City of Columbia collaborative bike infrastructure project recognized among best new U.S. bike lanes of 2025
January 27, 2026
The City of Columbia is honored to have national recognition for its continued investment in safer, more accessible streets, as the newly completed South Main Street bike lanes were named among The Best New U.S. Bike Lanes of 2025 by PeopleForBikes.
The full article is available at:
https://www.peopleforbikes.org/news/best-new-bike-lanes-2025.
The recognition highlights the transformative redesign of Main Street from Pendleton Street to Blossom Street, a major corridor connecting downtown Columbia and the University of South Carolina. Led by the South Carolina Department of Transportation, the project represented a collaborative partnership with the City of Columbia, the University of South Carolina, and funding support from the Richland Penny for Transportation.
Construction began in March 2023 and was completed in July 2025, with work carefully phased to maintain access to businesses and manage traffic throughout the corridor. The completed project included a road diet and full street rebuild, extensive undergrounding of utilities, widened sidewalks, street trees, decorative lighting, landscaping, and protected bicycle lanes. These bike lanes represent the first separated cycle tracks installed in the City of Columbia.
Long-Term Vision, Realized
The South Main Street redesign was guided by the South Main Capital District Area Plan, adopted in 2017 following a collaborative planning process led by the University of South Carolina in partnership with the City of Columbia and the State of South Carolina. The plan focused on revitalizing the eight-block area between Pendleton and Blossom Streets, an area with significant institutional presence and long-standing redevelopment potential.
The PeopleForBikes recognition reflects how long-range planning, public investment, and multi-agency collaboration resulted in a nationally recognized, people-first street design that improves safety, connectivity, and access for all users.
Community Celebration
The City of Columbia, Richland County, and the Cola Town Bike Collective hosted a community bike ride and celebration event after the completion of the South Main Street bike lanes. The event brought together City and County councilmembers, elected officials, residents, community leaders, and partners to celebrate progress, highlight recent and upcoming projects, and reinforce a shared commitment to building a connected, sustainable transportation network throughout Columbia.
Looking Ahead: Williams Street Extension
The South Main Street project is part of a broader effort to expand Columbia’s bike and pedestrian network. Upcoming improvements include the Williams Street Extension, a future parkway connecting Blossom Street to Senate Street along the riverfront.
This multi-agency partnership between the City of Columbia, the State of South Carolina, Richland County, and private property owners will provide access to a future riverfront park envisioned in City planning efforts for more than a century. The extension will include two vehicle travel lanes, separated cycle tracks on both sides, and wide, tree-lined sidewalks, consistent with the Innovista Master Plan and the Walk Bike Columbia Master Plan.
The project has completed public engagement, received Planning Commission approval, and is currently out for bids.
Together, these investments reflect Columbia’s continued momentum toward safer streets, stronger connections, and a more vibrant, accessible city for all.
