The Centre Region has an extensive bikeway network. The major deficiency of the network, and the factor preventing its function as a coherent bicycle transportation system is its failure to connect bikeways coming from the periphery into the downtown Central Business District and the Penn State campus. This deficiency is the most common complaint heard from local cyclists, and is the reason for not riding cited most frequently by would-be bike commuters who are not comfortable cycling on congested downtown streets without on-road bicycle facilities. Centre Region Bicycle Coalition presents this proposal to the Borough of State College for resolving the deficiencies and transforming our disparate bicycle facilities into a true transportation system. The elements of the plan include:
- A bike/bus only lane on College Avenue to be created by removing parking on the campus side of the street. The lane would connect to the bikeway from Lemont when it is developed by College Township . It would extend to the west of Atherton Street to serve the West Village as it develops. This facility will improve both transit and bicycle travel downtown, and will enhance the capacity of College Avenue by creating three travel lanes, two of which are free of buses. This project could be accompanied by widening of the sidewalk on the south (downtown) side of College Ave.
- A bike lane on Beaver Avenue from the Ferguson Township boundary to the College Township boundary.
- Creation of a westbound bike lane on Calder Alley to allow bikes, but not cars, could go both directions. Such contraflow bicycle traffic on one-way streets is in successful use in several cities in the U.S. and Canada . Alternatively, reversing the direction of one way traffic on Calder would accommodate eastbound bicycle traffic on Calder with westbound traffic on College Avenue .
- Extension of the Garner Street bike lanes to College Avenue to connect with the Shortlidge Street bike lanes currently in planning by PSU.
- Bike Lanes on Burrowes Street to connect with the planned PSU Burrowes bike lanes.
