The Ocean City Council this week criticized the state’s plan to convert a portion of the bus lane into a dedicated bike lane ahead of the summer season.
Ocean City officials say they will send a letter opposing a pilot project to convert a portion of Ocean City’s bus lane into a dedicated bike path.
During a biannual update from the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA), the City Council on Tuesday voted to send a letter of opposition regarding a plan to test the bus lane conversion on Philadelphia Avenue this summer
The council’s opposition to the project was unanimous, with members agreeing that it would pose safety risks to bicyclists and pedestrians as well as motorists and bus users.
“I think it’s not a very well thought out idea,” Councilman Larry Yates told SHA District 1 Engineer Mark Crampton this week.
As proposed, buses would be moved into the slow lane of the highway to make room for a dedicated bike lane. Buses would then pick up riders from a “floating” bus stop located between the slow lane and the dedicated bike lane.