FIND THE CAT. A BIG CAT. >>> IT'S A PLAN TO TRANSFORM A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE ON THE PENINSULA. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CALTRANS IN THE CITY OF PALO ALTO. THEY ARE WORKING TO BRING SOMETHING TO EL CAMINO REAL THAT THEY NEVER HAD BEFORE. DESIGNATED BIKE LANES. BUT AS LEN RAMIREZ REPORTS, THE LANES COULD COME AT A COST TO MERCHANTS. >> Reporter: THE 16-YEAR-OLD WILL RIDE A BIKE AS HIS MAIN TRANSPORTATION AROUND HIS PALO ALTO NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT WHEN IT WILL COME TO THE EL CAMINO, HE AVOIDS RIDING ON THE STREET. >> I DO RIDE ON THE SIDEWALK JUST BECAUSE IT FEELS A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE FOR ME RATHER THAN RIDING ON THE STREET WHERE CARS ARE RIGHT THERE AND IT FEELS A BIT DANGEROUS, DEFINITELY. >> Reporter: HE'S NOT ALONE. IN FACT MANY OF THE PEOPLE WE SAW RIDING BIKES IN THE PARK SECTION OF THE EL CAMINO DID SO ON THE SIDEWALK. THAT'S BECAUSE THIS BUSY ROAD, WHICH DOUBLES AS A STATE HIGHWAY 82, HAS NEVER HAD BIKE LANES. BUT THAT'S ABOUT TO CHANGE. >> WE'RE ON THE SIDEWALK NOW. WE WOULD ADD A BIKE LANE ABOUT SIX FEET OUT. IT WOULD HAVE A QUICK CURB SEPARATED AND TEMPORARY CURB. AND NOW THERE IS A DESIGNATED PLACE FOR THE BIKER. >> Reporter: KEN KIRSCHNER IS ONE OF THE ADVOCATES WORKING WITH THE CITY OF PALO ALTO AND CALTRANS TO BUILD BIKE LANES INTO A MAJOR REPAVING PROJECT COMING TO THE EL CASINO THIS FALL. THE FINISHED LANES WOULD LOOK SOMETHING LIKE THESE LANES RECENTLY INSTALLED IN SAN JOSE. >> AS YOU NOEL CAMINO IS QUITE IN POOR CONDITIONS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO NARROW THE LANES, SLOW THE SPEEDS DOWN, PUT IN BIKE WAYS, AND REMOVE PARKING. ALL OF WHICH WILL BE TRANSFORMATIONAL. >> Reporter: THE BIKE ADVOCATES SAY REMOVING STREET PARKING WILL INCREASE SIDE-TO-SIDE VISIBILITY FOR CARS, BIKES, PEDESTRIANS, MAKING IT SAFER WHEN THEY CROSS THE EL CAMINO OR TURN ONTO IT FROM A SIDE STREET. BUT SOME MERCHANTS SAY IT WILL HURT THEIR BUSINESS. >> THEY PUT THE LANE AND THEY ARE NOT THINKING ABOUT IT, THE CAR OR THE PARKING IN FRONT OF THE SHOP. AND YOU KNOW, THEY ARE GOING TO KILL THOSE. >> Reporter: HE HAS OWNED THE PARK MARKET FOR 43 YEARS. HE SAYS HIS CUSTOMERS, THEY RARELY USE A PARKING LOT IN THE BACK PREFERRING TO PARK ON THE STREET JUST STEPS AWAY FROM THE DOOR. HE WORRIES WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF CUSTOMERS LOSE THAT CONVENIENCE. >> AND PROBABLY LOSE ABOUT 35 TO 40%. AND THAT MUCH, YEAH. >> Reporter: WELL, IT IS A LOSS. CERTAINLY SOME BUSINESSES WILL BE MORE IMPACTED. FOR EACH BUSINESS, THERE COULD BE A MITIGATION PLAN, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO HELP WITH THAT BECAUSE BIKING IS BUSINESS FRIENDLY. >> Reporter: AND KIRSCHNER POINTS OUT THE BUSINESSES ON THEIR BIKES. ALTHOUGH THE FINAL PLANS HAVE YET TO BE APPROVED, THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO THINK TWICE ABOUT WHAT SIDE HE IS ON. >> WHILE WE'RE STANDING RIGHT HERE, THE PARKING LOTS, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE SAFETY OF THE BIKERS, IT'S PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN, YOU KNOW, THE PARKING RETAIL PARKING. >> THE PALO ALTO BIKE LANE PROJECT IS A PART OF THE MAJOR OVERHAUL OF EL CAMINO. BIKE
