Irvine debuts its first protected street lane exclusive for bikes

A new Class IV protected bikeway on Cadence near the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. The 1.25-mile Class IV protected bikeway is a lane dedicated to bicyclists that is physically separated from drivers on the road. All bicycle types are allowed to ride in the Class IV bikeway, including e-bikes of all classes. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Eighth-grader Shivraj Chudasama and Olympic cyclist and Assistant Transportation Analyst Tony Cruz, take the ceremonial first ride in a new Class IV protected bikeway on Cadence near the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. The 1.25-mile Class IV protected bikeway is a lane dedicated to bicyclists that is physically separated from drivers on the road. All bicycle types are allowed to ride in the Class IV bikeway, including e-bikes of all classes. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Workers demonstrate Evie, a new electric street sweeper designed to fit in the city’s new Class IV protected bikeway on Cadence near the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. The 1.25-mile Class IV protected bikeway is a lane dedicated to bicyclists that is physically separated from drivers on the road. All bicycle types are allowed to ride in the Class IV bikeway, including e-bikes of all classes. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A cyclist rides in a new Class IV protected bikeway on Cadence near the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. The 1.25-mile Class IV protected bikeway is a lane dedicated to bicyclists that is physically separated from drivers on the road. All bicycle types are allowed to ride in the Class IV bikeway, including e-bikes of all classes. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Irvine, already one of the most cycling-friendly cities in Orange County, took another step this week to improve bicycling safety in town by opening its first “Class IV” protected bikeway.

The 1.25-mile-long bikeway near the Great Park is the city’s first street lane dedicated exclusively to bicyclists. The lane, beginning at the intersection of Cadence and Benchmark, is separated from cars on the road by a physical barrier and is open to all bicycle types, including e-bikes of all classes.

Former professional cyclist and U.S. Olympian Tony Cruz christened the bikeway, leading a group of city staff, community members and students from Irvine’s Youth Action Team on the first official ride down the lane.

The city also unveiled its first electric street sweeper at the event. The sweeper will service the new bike lane.