Bicycle lanes going both directions will be installed along the southern-most block of South Court Street before graduation, the city street director said at a meeting about bike safety yesterday.

The new bicycle lanes will be painted from the new student center at Mulberry Street to President Street, said Andy Stone, director of the city Street Department. Parking on South Court Street will remain the same.

“This is the first place we have defined on-street bike lanes in the city,” he said.

Stone worked with city Service-Safety Director Ray Hazlett to model these lanes after Chicago’s bicycle traffic system to be a prototype for other areas in Athens, he said.

Signs and painted lines will be put in place within a few weeks as part of the regularly scheduled line-painting for Richland Avenue, Court Street and other areas used heavily during graduation time, Stone said.

The paint and labor costs are minimal, said Councilwoman Amy Flowers, D-at large. She estimated each sign costs about $80 to $90 to install.

The city will also delineate a turning lane from Mulberry Street onto South Court Street and crosswalks in front of the new student center at the same time, Flowers said.

During a special session following the bike discussion, Athens City Council unanimously adopted a resolution opposing Ohio Senate Bill 117.

Supporters of Senate Bill 117 say it would allow for more competition among cable providers, but municipal government and school officials believe the disadvantages outweigh the advantages, council members said.

“We would have to be asleep at the switch to not oppose this bill,” said Councilwoman Nancy Bain, D-3rd Ward.

The bill could affect the availability of free cable television and Internet access to public schools and universities, and limit or end public access television channels such as Athens’ Government Channel and Ohio University’s Access 23 station, said city Law Director Garry Hunter.