There are serious safety concerns regarding the new bike lanes on Old Georgetown Road (Maryland State Route 187) in Bethesda, MD. This heavily-trafficked 6-lane major highway has been reduced by 39% by removing 2 driving lanes and by reducing the width of the 4 remaining driving lanes. This ill-advised change was made in order to add 2 bike lanes with white plastic spikes separating the bike lanes from the driving lanes. This busy highway serves schools, the National Institutes of Health, Johns Hopkins University, Suburban Hospital, and the Bethesda Fire Station. It is often used by emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire engines, and police cars. Reduced by 39% in driving capacity, the road now is consistently congested, with back-to-back traffic even in the middle of the day in good weather. This non-stop traffic has resulted in cars trying to avoid the gridlock by cutting through quiet residential side streets where children play. Ambulances, fire trucks, police vehicles, buses, and drivers in their personal cars can no longer quickly reach their destinations, potentially endangering many lives. It is not only a safety issue but also a traffic efficacy issue because cars are delayed in passing through green lights as a result of bumper-to-bumper traffic. With Old Georgetown Road already in gridlock, imagine it covered in snow and ice in January and February. What will the snow removal trucks do with the accumulated snow with only two lanes each way for vehicles? What roads will emergency vehicles use to get to their destinations? The Woodward High School being built on Old Georgetown Road and numerous planned high-density housing and commercial building projects in the area will only make the traffic situation worse. If you want to know how the vast majority of those who regularly travel Old Georgetown Road feel about the bike lanes, go on nextdoor and read their outraged comments. Also check with the federal, state, and county officials who are receiving an overwhelming number of phone calls and emails complaining about this unnecessary, ill-conceived, disastrous mess. Minor tweaks or traffic signal timing changes will not solve this horrific situation. The bike lanes must be removed without delay.