COVINGTON, Ky. — For bicyclists in Northern Kentucky, every turn comes with challenges — especially on the 4th and 11th Street bridges between Newport and Covington.
"I travel across those bridges on my bike. I worry, I worry that I'm going to get hit," bicyclist Carl Fox said. "I feel like there are times I’ve been purposely intimidated, I’ll put it that way.”
After Gloria San Miguel was killed while riding her bike with her partner along the 11th Street Bridge on Aug. 20, Devou Good Foundation presented a solution to protect cyclists by creating a barrier wall and protected bike line. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet originally only responded by offering to paint "share the road" on the road. Now, state and city leaders have agreed to do more.
KYTC met with Covington and Newport officials Wednesday, signing off on a plan to install 'qwick kurbs' on the bridge. The northernmost lane of the bridge going westbound from Newport to Covington will be taken away and made a protected two-way bike lane.
"(It's) a huge step forward in safety," Devou Good Foundation president Matt Butler said. "Both cities and KYTC have supported. We commend them for taking this big bold step. The first one is always the hardest. So yeah, this is huge for this to happen — and it'll happen quickly too."
Statistics gathered by the Devou Good Foundation show some drivers on the 11th Street Bridge go as fast as 67 miles per hour, more than twice the posted speed limit. Butler said the change will help more than just bicyclists in the area.
"It’ll give them their own safe space, including people on wheels and walking as well," Butler said. "It’ll push cars that much further away from the sidewalk as well."
Before the foundation laid its plan out to the city, advocates spoke at Covington City Hall Tuesday about the need for bike safety on the bridges. One by one, bicyclists pushed for change.
Jake Lee read a message penned by San Miguel's significant other.
"Every time the door opens at the house, Luna thinks it's her mother. Every time she sees a group of cyclists, she asks, 'Is one of them mom?'" Lee read. "Every time Luna sees a picture of Gloria, she says I can't wait for mom to get home from work. Think of your family, and about the families in this community that ride or walk on a daily basis. I'm begging you to do what's necessary to make these roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
"The fact is that this problem won't go away. The longer we ignore it, the more our community will get hurt, or worse, never come home."
Covington commissioners said the message was heard.
"Seeing you all here speak this passionately ignites a flame for us to advocate that much harder when we go to the state with the plans we'll talk about tomorrow," commissioner Shannon Smith said.
Leaders will file a permit through KYTC, which could take about three to four weeks. The lane would be installed shortly after. The Devou Good Foundation is covering the cost.
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