October 30 th, 2012 Committee of the Whole Meeting Cycling Task Force Recommendations BIKE RACKS

Transcription

1 BIKE RACKS 1. Replace existing bike racks with functionally designed bike racks that promote year round cycling as well as increase the number of bike racks in town. Existing bike racks are poorly designed and do not fit all bike types. Having secure bike racks at strategic locations improves the convenience of cycling (incentive). Supports the extension of the bike rack season, including cyclists who bike into the shoulder seasons or year round. Year round bike racks eliminate the Town having to place and remove the existing bike racks biannually. 1. Install new year round bike racks that fit multiple bike types in the following locations: a) Install small bike racks permanently mounted on posts along Main Street (including Broadway, First, Second and Third Avenue intersections) and U bike racks besides planters on Main (easy to plow) while keeping a minimum 2.1 m sidewalk width. 1-hoop rack would fit within current Main Street landscaping, next to planters at 4 th Ave. b) Install larger bike racks that hold 5-10 bikes at the Library, Town Hall, Post Office, Farmers Market/Central Park, Pool, Arena, Chandler Park, Elks Park, Heritage Park and the ROI theatre. 2. Designate 3 or 4 bike parking areas in key downtown locations to encourage ride and walk where large groups gather with a bike parking capacity, including covered bike racks. Consider involving local metal fabricators/designers in the design of bike racks. Choose bike rack designs and locations that do not interfere with snow removal. Choose bike racks that are visually appealing and interesting. Capital costs can be budgeted in phases. Invite the business community, local organizations and individuals to sponsor bike racks in the downtown. Allow advertising on bike racks in exchange for revenue. Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure has expressed interest in contributing to bike infrastructure as part of centennial celebrations.

2 SIGNAGE 2. Provide clear, positive signs at strategic locations across the local bike network to ensure route connectivity and to improve overall safety. Signs help educational cyclists (and others) about where bikes are permitted and how to get around town. Signs help cyclists feel a greater sense of security and that they belong on the road. Improves safety for both cyclists and drivers at busy intersections. Helps brand community as bike friendly. 1. Create a sign brand and consistent signage for: a) Share the road signs b) Bike lane signs c) Multi-use pathway signs d) Bike crossing signs 2. Install signage along bike routes/lanes and multi-use pathways, as shown on the bike route map, beginning in the following locations: a) Roads with designated bike lanes. b) Both ends of the Fulton multi-use pathway as well as a dotted line down the middle of the pathway. Signs should indicate that bikes are allowed on the pathway. c) Bike crossing signage and a blinking light along the perimeter trail Hwy 16 crossings. d) Share the road signage at the Bulkley Bridge to remind cars to share the road with cyclists. e) Along remaining bike routes and at intersections. All signs must be linked throughout designated bike routes to ensure connectivity. When developing a bike brand and signage standards look at standards used by other communities to ensure consistency (i.e. City of Vancouver). Select signs that show we are bicycle friendly. Ensure signage branding is consistent with any promotional tools used. Work with MOTI and the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako to improve the signage along the Lake Kathlyn connector. 3. Continue to set up a speed watch for vehicles crossing the bridge from Telkwa. 4. Upgrade signage along Lake Kathlyn Connector. 5. Audit the Perimeter Trail as a visitor to Smithers to see how it is to navigate and install signs along trail with arrows and words. 6. Review standards of multi-use pathways (i.e. pathway width and surface). 7. Get a MOTI sign board that states Watch for Cyclists in the spring season.

3 Designated Bike Routes 3. Create designated bike routes that are well connected, convenient and easily recognizable and safe. Improves feeling of safety amongst cyclists, especially amongst children/parents. Provides connections to areas of town that are not well connected (i.e. hill section of town to downtown and across town). Improves vehicular traffic/cyclists flow. Provides priority on the upkeep of roads that are designated bike routes (i.e. potholes create danger as cyclists have to dodge). 1. Conduct a Third Avenue bike lane pilot project. Have an engineer produce 3 bike lane configuration options with special consideration given between King and Queen Street. 2. Install lines and signs along: a) Designated bike lane routes (see bike route map) to make sure routes are easily identifiable to all users, especially kids and tourists. This includes across intersections. 3. Place a higher priority of road maintenance (i.e. filling pot holes & street sweeping) and snow clearing on designated bike routes. 4. Investigate solutions for King & Queen Street intersections at Hwy 16 to create room for both cyclists and vehicles to travel through (i.e. avoid pinch points). Contingent on grant funding and town budgets. Collaborate with local schools to promote the safe routes to school. Incorporate bike route map with promotional/educational material. Increase in annual line painting will increase the line painting contract. Painted bike lanes should be a consistent colour to highlight to all traffic. 5. Add crosswalks at Frontage Road Crossings pedestrians would also benefit. 6. Develop a pedestrian/cycling plan for Smithers that includes motorized wheelchairs/scooters, skateboarders and pedestrians. 4. Expand the Town s existing network of multiuse pathways. Benefits multiple users (i.e. walkers, skateboarders, scooters). 1. Extend the Fulton Pathway along Fulton Avenue to 14 th Avenue. Contingent on grant funding and town budgets. Increases sense of safety with the separation of cyclists and vehicles. Creates more direct routes that have greater seasonal comfort as plowed in the winter and avoids cyclists being splashed from vehicles). 2. Upgrade Railway Avenue section between Rupert Street and Pacific Street to connect with the bike lane on Pacific Street. 3. Extend Fulton pathway from 14 TH Avenue to 16 th Avenue then down to Victoria Drive or to Rotary Park on the Town ROW using a crushed gravel surface similar to the perimeter trail. 4. Construct a multi-use trail on the ROW at the end of Broadway Avenue to Willowvale.

4 Education & Promotion 5. Educate both cyclists and drivers on proper road etiquette and the benefits of using bicycles for everyday transport. Improve safety (perceived and real). Increase people cycling. Avoid confusion between cyclists and drivers on busy streets and intersections. 1. Create small, individual bike maps that identify the bike routes and etiquette. 2. Promote and participate in the provincial Bike-to-Work week, including challenging the City of Terrace Council. 3. Include biking information in the Town s booth at the Trade Show to raise awareness on where to bike. Provide promotional information at Rotary Park, Visitor Center and airport on the local bike network. Increase the resources available to expand the bike rodeo. Utilize partnering with local organizations and groups such as: 4. Collaborate with local schools to expand the Bike Rodeo program to include kids of all ages. For example, create a Bike Passport program where school aged children are encouraged to keep a bike log and then they can bike alone. This could also be done during the school track and field days. 5. Hold a bike fair to coincide with Bike-to-Work week. - ICBC to promote bike safety; - Northern Health to promote the health benefits of biking and local schools; - Local schools to promote safe routes to school and bike passport program; - Local sporting good businesses to promote use of bikes and maintenance. - Associations and clubs to promote biking. 6. Create a recognizable bike friendly Smithers brand. Town to lead-by-example by promoting cycling. Celebrate that Smithers is already bike friendly. 1. Promote Smithers as bike friendly by creating a brand to use in all marketing initiatives, including related maps, Town website and signs. 2. Purchase bike friendly promotional items (i.e. reflective bands, stickers) with Town logo. Town purchases promotional material anyway (i.e. travel mugs, reusable bags, t-shirts). Investigate partnerships for funding (i.e. include there logo). 3. Place a sign on the entrance gateway signs stating that Smithers is a bike friendly town. Town employees to use bikes for errands with branded bikes.

5 Other Ideas: 1. Design incentives to encourage large employers to provide bike parking for employees. For example, amend the Zoning Bylaw to decrease the required parking in exchange for provision of bike racks. 2. Adapt chain link fences (curved bar from post to post) for locking bikes in areas where fences exist (i.e. sport fields, schools). 3. Close Main Street to vehicle traffic between 3 rd Avenue and 1 st Avenue on Saturdays or another day. 4. Be bike friendly to the outlying communities, such as Telkwa, Slack Road and Ebenezer Flats. For example a bike trail to and from those areas and the bridge across the Bulkley River at the end of Main Street to Ebenezer Flats. Also ensure there are cycling connections with out of town routes. 5. Maintain the trail around the golf course. 6. Construct another sidewalk on the Bulkley Bridge to allow bikes to cross safely. 7. Provide bike stations with bike pumps and stand of tools.