Cyclists now have a slice of the Strip.

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's administration yesterday announced that new lane markings have been placed on Penn Avenue from 32nd Street to 25th Street, the first half of a shared lane system that eventually will run to 16th Street.

Bicyclists are encouraged to ride through the middle of the newly painted bicycle symbols and arrows, placed to keep them safe from being struck when people open the doors of parked cars. Cars can drive on the symbols but must yield to bicyclists there.

The lane markings are part of an effort to give cyclists safer routes into Downtown and to make the entire city more friendly to bicycles and pedestrians.

Bicycles are allowed on all city streets unless signs indicate otherwise.