A climbing bike lane -- the first of its kind in Austin -- opened along South Lamar Tuesday morning.

Crews finished striping the new lane, which stretches along the southbound side of South Lamar from Barton Springs to Treadwell Street.

The bicycle climbing lane is a concept already used widely in other bike-friendly cities, such as Portland and Seattle.

City officials say a bike lane on the hill is critical for cyclists' safety -- when going up a hill, cyclists go slower and sway from side to side, and they need space to stay out of motorists' way.

This is all part of the city's bicycle master plan -- to create a bike network so Austinites have transportation choices -- driving, taking transit, riding a bike or walking.

"Where we have the room to do it on the uphill we will, which is the situation on Lamar, so that bikes and cars can stay in their respective places. And it makes it safer and more enjoyable as a mode," said Annick Beaudet, COA Bicycle program manager. "This bike lane on South Lamar -- which is a very important transportation corridor -- is hopefully going to be the first in creating a network in that area. Bike commuting in that area is actually three times that of the rest of the city. So there are lots of bicyclists in that area."

The new bike lanes connect with bike lanes on Barton Springs Road and will soon connect to new lanes currently under construction through Zilker Park.