Ozz
04-05-2007, 11:05 AM
This sounds good...let's hope it doesn't hit too many roadblocks.
Mayor wants to develop citywide bicycle network (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/310384_bike05.html)
More bike lanes and street enhancements
By ANGELA GALLOWAY
P-I REPORTER
Seattle would more than double the number of its bicycle lanes and add other bike-friendly street enhancements to nearly 400 miles of roadways under a plan released Wednesday by Mayor Greg Nickels.
"It sets a new benchmark in the country," said David Hiller, advocacy director for the Cascade Bicycle Club, which helped develop the project. "We took every plan that was done (in other cities) and we said, 'We want to do better,' and I think we have."
The goal is to develop a 452-mile citywide network of bike lanes and routes over 10 years. Seattle currently has about 67 miles of bike routes and lanes.
"It's about getting results," Hiller said. "It's all going to be done on a timeline, and that makes it realistic."
Still the plan is not a binding commitment to specific changes. Indeed, some details were left to be decided later, said Gregg Hirakawa, a spokesman for the city Transportation Department.
Rather, the plan is intended as a "road map" to ensure that cycling needs are factored in to the city's routine and major transportation work, he said.
As well as new bike lanes, the plan calls for new signs and street markings on existing streets to map out suggested routes. For example, on some busier streets without room for separate lanes, city crews would create "sharrows" -- or markings to show bicyclists where they should ride while warning drivers to expect the traffic.
Officials project that the plan would cost $240 million in 2007 dollars.
"The goal of this effort is simple: We want to make Seattle the best and the safest city in the nation for bicycling," Nickels said in a statement.
The "Bridging the Gap" property tax levy voters approved last year would pay for $27 million of such improvements, officials said. Beyond that, the city plans to seek federal grants and other funding to supplement city spending.
Most of the improvements would be phased in as city crews do routine paving and larger construction projects.
"We are in it for the long haul," Nickels said.
More than one in three Seattleites use a bicycle for commuting or recreation, according to the city. Over the past year and a half, 750 people attended public meetings on the bike plan, 1,600 responded to an online survey about it, and more than 100 e-mailed their comments.
RIDE YOUR BIKE
Seattle released its Bicycle Master Plan on Wednesday. Within three years, the proposal suggests:
Supplementing the city's existing 26 miles of bike lanes with 37 more miles of bike and climbing lanes.
Creating 106 miles of bike routes on existing streets with signs and other markings to help cyclists navigate safely and efficiently.
Marking 53 miles of roadways to help cyclists and motorists share lanes.
Mayor wants to develop citywide bicycle network (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/310384_bike05.html)
More bike lanes and street enhancements
By ANGELA GALLOWAY
P-I REPORTER
Seattle would more than double the number of its bicycle lanes and add other bike-friendly street enhancements to nearly 400 miles of roadways under a plan released Wednesday by Mayor Greg Nickels.
"It sets a new benchmark in the country," said David Hiller, advocacy director for the Cascade Bicycle Club, which helped develop the project. "We took every plan that was done (in other cities) and we said, 'We want to do better,' and I think we have."
The goal is to develop a 452-mile citywide network of bike lanes and routes over 10 years. Seattle currently has about 67 miles of bike routes and lanes.
"It's about getting results," Hiller said. "It's all going to be done on a timeline, and that makes it realistic."
Still the plan is not a binding commitment to specific changes. Indeed, some details were left to be decided later, said Gregg Hirakawa, a spokesman for the city Transportation Department.
Rather, the plan is intended as a "road map" to ensure that cycling needs are factored in to the city's routine and major transportation work, he said.
As well as new bike lanes, the plan calls for new signs and street markings on existing streets to map out suggested routes. For example, on some busier streets without room for separate lanes, city crews would create "sharrows" -- or markings to show bicyclists where they should ride while warning drivers to expect the traffic.
Officials project that the plan would cost $240 million in 2007 dollars.
"The goal of this effort is simple: We want to make Seattle the best and the safest city in the nation for bicycling," Nickels said in a statement.
The "Bridging the Gap" property tax levy voters approved last year would pay for $27 million of such improvements, officials said. Beyond that, the city plans to seek federal grants and other funding to supplement city spending.
Most of the improvements would be phased in as city crews do routine paving and larger construction projects.
"We are in it for the long haul," Nickels said.
More than one in three Seattleites use a bicycle for commuting or recreation, according to the city. Over the past year and a half, 750 people attended public meetings on the bike plan, 1,600 responded to an online survey about it, and more than 100 e-mailed their comments.
RIDE YOUR BIKE
Seattle released its Bicycle Master Plan on Wednesday. Within three years, the proposal suggests:
Supplementing the city's existing 26 miles of bike lanes with 37 more miles of bike and climbing lanes.
Creating 106 miles of bike routes on existing streets with signs and other markings to help cyclists navigate safely and efficiently.
Marking 53 miles of roadways to help cyclists and motorists share lanes.