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Resident urges removal of ‘sharrows’ on downtown streets, calls for dedicated bike lanes
Summary
A Manitowoc resident asked the council to remove shared‑lane markings (sharrows) on Maritime Drive, Quay Street and South 8th Street, saying they are confusing and potentially dangerous and urging the city to adopt dedicated downtown bike lanes instead.
At the public‑input portion of the meeting, Jacob Pusto of 1423 North 3rd Street asked the council to remove shared‑lane markings (commonly called “sharrows”) from Maritime Drive, Quay Street and South 8th Street and to pursue dedicated bicycle lanes downtown.
Pusto said multiple studies show sharrows do not make streets safer because they do not provide physical separation from motor vehicles and because inconsistent layout and abrupt endings can confuse both cyclists and drivers. He cited specific local concerns, saying a marked path on South 8th Street ends before the drawbridge but after a crosswalk leaving no safe continuation and that an eastbound path on Maritime Drive starts and stops in ways he described as unsafe and confusing.
“These symbols ... are potentially dangerous to any cyclist,” Pusto told the council. “I just want to see Manitowoc adopt more cycling friendly infrastructure, such as designated bike lanes, especially downtown.”
The council received the comment; no formal action or vote on striping or redesign was taken during the meeting. Pusto noted cycling on the sidewalk remains an option but said he does not want that to impede pedestrian traffic. The transcript shows the matter was raised as public input and may be referred to the appropriate committee or staff for follow up.
