City of Seattle Bicycle Master Plan

seattle.jpg

What is the Bicycle Master Plan?

The Bicycle Master Plan is a planning document that will be used to guide future improvements to Seattle’s bicycle network. The focus for the master plan is on the evaluation of arterial streets for the implementation of bicycle facilities and to encourage more bicycling throughout the City of Seattle. Also included is a plan and schedule for completing the trails network such as the Burke-Gilman Trail.

<< A copy of the plan is attached to this post >>

What elements does the plan include?

The major elements of the city’s bicycle system addressed by the plan are:

• Implementation Strategy : Seattle ’s Bicycle Master Plan is a working document that provides city staff and partner agencies with a series of specific action items to guide implementation of the plan.
• Bike Facilities: The plan recommends specific streets to be re-painted to accommodate bike lanes, sharrows or wide curb lanes. Implementation of these facilities will create a well connected bicycle network to better connect existing bicycle routes, neighborhoods, schools, parks. The plan also provides recommendations for key intersection improvements, improved bicycle parking, end of trip amenities and bicycle integration with transit.
• Way-finding sign system : The plan addresses the need for regional and local connectivity by recommending routes that benefit from the addition of way-finding signage to help cyclists more easily navigate through the city. The plan includes recommendations for signed bike routes on City streets and trails.
• Policy evaluation : The plan includes specific recommendations on policies, integration of the bicycle master plan into other planning documents and provides guidance for operating procedures regarding traffic operations, education, enforcement and access to transit and schools.
• Design guidelines : The plan provides specific design suggestions on roadway design to accommodate bicycles. These guidelines will help establish city-wide consistency for all future additions to the existing bicycle network.
• Maintenance strategy : This portion of the plan serves as a guide for keeping city bike facilities in optimum condition. The planning team has worked with city staff to determine a city-wide maintenance schedule as well as how bicycle facility maintenance and construction can be piggy-backed on other Department of Transportation and Parks Department programs.
• Performance measures : This segment of the plan addresses what data should be collected and what benchmarks must be met over the next 10 years. These measures will help to gage the effectiveness of the plan and to determine if its scope has been met accordingly.