Moses Lake greets 'sharrows' with bike ride, activities

MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake community helped usher in a new era of sharrows over the weekend.

In late April, the city painted about 70 of the symbols in the right lane of traffic on many downtown streets, notifying drivers and bicyclists the road has space for both.

The sharrows, or "shared lane pavement markings," can be seen along Third Avenue, Fourth Avenue and Balsam Street, connecting existing bike lanes on East and West Broadway Avenue.

Dozens of families brought their bikes down to the street in front of the Moses Lake Civic Center Saturday morning for "Chevys and Schwinns Sharing the Road," an all ages event incorporating a kids' bike rodeo, art projects, raffles and helmet give-aways.

Debbie Talbot stood with her son, Hunter, who was waiting for a helmet fitting. Talbot said Hunter has been active in BMX racing for about five years and they came out to support the city's effort to provide better networks for healthy activities.

"It's great to see more kids on bikes enjoying outdoor activities, not just sitting in front of the TV," Talbot said.

Avi Medel was there with her own children because of the interest of her daughter, Myrella.

"She brought home a flier from school," Medel said. "She's in second grade, so she can read now, and she said 'mom, can we please go, this looks like so much fun.'"

When asked what she likes about riding her bike, Myrella smiled at the way it makes her feel.

"It's cool. It makes you feel amazing, like you're somewhere you've never been before," she said.

The roughly $5,800 sharrows project was first proposed last spring by the Moses Lake Trails Planning Team (TPT), which recommended the symbols as a way to link bike lanes where there isn't enough right of way, when parking or traffic lanes can't be eliminated or when the curb and gutter are already built and the cost is prohibitive to widen the street.

"We're getting there," said TPT member Joe Rogers. "We're making the city a more bike friendly place so people feel comfortable about biking, which is good for everybody."

Mike Riggs, also with the TPT, thanked the city council and city engineering and planning departments for "sharing the vision of having a healthier community for biking safely" in Moses Lake.

"This is an addition to our community that will benefit everyone and will help tie together several of the existing paths," he said. "It will provide practical transportation, exercise fitness and recreation for all of us. I look forward to using them myself."

The 20 young winners of a bike and pedestrian safety poster design contest were presented with gift cards before Riggs, Moses Lake Mayor Bill Ecret and others said a few words about the new sharrows routes.

Attendees then set out on a five or three mile bike ride or walk through the city, depending on their preference.

"The route today just gives people a taste of where they can ride downtown," said Lori Molholt-Phillips, Moses Lake's recreation superintendent.

Analiesse Isherwood, who is this year's Miss Moses Lake, hopped on her own bike in support of the routes.

"Sharrows are a great way to encourage the community to get out and ride their bikes and also to encourage drivers to be patient," she said.

Rob and Kathryn Trumbull meanwhile mounted a tandem bicycle, which they said they've been riding together for about 20 years now. The couple looks forward to seeing more efforts by the city to expand options for recreational bicyclists, as well as commuters such as Rob, who rides his bike to work in Moses Lake most days.

"If people use (these routes) and take advantage of the bike lanes it will increase awareness for everyone," he said.

Moses Lake City Councilwoman Karen Liebrecht came out for Saturday's ride, and said seeing so many people enjoying themselves could prompt her to strap on a helmet more often.

"This is inspiring to see, I may get out more often," she said.

The event was sponsored by the City of Moses Lake, the Moses Lake Trails Planning Team, Safe Kids Grant County and Kim Janke-State Farm. The Grant County Health District, Moses Lake School District and others helped with the bike rodeo.

More information on sharrows is available at www.cityofml.com.