s something interesting to keep in mind: According to SC Code 1976, § 56-5-3425, motor vehicles will not be allowed to block the bike lane. It also says that drivers must yield to any cyclist riding in the bike lane before entering or crossing it. That’s right! No more cutting off those brave souls on their bicycles!

Important Guidelines for Cyclists and Drivers

Speaking of cyclists, it’s essential for them to ride in the designated bicycle lanes whenever possible. The only time they should move out of the bike lanes is when they need to pass another cyclist or avoid an obstacle. So, everyone can do their part to keep our roads safe!

Get the Info You Need!

If you’re itching to learn more about these amazing changes, you can dive into the details of the City of Columbia’s Walk, Bike Columbia Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan and all of the planning efforts they are undertaking. The comprehensive plan is designed to create a cleaner, safer, and more accessible environment for everyone in the community.

Before you know it, those bike lanes will be up and running, and we can’t wait to see everyone out enjoying the fresh air while cycling on the newly renovated River Drive. So, let’s wrap our heads around this: better lanes mean better connections, and that’s definitely something to celebrate!

Stay tuned for updates on this project and keep your biking game strong, Columbia. Happy cycling!