photo by: City of Lawrence

The locations of two bike boulevards, along 13th Street and 21st Street, are pictured in these aerial maps created by the City of Lawrence.

The city of Lawrence is looking for residents’ input on the design of the city’s first bike boulevards, which will modify two city streets to make them user-friendly for cyclists and pedestrians.

The city has released a survey that asks residents to identify the top three features they would like on the two boulevards, which will be constructed on 13th Street and 21st Street. The survey is available until 5 p.m. on Feb. 1.

Designs for bike boulevards vary, but they typically use a variety of features — such as speed bumps, restricted entries and curb extensions — to lower the number and speed of cars and optimize the roadway for bicycle travel. More specifically, the survey asks residents to pick among seven potential features, including improvements to street crossings, addition of grassy medians and addition of devices to reduce vehicle traffic and speed.

Cars will still be able to use the roads, but the features are meant to discourage cut-through traffic.

The 13th Street bike boulevard will extend about three-quarters of a mile from Massachusetts Street to Haskell Avenue, and the 21st Street bike boulevard will extend about 1.3 miles from Iowa Street to Massachusetts Street.

The survey also asks residents to list three places along 13th Street and 21st Street where they would like to see improvements to make the roadways more safe and comfortable for cyclists and pedestrians. In addition, the survey includes some general questions, such as whether residents have any other thoughts or ideas they would like to share related to the design of the boulevards. City officials will read the statements and incorporate them into their decision process, according to a news release from the city.

In October, the Lawrence City Commission voted unanimously to approve a $119,595 contract with Alta Planning + Design, with CFS Engineers as a subconsultant, for the design of two bike boulevards. The design cost represents 25 percent of the $467,000 project cost, but city staff recommended a more involved and public process to come up with the conceptual designs since the bike boulevards will be Lawrence’s first. The contract with Alta includes public meetings, demonstrations and the creation and presentation of multiple design options.

photo by: City of Lawrence

The locations a bike boulevards, along 13th Street between Massachusetts Street and Haskell Avenue, is pictured in this aerial map created by the City of Lawrence.

photo by: City of Lawrence

The locations a bike boulevards, along 21st Street between Iowa Street and Massachusetts Street, is pictured in this aerial map created by the City of Lawrence.