Last week, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) revealed its plan to add 136 miles of bike lanes throughout Seattle. The addition is a part of street projects funded by the Bridging the Gap transportation levy approved by voters last year.

"The more roads we reconstruct, the more opportunities we have to add bike lanes," said Gregg Hirakawa of the SDOT.

The city will spend $8 to $25 million on new roads for automobiles, but will also accommodate other users, Hirakawa said.

Bike riders will be accommodated with several road additions, including bike-climbing lanes on hills to help bikers who are traveling well below the speed of traffic on a steep incline.

Sharrows, which are visual cues for motorists, will warn drivers to be on the lookout for bikers sharing the road. The markings will also let cyclists know where they should ride within the lane, according to the Seattle Bicycle Master Plan press release from the mayor's office.

Washington state law allows any bicyclist to share a lane with a car; these signs aim to increase the safety of the bicyclist and to encourage those unfamiliar with riding on the road.

"The plan calls for 18 miles of bicycle 'boulevards,'" said Marty McOmber, senior communications and policy advisor at the Office of the Mayor.

These boulevards parallel arterials, but are on residential streets with less car traffic.

"Novice cyclists can use a bicycle boulevard in certain areas if they are uncomfortable with traveling on an arterial," McOmber said.

A street sign system designed to show riders the most efficient and safest routes will also be added.

Another part of the Seattle Bicycle Master Plan is the completion of the multi-use trail network. These trails are a stepping stone for riders who don't feel comfortable on the roadway.

Novice riders can build their confidence and still use biking as a means of transportation. Eventually, they may find that the trail is too slow or does not get them exactly where they need to go and will venture onto roadways, Hirakawa said.

This plan also aims to bridge the gaps between the many bike trails in Seattle. The Burke-Gilman Trail will be expanded from Northwest 60th Street to Golden Gardens, and a new bike trail called Chief Sealth, which is not affiliated with the Bridging the Gap levy, will open on Beacon Hill this spring.

"The City recognizes that education, enforcement and encouragement programs are also essential activities in order to achieve the goals of this plan," the Bike Master Plan Draft reported.

The plan does not only seek to expand bike lanes — it also aims to encourage safety and bike education.

This project already has a great deal of its funding and will be implemented immediately. Bike lanes will be added this spring, and trail expansions will start this summer.

"We will see the fruits of this labor in weeks, not years," Hirakawa said.

Reach reporter Sarah Greenleaf at news@thedaily.washington.edu.