LAKELAND, Fla. -- In urban planning, we're seeing a new trend for those on two wheels.

It's called the cycle track. And Lakeland has been working on a track for about six years.

"The New York Avenue cycle track goes back to about 2012," said Chuck Barmby, the city's transportation and development review manager.

"The intent is to develop a bike trail through the middle of downtown that would connect the future West Lake Hunter Trail to the south with a planned overpass across the CSX rail line to the north," he said.

To make that happen, the city will change New York Avenue from a two-way street to a one-way street, and convert the existing southbound lanes into a dedicated bike trail.

"And then from Orange to Main, replace the existing sidewalk with a streetscape section, historic street lighting, landscaping and connect the RP Funding Center with the downtown core," Barmby said.

A two-foot wide concrete barrier will separate cyclists from traffic. The bike lanes will then divide into northbound and southbound lanes.

Stop signs will be moved from New York Avenue to the current side streets, allowing those on two wheels to ride straight through the core of the city, non-stop.

Lakeland is taking a page from Tampa and St Pete's books in being user friendly for more than just cars.

"Really make it so we can move people more efficiently and safely around Lakeland," Barmby said. "Not just about moving cars, but making the community circulate a lot better."

When construction starts this fall, the 600 or so cars that travel south on New York Avenue every day will simply shift over one block to Missouri Street.