Chamber of Young Professionals looking to make Owensboro safer for bikers

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) – In Owensboro, there’s a push to make the city safer for bikers and pedestrians.

The Chamber of Young Professionals have unveiled a plan to build more bike lanes across the city.

“There’s a need for it. A big need for it,” said cyclist Larry Myles.

For Be Real Sports bike and repair shop owner Larry Myles, cycling is his life. He says the biking infrastructure in Owensboro needs updating.

“It’s, uhhh, I would say behind… we have the green belt which is good, but that’s not a bike lane,” said Myles.

Over the years, he says he’s lost several friends to bike accidents.

“It’s hard to compete with a three thousand pound distracted driver,” Myles said.

Chamber of Young Professionals Community Development Chair Jared Revlett is working to make sure cyclists like Myles can feel safe on the roads having fun or commuting to work.

“This project is to really try and make those things accessible to more types of people,” said Revlett.

Revlett says the chamber made the proposal with information gathered from a survey of more than 200 people in town.

“We took all that information and tried to find some ways in areas that already exist, safer, more accessible, but also try to urge the city to add more painted bike lanes,” said Revlett.

Many of the city’s busiest bike routes are marked only by signs with no designated bike lane clearly visible to drivers.

Kentucky law dictates drivers have to provide at least three feet of space to bikers in the road, but Myles says there’s very little awareness.

“That’s our lane, and I just don’t think a lot of folks know that,” said Myles.

Revlett says part of the chamber’s plan will include raising awareness for these road safety laws, as well as installing 10 self-service repair stations across the city.

Revlett and the Chamber of Young Professionals will present their proposal at a transportation planning meeting next week.

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