Are Designated Bike Lanes Going Away In El Paso, Texas?

According to a recent Department of Transportation post, special "bicycle only" lanes do NOT make anybody any safer. Think El Paso, or Texas overall, will do away with them?

The Department of Transportation, (DOT), isn't calling for them to be removed but they are sort of pulling the plug on the funding that maintains them. That, more than likely, will be good enough reason for Texas, (or any other state), to just let them "fade" away and not fix up or redo them.

There's no telling, (yet), if states will or won't do that but it wouldn't surprise me. Money's tight overall and Texas roads, especially here in El Paso, need a lot of, (costly), work.

Why DOT Removed Bike Lanes

They took them off their official list of things they feel make roads safer. That doesn't necessarily mean Texas, or any other state, will do away with them completely but it could be their path to that.

READ MORE: Are E - Bikes Legal On Texas Roads? 

The list of Proven Safety Countermeasures does not directly affect how the government funds projects. FHWA distributes tens of billions of dollars each year to the states, which decide how to spend them. But safety advocates say the list can have a big influence on decisions at the state and local level. - NPR

El Paso has dome a lot to accommodate cyclists and I really doubt we'll let our bike lanes fade away. Like 'em or not car drivers, I think they're here to stay. In fact, based on some of the backlash I've seen against DOT Secretary Sean Duffy, it wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't put them back on the list soon.