Seminole plans to build up convenience for cyclists
Over the next two decades, an increasing number of Seminole County residents will use their bicycles to get to work, go shopping, catch a SunRail train or simply for exercising, according to a transportation analysis commissioned by the county.
Although Seminole has nearly 60 miles of recreational trails, the county will face a serious need for more bicycle-only lanes or wider sidewalks on major roadways to provide bicyclists with a safer way to travel in the coming years.
Nearly 200 miles of county roads will be rated a level “F” in accommodating bicyclists because of the lack of lanes or space dedicated for two-wheelers, according to the report by the Orlando engineering firm CH2M looking toward transportation needs by 2040.
Most of the deficient roads are in the southwest portion of the county that includes the large Sweetwater Oaks and Wekiva neighborhoods and the commercial corridors of state roads 434 and 436.
“It’s about quality of life and the safety of all of our citizens,” Seminole Commissioner Bob Dallari said. “So what we’re starting to do is see which roads we can have bike sharing and bike lanes. … And we need to
start planning for that now.”
That comes as good news to David Houle, who owns D2 Cycling Center near Sanford and rides more than 300 miles a week on roads in Seminole, Volusia and Orange counties.
Wide bicycle lanes on roads help amateur bicyclists feel comfortable riding near traffic when they are not able to use a recreational trail, Houle said. He pointed to State Road 415 just east of Sanford, which has wide bike lanes along with an adjacent recreational trail.
“The wider the bike lane the better, and it’s safer because it gives the cyclist more space,” he said. “For the most seasoned bicyclists, we’re used to riding on the roads. But for the newer riders, it can be daunting out there because the cars can go by fast.”
Otherwise, bicyclists are forced to ride with traffic, as allowed by state law, on roads without bike lanes.
Roads ranked as not friendly for bicyclists in Seminole, according to the report, include Central Florida Parkway between Montgomery Road and Palm Springs Drive in Altamonte Springs. The two-mile stretch of asphalt runs by the Altamonte Mall and is surrounded by several residential neighborhoods.
Every day, nearly 24,000 cars and trucks use the parkway, most traveling at top speeds of nearly 50 mph. However, it lacks bicycle lanes or wide sidewalks, making it a frightening ride for bicyclists. By 2040, nearly 30,000 vehicles will use that road every day, according to the report’s projections.
Another byway in need of improvement is Maitland Avenue between the Orange County line near Maitland and S.R. 436 in Altamonte Springs. Used by nearly 18,000 vehicles a day, the roadway is surrounded by residential neighborhoods and professional offices but lacks bicycle lanes or wide sidewalks. Traffic is projected to nearly double in the next two decades.
Governments traditionally have made most road improvements to accommodate vehicles. Now, governments, including Seminole, are planning improvements to make them bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly, too, said Jean Jreij, Seminole’s public works director and county engineer.
“It is more than just about cars,” Jreij said. “It is pedestrian. It is bikes. It is transit.”
Seminole soon will begin adding wider sidewalks to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians along S.R. 436 between Ronald Reagan Boulevard and Interstate 4 in Altamonte Springs.
The county and Seminole cities also are considering adding more tunnels and walkways to help bicyclists and pedestrians get across busy roads.
Construction is scheduled to start in the coming years on a tunnel underneath busy S.R. 436 near Essex Avenue to help pedestrians and bicyclists reach the Altamonte Mall without having to cross nine lanes of the highway.
The cities of Casselberry and Sanford also are considering building pedestrian bridges over busy U.S. Highway 17-92.