Some of Colorado Springs' biggest cycling advocates gathered on Tejon Street Thursday as city crews installed the first Shared Lane Markings, or "Sharrows." Cycling advocate Allen Beauchamp (back, left), Senior Transportation Planner and Bicycle Program Manager Kristen Bennett, city councilman Tim Leigh (front left), Public Works Team Leader Nick Kittle, and advocate Al Brody have worked for years to bring sharrows to Colorado Springs.

The folks who battle each day to make bicycling safer in Colorado Springs gathered around the symbol they'd worked for on Thursday and smiled for the camera.

Shared Lane Markings, also known as "Sharrows" have come to Colorado Springs. The first markings were installed on Wednesday and Thursday on Tejon Street between Cache Le Poudre and Willamette.

"This is what you call a start," said city councilman Tim Leigh. "The city is now open for safe cycling."

Sharrows are placed on roadways to create safer conditions for bicycling by showing cyclists where they should ride, and reminding drivers that they may encounter bicyclists. Sharrows have been successfully installed in cities across the country and have been shown to improve cycling safety and reduce the number of cyclists/driver conflicts.

See City of Colorado Springs Sharrows Q & A

The installation marked a big day for cycling advocates Allen Beauchamp and Al Brody who have worked for years to bring sharrows to Colorado Springs streets.

"I can't tell you how excited I am," Beauchamp said.

Installing the fist sharrows on Tejon St. was a logical step because it is popular with cyclists and it connects Cache Le Poudre and Willamette, streets with existing bike lanes.

Kristin Bennett, Senior Transportation Planner and Bicycle Program Manager, said more sharrows are coming, but the exact locations are still being determined.

For now, the group will focus on public awareness and educating riders and drivers about the purpose of sharrows.

"This is good because we're doing it in a controlled area where we can manage public awareness," Beauchamp said. "That's what we have, art that creates awareness."

Leigh pushed a plan to install sharrows on Pikes Peak and Colorado boulevards earlier this year. He is a cyclists who senses that it's time to tell world that Colorado Springs is a great place to ride a bike.

"I want Colorado Springs to be known as a cycling city," he said. "I want it to be a safe and fun place to ride."