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Mayor Tom Henry announced plans Tuesday to make it easier for residents to travel downtown by bicycle.

Public input received by the city showed downtown as the top destination people want to reach with their bikes, Henry said.

“We are continuing with ways to make it more friendly for those using two wheels,” he said in a written statement.

The city will install 117 bike racks downtown in different designs. They will be placed primarily along Wayne and Berry streets between Broadway and Barr Street; along Calhoun Street between Washington Boulevard and Berry Street; along Barr near the Barr Street Market; and at Headwaters Park, Freimann Square and Parkview Field.

The city will pay for the $18,770 project with a grant and local income tax revenue. City crews will install the racks.

The city also plans to add bike travel lanes on Wayne and Berry between Broadway and Coombs Street. The city this year added a bike lane on Wayne between Ewing and Calhoun streets.

Additionally, the state approved federal money for bike lanes and changes to Rudisill Boulevard from Anthony Boulevard to Old Mill Road. Between Anthony and Calhoun, the pavement will be resurfaced with bike lanes in each direction. The street will be narrowed from two lanes of traffic in each direction to one through lane and a turn lane. From Calhoun to Old Mill, bike lanes will be added to the existing lane configuration.

Custom bike-route signs will be placed along the previously announced Reed Road bike route that runs between the Reed and Evard Road intersection and Tennessee Avenue at the Rivergreenway.

Construction on the bike-lane projects is expected to begin next spring.

The mayor’s administration is expected to present a draft bicycle plan to the City Council as an amendment to the comprehensive plan early next year. The plan will provide policy, program and project guidance to increase the use of bicycles as transportation in Fort Wayne.

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