City of Mobile installs bike safety signs

Jul 6th, 2017

Mobile, Ala. - Mayor Sandy Stimpson and members of the Mobile City Council today unveiled the first of a series of traffic signs designed to create a safer environment for bicyclers on city streets.

Stimpson and council members Joel Daves and John Williams helped to install the road sign on Old Shell Road, reminding drivers to allow three feet between their vehicles and bicyclists when passing.

"Our mission is to make Mobile more bikeable and walkable," said Mayor Stimpson. "This is an important step toward our goal of becoming the safest city in America."

The sign is the first of 24 to be installed across the city. State law requires that drivers must allow for at least three feet when passing a bicyclist on the road.

"These signs are an important step in making Mobile more bike friendly for all our citizens - whether they ride to get to and from school or work, for fitness or fun," said Councilman Daves.

"These signs and increased awareness of the law will make our roads safer for everyone," said Councilman Williams.

City officials were joined by representatives from Mobile's biking community who worked closely with the city on the project.

"This is a great example of the positive outcomes that can occur when city leaders, planners, engineers and public safety officials collaborate with the cycling community," said local biking enthusiast Corinna Luce. "We are excited that the city is embracing the five 'E's' in order to protect people on bikes: Education, engineering, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation."

Jenn Greene of the Delta Bike Project said the signs will complement ongoing initiatives to improve safety for bikers in Mobile.

"Installation of these signs and other efforts that we partner with the City on - like bike racks and bicycle repair stations - greatly improve education and cycling infrastructure in our community," said Greene. "These specifically serve the low wealth community that is 80 percent of the population that we serve at the Delta Bike Project."

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