If Sustain Charlotte gets its way, it will soon be a little easier to get across uptown on your bike.

The local nonprofit launched its #IBIKECLT campaign during an event last night at Sugar Creek Brewing. The goal: Connect Irwin Creek and Little Sugar Creek Greenways with an east-west, protected bike lane through uptown.

The key word: Protected. Uptown already has bike lanes, but Sustain Charlotte envisions lanes — and, eventually, a network of lanes — with curbs or planters or something separating the bike lanes from traffic. Sustain Charlotte pointed to research that showed protected bike lanes improved safety, traffic congestion and social equity.

The group also pointed to cities like New York City and Washington D.C., which have protected lanes and have seen a large increase in bike commuters.

“It shouldn’t be the first and last protected bike lane, but it’s a good one to start with,” Sustain Charlotte Executive Director Shannon Binns said in a phone interview.

Read more here.