Bikeway Classification

Transcription

1 Bikeway Classificatin Classificatin f bikeway types is an imprtant step t help planners cmprehend hw parts f the bike netwrk functin and wrk tgether. Classificatin can als prvide an understanding f the level f bicycle accmmdatin n streets in the netwrk and give guidance abut priritizatin and implementatin. This paper refers t tw types f bikeway classificatin: Facility classificatin: grups bikeways by the type f facility; fr example, separated bike lanes, bike lanes, shared radways and trails, and Netwrk classificatin: prvides a framewrk fr understanding a given bikeway s functin r imprtance in the netwrk, typically by designating a primary and secndary netwrk. The apprach that Mntgmery Cunty takes t bikeway classificatin can play an imprtant rle in the Cunty s effrts t create a wrld-class bicycle plan and t be an exemplar f suburban bicycling in the U.S. Using netwrk classificatin as a means f indicating critical rutes will facilitate creatin f a cnnected lw-stress netwrk. This is nt t say that every primary bikeway wuld be separated bike lanes n a majr street, but every primary bikeway wuld play a key rle in prviding a lw-stress cnnectin. 1 A higher netwrk classificatin wuld indicate a rute s fundamental imprtance t the bike netwrk and give Cunty staff guidance at the time f facility design decisins. This paper prvides an verview f Mntgmery Cunty s current classificatin schemes fr bikeways. This is fllwed by a summary f classificatin practices frm a number f lcal and natinal cities. Finally, recmmendatins are presented fr hw Mntgmery Cunty shuld mve frward with classificatin in its Bicycle Master Plan update. It shuld be nted that this paper fcuses n bikeway classificatin fr the purpses f master-planning and implementatin, nt fr creating bicycling maps. Current Mntgmery Cunty Bikeway Classificatin Mntgmery Cunty s existing classificatin scheme was develped fr the 2005 Cuntywide Functinal Bikeways Master Plan and includes bth facility classificatin and netwrk classificatin. Facilities are classed by type and include: Shared use path Bike lane Signed shared radway Dual bikeway 2 Cycle tracks 1 It shuld be nted that netwrk classificatin and the imprtance f a given rute t the netwrk is nly ne cmpnent f a priritizatin scheme. Overall priritizatin f the bike netwrk fr phased implementatin is nt addressed in this paper. 2 Mntgmery Cunty develped the dual bikeway facility type in the 2005 Cuntywide Bikeways Functinal Master Plan t recgnize differing levels f ability and cmfrt amng bicyclists and t recgnize the tw functins (transprtatin and recreatin) that a bike netwrk serves. Dual bikeways include bth an n-street bikeway and an ff-rad shared use path n the same radway.

2 Facility types were nt gruped by bicyclist level f cmfrt r degree f separatin prvided frm autmbile traffic. Bikeways are further classified int either cuntywide r lcal rutes. Cuntywide rutes cmprise abut tw-thirds f the netwrk and were the fcus f the 2005 Plan. These rutes generally are lcated n arterial streets and prvide lnger distance cnnectins, linking majr destinatins thrughut the Cunty. Lcal rutes are thse that feed int the cunty rute system, typically frm smaller neighbrhd rigins and destinatins. The cuntywide/lcal designatin has n inherent relatinship t the priritizatin r implementatin f facilities. Necessity f a New Classificatin Scheme The need fr a new bikeway classificatin system springs frm the intrductin f new facility types in the Bicycle Master Plan update, as well as a need t better link plicy bjectives t the netwrk classificatin system. The Bicycle Master Plan update culd include as many as twelve facility classificatins, thus gruping facility types may benefit the Cunty s as nt t create a greater level f cmplexity than necessary. The current netwrk classificatins f Lcal and Cuntywide rute types appear t serve little r n functin and likely adds unnecessary cmplexity t the netwrk definitin. Furthermre, since cuntywide bikeways cmprise abut tw-thirds f all master-planned bikeways, this designatin des nt indicate thse bikeways that are the mst imprtant and which therefre shuld be priritized in discussins related t limited space and trade-ffs between varius travel mdes, r designed t a higher standard (e.g., separated bike lanes that are wider than typical cnditins) in anticipatin f large bicycle vlumes. Creatin f a netwrk classificatin system that has real plicy impacts in the decisinmaking prcess can help mve the bike plan frm lines n a map t a truly useful tl. Example Classificatin Schemes This sectin reviews bikeway classificatin schemes in a number f lcal jurisdictins and exemplary bicycle cmmunities in ther parts f the cuntry. Few cunties arund the cuntry create bike plans t the level f detail and implementatin-ready recmmendatins that Mntgmery Cunty des. Fr this reasn, Arlingtn Cunty and Hennepin Cunty are the nly tw examples f cunty-wide plans included here. While the rest f the plans are frm cities, they are wrth reviewing as exemplar bicycling cmmunities, sme f which have suburban-type radways, such as Prtland, Minneaplis and Seattle. Arlingtn, Virginia Arlingtn Cunty uses a facility classificatin system and des nt have a netwrk classificatin fr its bikeways. Arlingtn s bikeway classificatin was last updated in the 2008 Master Transprtatin Plan, 3 thugh the Cunty is cnsidering updates as they mve frward with a cuntywide LTS analysis that will 3

3 lead t identificatin f new netwrk recmmendatins. Currently, there are fur facility type categries: Off-street trails Bike lanes Sharrws Bike rutes T date, the tw buffered bike lane and separated bike lane facilities in Arlingtn have nt been differentiated frm standard bike lanes and remain in the Bike lane categry. The Cunty may update this classificatin as mre buffered and separated facilities are implemented. Tw facility types that Mntgmery Cunty will use in the plan update are nt included in Arlingtn s scheme: advisry bike lanes and bike bulevards. Arlingtn is cnsidering implementatin f these facility types as well Legend frm Arlingtn Cunty's 2015 public bike map update but has nt yet decided hw t classify them. Additinally, bike rutes are rads that have been determined t be bicycle-friendly r [emphasis added] prvide imprtant cnnectins t the bicycle netwrk. These streets have nt been imprved with signage r markings, and they have nt necessarily been vetted fr cmfrt and suitability f crssings fr bicyclists. Sme streets may nt be very bicycle-friendly, but they are included in the rute netwrk because they prvide an imprtant r direct cnnectin. This rute netwrk will als be revisited as the LTS analysis is cmpleted t better identify bicycle-friendly streets and fcus n intersectin imprvements. Washingtn, DC DC s bikeway classificatin was last updated as part f the MveDC 4 plan cmpleted in The Plan is nt explicit in its classificatin f facility types as it refers t ne set f facility types n maps and anther when describing the facility types available t planners. Maps include the fllwing: Trail Cycle track Bike lane, including cntraflw and climbing lanes The plan mentins the fllwing cmmnly used facility types: Shared-use paths Cycle track Bike lane, including climbing and cntraflw lanes Sharrws 4

4 Signed shared rutes and Neighbrhd Bikeways Shared radway (all ther rads minus freeways) Hwever, the planned netwrk des nt include any facility types ther than the three included n the map. The District has undertaken a separate wayfinding effrt t identify signed rutes that cnsist f streets with bike facilities and thse lcal streets that are bicycle-friendly. The Neighbrhd Bikeway identificatin and signage prgram is als separate frm the master planning effrt and the wayfinding prgram. Legend frm MveDC Bicycle Element map DC des nt have netwrk classificatin fr its bikeways. MveDC des articulate mdal pririties fr all DC streets, including the identificatin f sme bicycle pririty streets. Hwever, these pririties have nt yet had any bearing n trade-ffs made in the curse f design fr a multimdal street. Minneaplis, Minnesta The City f Minneaplis updated its facility classificatin in 2015 as part f a bike plan update 5 aimed at incrprating prtected facilities int their tlbx. This update did nt define a new bike netwrk fr the city, rather fcused nly n shrt-term recmmendatins fr the lcatins f new prtected bike lanes. The update includes the fllwing facility classes: Prtected bikeways Off-street trail Pedestrian/bicycle bridge Sidepath Prtected bike lane Bike lanes Buffered bike lane Bike lane Cntraflw bike lane Advisry bike lane Shulder accmmdatin Bike bulevards Shared lanes Sharrws Signed bike rute Shared bus/bike lane These classes are generally based upn the bicyclist s experience n the street and the level f interactin he will have with autmbiles. Bike bulevards are classed separately frm ther types f 5

5 shared lanes because f their lwer vlumes and speeds. Signed rutes are assumed t be cmfrtable enugh fr bicyclists withut additinal pavement markings. Minneaplis 2011 bike netwrk plan 6 is mdeled after radway classificatin and states that the classificatin purpse is t help priritize prjects and make better use f limited funds. The classificatin is as fllws: Arterial Bikeway: Rutes f reginal significance that attract the highest number f bicyclists and are intended t frm a spider web pattern centered n dwntwn Minneaplis Principal arterials spaced at tw-mile intervals designed fr grade separatin and faster speed Minr arterials spaced at ne-mile intervals May be situatins where tw arterial bikeways are lcated parallel t ne anther in clse prximity because their differing facility types serve different user grups Cllectr Bikeway: Feed int arterial bikeways; spaced at half-mile intervals t capture bicyclists frm every part f the city Neighbrhd Bikeway: Feed int cllectr bikeways; fund in every neighbrhd and nt eligible fr reginal funding While the intent f this scheme is t priritize bikeways, it has nt been used this way in practice. Minneaplis maintains a rbust bicycle cunting prgram that City staff fund t be a better indicatin f the imprtance f any given bikeway prject than netwrk classificatin. Cnnectins t lcatins with higher existing cunts r lcatins with high cunts and deficient facilities have been priritized. Hennepin Cunty, Minnesta Hennepin Cunty cmpleted a bike plan 7 in 2015 that is separate frm the Minneaplis ne detailed abve. The plan classed bicycle facilities in the fllwing grups: Off-street Multi-use trail Cycle track Prtected bike lane On-street Cycle track Prtected bike lane Buffered bike lane Bike lane Shulder

6 Bicycle bulevard These brad classes were chsen t avid being verly prescriptive n facility type thrughut the cunty. Hennepin Cunty recgnized that it wuld nt be the implementing agency fr many f the recmmended facilities and wanted t leave flexibility fr ther jurisdictins. Additinally, the level f effrt needed fr further facility specificity thrughut the netwrk was nt pssible in the scpe f this planning effrt. Netwrk classificatin cnsists f a plan recmmendatin t designate an enhanced bicycle netwrk. This recmmendatin emerged frm the public engagement prcess where it was clear that bicyclists and ptential bicyclists sught a greater amunt f separatin frm autmbile traffic. This classificatin tuched n bth facility type and netwrk functin with the recmmended characteristics: Facility type is ff-street trail, cycle track r prtected bike lane Part f Minneaplis prtected bike lane netwrk Within a pririty reginal bikeway crridr as identified in Metrplitan Cuncil Reginal Bicycle System Study Part f a rute that spans majr barriers (e.g., river, railrad, highway) Cnnects majr activity centers This framewrk has nt yet been used fr implementatin in the cunty, nr has the Cunty used these criteria t identify its enhanced bicycle netwrk. Bstn, Massachusetts The Bstn Bike Netwrk Plan 8, updated in 2013, identifies five classes f bikeway facilities: Off-rad path Shared use path Prtected Bike Lane Cycle track Exclusive Lanes Overview and characteristics f bikeway types frm Hennepin Cunty 2040 Bicycle Transprtatin Plan Buffered bike lane Bike lane Cntraflw bike lane Climbing lane Shared lanes Advisry bike lanes Pririty shared lane 8 L_tcm pdf

7 Shared lane: dented with sharrws and signage; cnstrained crridrs with speed limit 35 mph r less Bus-bike lane Shared rads Shared street (flush) Neighbrway: added traffic calming, priritizes bicyclists and pedestrians, equivalent t a bicycle bulevard Recmmended lcal rute: unimprved rute that prvides cnnectivity, generally lwer vlume and/r speed than a sharrw street These classes have enabled the City t wrk with a wide variety f facility types that suit the wide range f street types but als retain a manageable vcabulary f bikeways. Facilities are classed, generally, accrding t the bicyclist s experience n the street. Fr instance, an exclusive lane is radway space specifically dedicated fr bicyclists but nt immune frm peridic bstructins such as duble-parked cars. By classifying buffered bike lanes this way, perhaps the City misses expressing sme f the advantage that a wider facility prvides, but it als is recgnizing the reality f the daily experience. Facility classificatin graphic frm Bstn Bike Netwrk Plan Bstn s plan des further classify the netwrk int primary and secndary rutes with the fllwing definitins:

8 Primary rutes cnnect neighbrhd centers, reginal multi-use paths, transit hubs, majr emplyment centers, and institutinal destinatins. Prvide lng distance rutes Carry the highest vlumes Have as much separatin frm traffic as pssible Include all majr bridges Secndary rutes stretch int neighbrhds and prvide access t lcal businesses and neighbrhd destinatins. Cnnect schls, neighbrhd stres, parks, transit hubs and the primary netwrk rutes Have varying levels f bicyclist vlumes and separatin frm traffic These definitins are helpful in cnceptualizing the netwrk and priritizing facilities at a high level, but in practice the designatins have nt had a clear effect n implementatin. Clsing gaps in the existing facilities alng primary rutes was priritized, but the five-year actin plan cnsists f streets and trails that are bth primary and secndary rutes. Implementatin has been based mre n pprtunities and in respnse t prblems rather than guided by a gal f imprving the primary rutes first. Seattle, Washingtn The 2014 Seattle Bike Plan 9 identified five facility types fr its netwrk, which nly grup bike lane types tgether: 9

9 Off-street Cycle track Neighbrhd greenway In street, minr separatin (buffered bike lane, bike lane, climbing lane) Shared street (sharrw) Each facility type is designated fr use n streets with certain speed, traffic and functinal classificatin criteria. Thugh nt every recmmendatin cnfrms t these usage standards, they prvided a framewrk fr netwrk develpment that leads t a system with greater separatin between bicyclists and autmbiles n higherspeed, higher-vlume streets. Seattle s netwrk classificatin is the nly ne examined fr this study that links netwrk classificatin t available facility types by calling fr exclusively lw-stress facilities t be used in the Citywide netwrk s that Citywide rutes are accessible t all ages and abilities. In practice, this means that sme facility types, such as bike lanes, that may result in a lw-stress riding envirnment n lwvlume, lw-speed rads are nt included in the Citywide netwrk. The classificatins are defined as belw: Legend frm netwrk map in Seattle Bike Plan Citywide Netwrk: Prvide shrt distance cnnectins t neighbrhd destinatins, as well as cnnectins t destinatin clusters acrss neighbrhds and thrughut the city Allw peple f all ages and abilities t access all majr destinatins n this netwrk Cmpsed f cycle tracks, neighbrhd greenways and ff-street multi-use trails Lcal Cnnectrs: Prvide access t and parallel the Citywide Netwrk and serve destinatins Lwer level f separatin with bike lanes, buffered bike lanes and shared radways als in facility tlkit May prvide a mre direct rute, but may include facility types and streets that are nt apprpriate fr all ages and abilities The Citywide and Lcal classificatins have little bearing n facility implementatin ther than t prescribe a set f facility ptins. While the plan identifies high-demand segments f the Citywide

10 Netwrk as a near-term pririty, further prject priritizatin des nt rely n a bikeway s classificatin as Citywide r Lcal. Prtland, Oregn Prtland s 2010 bicycle plan 10 classes facility types by level f separatin. These classes are: Trails Separated in-rad bikeway Cycle track Buffered bike lane Bike lane Shared radway bikeway Bicycle bulevard Advisry bike lane Enhanced shared radway The enhanced shared radway facility type is used in lcatins where bicyclists are nt given pririty, but signage and markings are used t increase driver awareness and traffic calming r signalizatin may ease bicyclist travel. These facilities may be later upgraded as mney and willingness t adjust the allcatin f radway space t varius mdes allw. Legend frm Recmmended Bikeway Netwrk map in Prtland Bicycle Plan Prtland includes a rbust, plicy-level classificatin f bikeways by functinal class. These classes include: Majr City Bikeway City Bikeway Lcal Service Bikeway 10

11 This plicy-level classificatin exists fr ther mdes in the city, s adptin f this system fr the bicycle mde is recgnized as bringing cnsistency and parity t the mdes. Functinally, Majr City Bikeways are the mst imprtant rutes in the city thse that carry the highest vlume f bicyclists, cnnect t majr cmmercial areas r bridges, a lng crridr that serves many neighbrhds, r serve t cllect traffic frm ther rutes that feed int them. City Bikeways prvide direct and cnvenient access but are d nt fit the characteristics f a Majr City Bikeway. All mdes in the city have a lcal service class that simply includes all ther unidentified streets. The Majr City Bikeway designatin allws City staff t advcate strngly fr the highest rder bike facility n thse streets. Where trade-ffs are needed t accmmdate space fr these facilities, planners in the bicycle prgram are in a better psitin t press their case. The plicy that defines each f these types specifically states that travel lanes and/r n-street parking may be remved t accmmdate bicycle facility space n streets under bth bikeway classes. The designatin as a Majr City Bikeway des nt dictate the facility type recmmended fr that rute; any facility type may be in place n that bikeway as lng as it prvides an apprpriate level f accmmdatin suited t the street characteristics. Summary Municipalities vary in their facility classificatin schemes. Gruping f facility types was mst ften based n the level f separatin a facility prvides the bicyclist frm autmbile traffic. Bstn s gruping is slightly mre granular in that it differentiates shared radway cnditins between thse with higher and lwer autmbile vlumes, and Minneaplis des this t sme extent, t, by separating bicycle bulevards frm ther shared radway facility types. While apprximately half f the examined jurisdictins further differentiate their netwrks by functinal class in sme manner, nly Seattle and Prtland s netwrk classificatin schemes have direct implementatin impacts by prescribing facility types and a level f imprtance in trade-ff discussins, respectively. In ther cities, a prject s netwrk classificatin may be ne factr in the prject priritizatin prcess, but netwrk classificatin des nt imply pririty in terms f implementatin timeline.

12 Recmmendatins fr Mntgmery Cunty Given the abve review f recent bicycle planning effrts and understanding f the Mntgmery Cunty cntext, the fllwing recmmendatins are made fr bikeway classificatin. These recmmendatins will help the Cunty achieve its ultimate gal f implementing an extensive, lw-stress netwrk. The mst imprtant characteristics f this netwrk will be its cnnectivity and density. Netwrk Classificatin The Cunty shuld refine its Cunty/Lcal netwrk classificatin framewrk in favr f a plicy-level netwrk classificatin in the style f Prtland, OR. An adpted system f Majr Cunty Bikeways (MCB) and Cunty Bikeways (CB) wuld prvide a framewrk fr discussins abut bikeway design in areas f cnstrained rights-f-way. All ther radways where bicycle travel is permitted culd be designated as Lcal Serving Bikeways (LSB) if full cverage f cunty radways is desired. Similar t Prtland, a MCB wuld be a bikeway f the highest imprtance in the cunty, meaning that the bicycle accmmdatin shuld be priritized in discussins related t limited space and trade-ffs between varius travel mdes. Similarly, MCBs shuld be designed t a higher standard (e.g., separated bike lanes that are wider than typical cnditins) in anticipatin f large bicycle vlumes. Unlike Seattle s netwrk classificatin, it is nt recmmended that the Cunty use the MCB/CB structure t require a specific facility type fr these bikeways. Nt all MCBs wuld be high-investment facilities such as separated bike lanes n large arterial streets. Sme MCBs will be imprtant cnnectins that can be made via lw-vlume, lw-speed streets with facilities such as advisry bike lanes. The definitin f criteria fr MCBs shuld ccur during the netwrk-develpment prcess. It is impssible t knw befre the entire netwrk is develped what criteria will best capture thse streets that serve a critical netwrk functin. A preliminary list is given belw, but this list shuld be viewed as draft and subject t change during the plan develpment prcess. One r mre f the fllwing culd be required fr MCB designatin: Access t majr destinatins: emplyment centers, key cmmercial znes/crridrs, transit facilities Access t multiple neighbrhds Cnnectins t majr trails Netwrk classificatin shuld nt be viewed as a priritizatin scheme, hwever. The class f a bikeway prject will need t be cmbined with a number f ther factrs determined by the Cunty in rder t create a priritized prject list fr the bike plan. Facility Classificatin The Cunty shuld adpt a gruped classificatin f facility types in rder t make the netwrk easier t cmprehend and t better reflect the Cunty s interest in Level f Traffic Stress. Sme f the 12 facility types nted belw share functinal characteristics, and it is unnecessary t differentiate them n a plan map. The simpler map will prvide an adequate level f understanding while nt being verly detailed.

13 By defining facility grups based n level f separatin frm traffic prvided, planners with knwledge f the street netwrk will be able t understand hw cmfrtable a given facility type recmmendatin will be n that street. 11 It shuld be nted, hwever, that the same facility type has different stress levels in different applicatins. Fr instance, a buffered bike lane can be a lw-stress facility where speed limit and number f lanes are lw, but the extra width between the rider and autmbiles cannt vercme the stress f higher speed traffic r a wide radway. The Cunty shuld classify bikeway facilities as utlined belw: [Nte that signed shared radways and dual bikeways are nt included in this scheme as their cntinued use by the Cunty in netwrk planning will be addressed in the Facility Types paper at a later date. This sectin will be updated as needed, r nt, with thse facility types.] Shared use paths Trail Sidepath Separated bike lanes Bike lanes Buffered bike lanes Bike lanes Climbing lanes Cntraflw lanes Advisry bike lanes Shulder accmmdatin [Discussin f whether this shuld be a facility type will cme up in the signed shared radways paper, but it is left in fr nw.] Bicycle bulevards 12,13 Shared radways Pririty shared lane markings Shared lane markings 11 The full level f facility specificity shuld be maintained in the prject/bikeway table prtin f the plan s this infrmatin is available t readers. 12 Bicycle bulevards are separated frm ther shared radway facilities because they prvide a different level f cmfrt fr bicyclists. A bicycle bulevard design will include traffic calming, intersectin imprvements t ease crssing majr streets, and may include sme traffic diversin t lwer vlumes. These elements are nt included in the ther shared radway facilities. 13 Mntgmery Cunty may wish t begin discussins regarding the nmenclature used fr these facilities. While bicycle bulevard is used by sme cmmunities, with Berkeley, CA being a ntable pineering user, many jurisdictins are beginning t use terms that reference the benefit f these streets t a brader audience. Neighbrway, Neighbrhd Greenway, Neighbrhd Bikeway and Neighbrhd Slw Street have all been used fr this facility type and imply a benefit t pedestrians and residents as well as bicyclists.