Community Bicycle Planning

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Nigel Palmer
5 years ago
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1 Community Bicycle Planning City of Mentor s Bicycle Facility Plan Allen E. Pennington, P.E. Civil Engineer - Traffic Office of the Mentor City Engineer

2 Why has Mentor participated in bicycle planning? 1) Improve the transportation network within the City 2) Improve the quality of life for residents 3) Federal regulations

3 Federal regulations require state DOTs and MPOs to consider bicycle and pedestrian travel in their planning activities. Bicyclists and pedestrians shall be given due consideration in the comprehensive transportation plans developed by each metropolitan planning organization and State Bicycle transportation facilities and pedestrian walkways shall be considered, where appropriate, in conjunction with all new construction and reconstruction of transportation facilities, except where bicycle and pedestrian use are not permitted.

4 Bicycling can be either utilitarian or recreational Utilitarian - Bicyclist s goal is to reach destination as quickly as possible with the fewest interruptions Recreational - The trip itself becomes the purpose of the activity.

5 Three Types of Bicycling Facilities Multi-Use Path Bicycle Lane Bicycle Route

6 Multi-Use Path - A bicycle and pedestrian facility constructed solely for non-motorized use. The facility is separated from vehicular traffic by a tree lawn or open space.

7 Bicycle Lane Bicycle Lane - An additional lane constructed adjacent to the roadway which is designated and specifically marked for bicycles only.

8 Bicycle Route Bicycle Route - A segment of roadway marked, usually with signage, so as to channel bicyclists through a specific area.

9 Where did Mentor start? Researched facilities in early 1980 s Constructed multi-use path near and through the Civic Center complex Capital Improvement Program objective was creation of a city-wide bikeway and sidewalk plan.

10 How was a plan developed? - Recognize that planning for bicycles must be coordinated with other transportation modes - Improvements that enhance bicycle travel may benefit other modes of travel When planning, a bicyclist s needs as well as problems, deficiencies and hazards on the existing roadways must be identified.

11 Identify your user - Facilities must be planned to accommodate the type of bicyclist expected to utilize the facility. Look at your existing conditions - Identify traffic generators. - Conduct a survey of bicyclists and local residents. - Inventory the physical hazards on a route.

12 When developing a plan look at roadway improvements, maintenance, bikeways and bicycle parking - Roadway improvements - Bicycle routes - Bicycle lanes - Multi-use paths - Bicycle parking is essential to encourage bicycle transportation.

13 When selecting a facility for improvement, the following factors should be considered: - Barriers - Use conflicts - Collisions - Maintenance - Directness - Pavement surface quality - Access - Truck and bus traffic - Attractiveness - On street parking - Security - Traffic volumes and speeds - Delays - Cost/Funding

15 Mentor s s System Expansion - By 1999, 2.75 miles of multi-use path & 2.7 miles of bicycle lane - Mentor, Avon Lake and Oberlin named Bicycle Friendly Communities by the League of American Cyclists - By the end of 2000, the system expanded to 6.25 miles of bicycle lane and 3.38 miles of multi-use path - By May 2003, approximately 6.8 miles of bicycle lane and 4.8 miles of multi-use path had been constructed. - By 2005, Mentor had 8.3 miles of bicycle lane and 4.8 miles of multiuse path. - Currently, Mentor has completed 11.6 miles of bicycle lane and 5.6 miles of multi-use path.

16 Collision Summary reported collisions involving bicycles - upon investigation: - Only 1 collision occurred on a marked lane and no collisions occurred on a multi-use path 8 - Vehicle hit bicyclist in crosswalk 7 - Bicyclist at fault - Ignored traffic control device or swerved into traffic 4 - Vehicle hit bicyclist on sidewalk while pulling/backing out of driveway 2 - Impaired motorist struck bicyclist while passing - cyclist was sharing the roadway

17 reported collisions involving bicycles - upon investigation: - ZERO collisions occurred on a marked lane or multi-use path 7 - Bicyclist at fault - Ignored traffic control device or swerved into traffic 5 - Vehicle hit bicyclist in crosswalk 2 - Vehicle hit bicyclist on sidewalk while pulling/backing out of driveway

18 reported collisions involving bicycles - upon investigation: 4 - Collisions occurred on a marked lane or multi-use path 2 - Bicyclist at fault Impaired bicyclist drove off the roadway - Failure to yield 9 - Vehicle hit bicyclist in crosswalk/intersection Failure to yield on turn 3 - Vehicle hit bicyclist on roadway/sidewalk while pulling out of driveway

19 reported collisions involving bicycles - upon investigation: 5 - Collisions occurred on a marked lane or multi-use path (4 were caused by cyclist riding in the wrong direction) 9 - Bicyclist at fault Impaired bicyclist - Failure to yield Riding wrong direction 8 - Vehicle hit bicyclist in crosswalk/intersection Failure to yield on turn 2 - Vehicle hit bicyclist on roadway/sidewalk while pulling out of driveway 2 Improper passing

20 Where do we go now?

26 THANK YOU Allen E. Pennington, P.E. (440) Ext 2618

Cycle Track Design Best Practices Cycle Track Sections

Cycle Track Design Best Practices Cycle Track Sections Design Best Practices Sections It is along street segments where the separation and protection methods of cycle tracks offer more comfort than conventional bicycle lanes, and are more attractive to a wide