JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Action News Jax investigates the local lane change forcing bikers to ride in the same lane as buses.
Bikers we spoke to say there is not enough space in the downtown lane for both buses and bikers. One video shows a biker getting hit by a bus in Riverside in 2011. Another video from last November shows a Jacksonville Transportation Authority bus driving in a bike lane. That driver was disciplined.
Scenes like that have bikers like Max Oscar worried about the new change downtown.
"I've seen people get hurt. ... This is too dangerous for everybody," said Oscar.
They were put in by JTA, a spokesperson says, only after drivers went through extensive training on driving safely with bikers. Jacksonville is known for being a dangerous place already for bikers and pedestrians. According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, last year in Duval County there were 299 crashes involving bicyclists and three people died.
It's why the city is paying $250,000 to consultants to come up with a plan to change the trend. Andy Clarke is one of them.
"It's not a solution you can use everywhere," said Clarke.
Clarke says these sharrows are used in other big cities.
"It's a helpful reminder that buses and bikes are supposed to be in the same lane," said Clarke.
JTA also says it is evaluating whether more of these types of lanes should go in other parts of the city. Right now they're only downtown on Broad and Jefferson streets.
Cox Media Group
