It’s official:  As of 1:30 this afternoon, Albuquerque has a Bicycle Boulevard.  Silver Avenue, from San Mateo all the way to the river – as well as 14th street between Silver and Mountain, and Mountain Road between 14th and the river – has been optimized for bikes.

Mayor Martin Chávez was on hand at a press release this afternoon to discuss the project – new signage, road stenciling, and a special 18-mile-per-hour speed designation.  Also at the press conference were representatives from BikeABQ, New Mexico Touring Society, the Greater Albuquerque Bicycling Advisory Committee (GABAC), and staff from the City’s Parks and Recreation Department and the Department of Municipal Development.  Jon Knudsen, also known as Johnny_Mango, who inspired the project from the beginning with his post on DukeCityFix.com, was also in attendance.

Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez and BikeABQ VP Ben Savoca discuss Bike Boulevards. Photo courtesy Jon "Johnny_Mango" Knudsen

News about the event appeared on KOB Channel 4 as well:

Purple signs go up on bicycle friendly street

Signs warning drivers to slow down are now going up along one bicycle friendly street in Albuquerque.Silver Avenue has been designated a “bicycle boulevard” between San Mateo and Interstate-25.

The purple signs are now everywhere, letting drivers and bicyclists know that the speed limit is just 18-miles-per-hour.

Ben Savoca, with Bike ABQ spearheaded the project as a way to make bicyclists feel a lot safer.

Business owners along Silver Avenue are on board with the project too. Some hope it will free up traffic and parking by encouraging drivers to use other streets.

The mayor says crews will put up signs on the other side of I-25, all the way down to the Bosque next week.