What’s with the new green lanes in State College?
Lime green bike lanes were painted on Foster Avenue in State College last week, the latest move by the borough to improve pedestrian safety.
“The application of the green markings on Foster Avenue is the first in the Borough and is a trial run,” borough spokesperson Jessi Blanarik wrote in an email. “There is currently no set timeline for future implementation. However, if this trial run is successful, additional locations may be included as projects get budgeted for completion.”
The green pavement, Blanarik wrote, is used to make the bike lanes more visible, and dashed green pavement is used at intersections. Improvements were made using tax revenue, though Blanarik noted future projects may use either taxes or grants.
Bike lanes have existed on Foster Avenue since at least 2007. The latest improvements are part of the borough’s “Next Generation Safety and Mobility Plan.”
The plan, which was presented to the borough in 2024, proposes everything from speed bumps to bus shelters to cordoned off bike lanes to encourage walking, cycling and public transit use in State College. Other possible locations for improved bike lanes include Fairmount Avenue, Prospect Avenue, Ridge Avenue, Hartswick Avenue, South Gill Street, South Pugh Street, South Allen Street, North Allen Street and McKee Street, according to the plan.
