Committee backs sidewalk bicycle access at Randolph and Burick as part of Safe Routes plan

The Infrastructure and Facilities Committee voted 5-0 on March 13 to approve a proposal allowing bicycles to use the sidewalk at the corner connecting Randolph Street and Burick Avenue as described in the local Safe Routes to School plan.

A city staff presenter said a map was attached to the agenda proposing that bicycles be allowed to enter the sidewalk when turning from Randolph onto Burick, and that for westbound riders the plan calls for adding a 12-foot-wide driveway-style ramp to access the sidewalk. “For the most part we would use existing infrastructure except for westbound bikers. We were going to add a 12 foot wide, you know, driveway style ramp to get on the sidewalk and then they would enter back on the road using the parking lot driveway ramp,” the presenter said.

A motion to approve the change was made by Alder Larson and seconded by Alder Neal; the motion passed unanimously 5-0. Committee members said the proposal aligns with the Safe Routes to School plan and uses mostly existing infrastructure with a small ramp addition to improve safety and continuity for cyclists.

The committee did not set detailed design specifications or a construction schedule in committee; staff said further design work and coordination will follow once the policy decision moves forward. The approval means the recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for any final action required by ordinance or traffic regulation.

No formal objections were recorded in committee; members said they had discussed the proposal at an earlier meeting and were bringing it back after that earlier conversation.