Urban areas around the United States are expanding bicycle facilities to promote healthy living and sustainable transportation. However, this phenomenon is not as common in smaller cities, such as Klamath Falls, Oregon. The research in this paper evaluated the impact of 1.1 miles of protected bicycle lanes in Klamath Falls installed in 2018. The study focused on the influence of the protected bicycle lanes on bicycle ridership, safety, neighborhood opinion, and bicycle-vehicle interactions. This was done by analyzing traffic surveillance video, conducting an online survey, and comparing before and after vehicular traffic speed data. Video data showed that an average of 34 bicyclists utilized the protected bicycles lanes on a daily basis. There were no instances where vehicles failed to yield to bicycles which suggests that drivers have grown accustomed to the bicycle lanes. The online survey data showed that 54% of residents opposed the protected bicycle facility because they avoid driving on the roads that share the facility. Approximately 40% of the surveyed bicyclists reported an increase in the number of trips taken via bicycle. A t-test was conducted on the traffic speed data to see whether the reduction in speeds before and after the installation of the bicycle lanes were statistically significant. The test concluded that the protected bicycle lanes provided enough traffic calming that the reduction in speeds was significant. The survey concluded that the installation of the protected bicycle lanes increased bicycle ridership, decreased vehicle ridership due to avoidance, and decreased traffic speeds.
