Iowa City council approves protected bike lane pilot on Dodge and Governor streets

The Iowa City Council voted 7–0 June 16 to approve a protected bike lane pilot on Dodge Street (Brown–Market) and Governor Street (Brown–Jefferson), authorizing a project designed to physically separate cyclists from vehicles and test maintenance and operations before larger corridor work. The estimated construction cost is $150,000 and bids are due July 7, with award planned July 14 and installation anticipated in August–September 2026.

Senior engineer Ali Demirci of Public Works said the pilot will upgrade existing 6‑foot bike lanes and 2‑foot buffers with flexible delineators, low‑profile curbing to prevent vehicle encroachment, ‘‘floating’’ bus stops that allow boarding without blocking the bike lane, and green pavement markings to increase visibility. ‘‘This project will upgrade the existing buffered bike lanes along Dodge and Governor one‑way pair with the following physical improvements,’’ Demirci said, adding the pilot will require coordination among streets, parks, resource management, and transportation services for routine maintenance such as snow clearing and delineator replacement.

Council members pressed staff on operations, notably winter maintenance. Demirci said the lanes are intended to remain year‑round and described a two‑stage snow‑removal approach — plowing the street and then using smaller brush equipment in the bike lane — with the parks department handling bike‑lane clearing. He noted the lanes could be removed and reinstalled later if Dodge Street is reconstructed in 2028.

Councilors also asked about durability and replacement. Demirci said flexible bollards are bolted to pavement and ‘‘they can get hit quite a few times before they need a replacement,’’ but that spares will be ordered and some floating‑bus‑stop components have longer lead times because they are imported and modular.

The council and staff outlined how success will be measured: internal metrics (maintenance calls, bollard replacements, transit boarding performance, snow‑operations costs and staff hours) and public feedback from bicyclists and other road users. Sarah (transit staff) told council that usage data is limited for the corridors now and that the pilot's primary purpose is to test operations and maintenance in Iowa City conditions before extending protected facilities further downtown and westward.

Local cyclist Shawn McRoberts, speaking during the public hearing, expressed support: ‘‘I bike regularly commuting to work on Jefferson, Market, and Dodge. I’m eager for the expanded program upon a successful pilot,’’ he said.

The council approved the resolution after the public hearing, 7–0. Bids are due July 7 and award is expected July 14; staff estimate construction will occur in August and September 2026. The pilot will inform whether protected lanes are retained until reconstruction and whether the design is extended on Market, Jefferson or other corridors.

Next steps: city staff will post the bid, order spare parts for maintenance, and return with results and operational lessons following the pilot.