Like many other local communities, Garner is moving forward with its desire to become more bike-friendly. The Town of Garner’s Transportation Plan suggests that bicycling is an effective way to get around many areas of town. However, it also notes the need for Garner to develop a system of greenways and roadways that are suitable for pedestrians and bicycling. Implementing the Town’s vision for a Bikeway Plan for the Garner community will take time, but the installation of “Share the Road” signs certainly helps move Garner forward in the process of becoming more bike-friendly.

In the fall of 2008, Town staff were contacted by a group of area cyclists who offered their assistance and support in efforts to petition the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to install “Share the Road” signs on major roads and thoroughfares in the Garner area. The group also helped identify recommended sign locations around the community.

It did take some time for NCDOT to approve the request and install the signs, but thirteen signs are now installed in locations on West Garner Road, Hammond Road, Old Stage Road, Timber Drive, Ten-Ten Road, NC50, White Oak Road, East Garner Road, and Jones Sausage Road.

The project cost was approximately $2,200, which was paid for with funds from NCDOT’s Bicycle Transportation Improvement Program.

As children and adults desire to move around town on foot and bicycles, and as more people take to the road on two wheels, it is important to support their desire to use this type of transportation and their safety. Bicycling is a healthy, economical and environmentally friendly mode of transportation. In North Carolina and all US states, pedestrians and cyclists have a legal, constitutionally protected right to access every destination reachable by vehicles on all public roads.

The Town of Garner hopes the “Share the Road” signs will raise driver awareness of bicyclist on the road and their desire to follow the same traffic laws as other vehicles as they engage in safe, courteous and cooperative travel on Garner’s roadways and thoroughfares.

If you would like to find out more about bicycling groups in the Garner area, contact Mike Rogers at mrezriders@gmail.com or Jim Bell at Jim.Bell@arcadis-us.com.