Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave Separated Bicycle Lane Pilot Project

Information about the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Separated Bicycle Lane Pilot Project

We Want Your Feedback on MLK!

The City of Albuquerque launched an online survey to gather feedback on the new separated bike lanes. Your input will help us evaluate bicycle safety and comfort, experiences biking for recreation and essential transportation, and driver behavior. Please share your feedback! (Survey takes approximately 5 minutes)

What is the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue Separated Bike Lane Pilot Project?

Delineators for MLK Boulevard looking west. — Delineators within the buffered bike lanes on Dr. MLK from Arno to Edith.

The City of Albuquerque is taking an exciting step toward improving bicycle safety, comfort, and connectivity through the Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Avenue (MLK Ave) Separated Bike Lane Pilot Project. This pilot project will convert the existing buffered bike lane facilities along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue between Arno Street and Oak Street to separated bike lanes through the use of vertical elements. The purpose of the pilot phase is to test materials for durability and maintenance, collect ridership data, and gain a better understanding of community preferences. The City will also be piloting two different intersection design treatments at Elm and Edith to understand community preferences for people biking through intersections and approaching them. Ultimately, this project aims to create a standardized approach for future separated bike lanes in the city.

Read the FAQ sheet
English [PDF]
Spanish [PDF}

Where is the project located?

On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave between Arno and Oak Streets, where existing buffered bike lanes are already in place in both the eastbound and westbound directions.

What type of delineators will be under evaluation for this pilot project?

This graphic shows a map Dr. MLK Separated Bike Lane Pilot Project from Arno to Oak Streets, and below the map, it shows the delineator types and configurations that will be used for areas one, two, and three.

This graphic shows areas four, five, and six, and the delineators and the configurations that will be piloted in each area.

What is the project timeline?

The City completed an initial start to the project on MLK Avenue between Arno Street and Edith Boulevard in late 2025. The City finalized design in early April and installed the various types of vertical delineation along the remainder of the corridor between Arno Street and Oak Street in late summer/early fall. At this time, staff anticipate the pilot will remain in place until late winter/early spring.

Why is this project important?

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave between Arno Street and Oak Street is on the City’s Vision Zero High Fatal and Injury Network (HFIN), which analyzes five years of crash data to identify where recurring fatal and serious injury crashes are happening. Additionally, the City’s Bikeway and Trail Facilities Plan (BTFP) [PDF], which identifies and prioritizes bikeway projects, proposes upgrading the existing buffered bike lanes to separated bike lanes. This project is a high priority in the BTFP.

By adding vertical delineators within the buffered space, the buffered bicycle lanes will become separated bike lanes, enhancing the comfort and safety of people bicycling along this corridor. Converting buffered bike lanes to separated bike lanes with flexible delineators can reduce crashes up to 53% for bicycle/vehicle crashes. Buffered and separated bike lanes can also enhance the comfort of people walking on sidewalks by creating a larger buffer between where people are driving and where people are walking.

Insights gained from this pilot project are expected to inform planning and development for future separated bike lanes across Albuquerque.

How is this being funded?

This project is funded by 2023 Vision Zero General Obligation Bond funds.

Questions: [email protected]