The Norman Bike Plan Brochure ... Online

Norman...where two-wheel rubber meets the road

CITY OF NORMAN
Planning Department
P.O. Box 370 Norman, OK 73069

 BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN WITH INITIAL BIKEWAY ROUTING PLAN

IN THIS BROCHURE....

• Panel 1...........You Should Know
• Panels 2-3........Summary of Goals & Objectives
• Panel 4...........About Norman
• Panels 5-10.......The Master Plan Summary
• Inside Spread....Maps and Bike Jargon

Adopted June 25, 1996

The City Council and City Manager, and the citizens on the Bike Planning Committee Mayor's Task Force are pleased to present their Master Plan to guide officials in improving the quality of life in Norman, the third largest city in Oklahoma.

Since January, 1993 the collective thinking of Norman's citizens, bicyclists, policy makers, planners, and professional consultants has been focused on creating a bicycle-friendly city -- innovatively moving people in an economical, efficient, environmentally-sound manner to minimize traffic congestion, air pollution, and fossil fuel depletion. The 15-20 year Master Plan described in this brochure is a tool to:

• Integrate a comprehensive Bikeway System into Norman's infrastructure
• Coordinate it with development and capital improvement projects

This initial Plan will help citizens understand and participate in the ongoing developing process, provide a guide for officials, and help financiers estimate cost.

SUMMARY OF GOAL & OBJECTIVES

GOAL (Our target)

Improve Norman's cycling environment, minimize impedances, and maximize cycling opportunities.

OBJECTIVES (Steps to achieve the Goal)

Specific objectives are listed in the report available to the public in City Hall and the Norman Library.

The objectives include addressing substandard bike facilities, expanding the existing bike system to 142.7 miles, providing an economical, environmentally-sound alternative to motor vehicles. To fund the Bikeway System, user fees and state and federal grants will be sought. To hold down cost, as many existing facilities as possible will be used, and no changes will be made to current street design standards, but the Bikeway System will be compatible with State and Regional Bicycle Plans, the Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

The Bikeway System will link schools, parks, workplaces and shopping as well as The University of Oklahoma. Other modes of transportation, such as bus, will be within the network.

The Plan addresses City street maintenance, bicycle-sensitive traffic signal sensors, and State- and Federally-funded roadway projects which incorporate the Bikeway System where applicable.

Ordinance changes by the City Council should meet bicyclists' needs by altering traffic codes to provide full vehicular status for bicycles.

The Plan includes an amendment procedure so it can respond to changing future needs.

A bicycle committee, with the help of volunteers, a coordinator, and the Police Department, can encourage bicycling through promotions, education programs, and licensing.

The Bikeway System will be monitored to keep pace with changes in land use, planning guidelines, and mass transit.

ABOUT NORMAN...

At 196 square miles, Norman is the perfect-size city with a major university to support a nearly-150-mile bikeway network. Implementing this important transportation mode would be money well spent. Here's what Norman said in the 1994 public opinion survey on bicycle use:

• Of Norman's 34,000 households, over two-thirds have at least one bicycle. One-fourth of those surveyed have participated in a bicycle safety program.
• Age distribution of bike riders:
  • Pre-teen 18%
  • 13-21 yrs. 25%
  • 22-50 yrs. 50%
  • 51-79 yrs. 6%
• Commuting is 29% of total bike trips. Recreation trips are 61%. Shopping trips are 10%.
• Important destinations to bicyclists:
  • 35% Schools, parks, pools and within own neighborhood
  • 23% University of Oklahoma
  • 22% Shopping

THE MASTER PLAN SUMMARY

THE MASTER PLAN, called the Bicycle Transportation Development Plan with Initial Bikeway Routing Plan, is formatted into two (2) separately-bound documents titled:

1. THE PLAN (Support Programs, Bikeway System, Ordinance Changes, Priorities, and Funding);
2. THE BACKGROUND (research influencing The Plan)

Copies of these documents are available at City Hall and the Norman Public Library.

SUPPORT PROGRAMS

1. Promotion of Bicycling Activity:

To encourage bicycling and make the plan a success, Norman must make a long-range commitment to improve its bicycling environment. It will focus upon:

• Encouraging bicycling events such as a "Cycle-to-Work Week" and workshops on bicycling safety and bike maintenance
• Promoting bicycling as a sport with school programs and the City Parks and Recreation Programs
• Mobilizing local bicycle clubs to participate in promoting bicycling events, workshops, and fund raising
• Designating a Bicycle Coordinator or committee to serve as a central information source and to organize bicycling events, educational events and promotions.

2. Develop an Education Program

National bicycling literature and the local survey cite the need for bike education at all levels. To facilitate this process, the City of Norman can:

• Promote bicyclist education for all ages, especially targeting youth,
• Promote motorist education locally & state-wide to instill a "Share-the-Road" concept,
• Promote helmet usage

3. Vehicular Law Enforcement

Enhanced enforcement of vehicular traffic laws is needed for public safety, bicycle licensing measures, and to reenforce the education of bicyclists and motorists. To facilitate this process, the City of Norman can:

• Aggressively enforce traffic laws to impact unlawful, incorrect, and inappropriate behavior of both bicyclists and motorists
• Register bicycles to identify bikes for return to their owners when stolen
• Safety inspection for proper bicycle mechanics, education, and to provide funds for bikeway projects. The public opinion survey strongly supports a fee earmarked for bicycle facilities.

BIKEWAY SYSTEM

Design Standards

To ensure consistency and safety, the City Council utilizes design guidelines from the Guide for the Development of New Bicycle Facilities by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) as well as the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which describe:

• Bicycle parking at transit nodes, parks, shopping centers, apartment complexes, and public buildings, etc.
• On-street improvements of railroad crossings, drainage grates, manhole covers and bridges
• Recommended widths for bicycle routes, wide curb lanes, striped lanes, and paths; heights for bridge rails and overhead obstructions
• Signage

Bikeway System Components

The Plan offers 142.7 miles of neighborhood, arterial and rural bikeways. Improvements will be phased -- from simply altering existing bike route signs, to designating wide curb lanes on arterials, to improving shoulders with striped lanes on rural roads. The more costly will coincide with street reconstruction.

1. The Neighborhood network serves inexperienced and recreational bicyclists. Its 47.3 miles of routes follow existing low-speed streets, and its 11.3 miles of paths are shortcuts to link the routes. This bikeway network takes riders to schools and parks, recreation centers, the OU campus, and neighborhood shopping areas. Street selection criteria were based upon low traffic volumes, safe crossings at arterial signal lights, continuity, and reduced on-street parking. The Neighborhood network represents the greatest portion of the entire bikeway routing when judged by mileage of the system, yet it spatially serves the greatest portion of the community.
2. The Arterial network serves the faster, commuter bicyclists. Its 48.7 miles on the city's major streets consists of wide curb lanes, including wide lanes on I-35 bridges. This segment connects the neighborhood routes to major commercial and employment areas, the OU campus, regional roads, and transit nodes.
3. The Rural network, where experienced bicyclists ride upon the same roads as high-speed motorists, consists of 35.4 miles of striped lanes. Roads on the least-steep hills were selected to reach Lake Thunderbird and other rural and scenic areas.

Coordinate for future planning:

• I-35 Bridges: Traffic lanes on arterials crossing I-35 can be restriped economically with wide curb lanes, to avoid more expensive bridging solutions. Design of future bridges should meet AASHTO guidelines.
• Mass transit: A pilot "Bikes-On-Board" Project can start a future transit-bikeway interface, complete with bike parking/lockers.
• State Highways: should meet state bicycle standards.
• Linking with other communities in the future, the bikeway system extends to the Norman City Limits.
• Future additions to the bikeway system should be in the form of loops to avoid dead ends and repetitious returns.
• Street maintenance should respond to feedback from users. It will limit the implementation and size of the system.

CITY ORDINANCE CHANGES

Traffic Code

Full vehicular status for bicycles means that bicyclists and motorists have similar rights and responsibilities in the traffic stream. New Traffic Codes tell bicyclists how and where to ride. City Council can consider mandating crash helmets for riders under 18 years of age.

Development Ordinances

New real estate developments should allow continuous connection with existing bicycle paths and routes. Some paths could be provided within new developments and shown on new plats. Current street design standards are adequate for shared road routes and wide curb lanes.

PRIORITIES

• Short term: Streets already exist and require only minor upgrading. 55 miles are identified for an estimated City cost of $391,000.
• Medium term: Segments wanted most by the public will be constructed as funding allows. 9.7 miles are identified for an estimated City cost of $6,960.
• Long term: Segments with unresolved or legal issues and those associated with subdivisions or state road projects will experience delay. 78 miles are identified for an estimated City cost of $1,622,040.

FUNDING

The Bikeway System is compatible with State and Regional Bicycle Plans, so its segments are eligible for state and federal funding. Bikeway System construction can be incorporated into state- and federally-funded roadway projects and subdivision development whenever possible. Potential funding sources include Norman's Capital Improvement Fund, City Park and Recreation Department funds, bicycle registration fees, dedications of easements, and private funding (donations, fund-raising events, and advertising revenues).

BIKE JARGON

Bike "Route" An unstriped, signed roadway shared by bicycles and motorized vehicles.

Wide Curb Lane A Bike Route's right-hand traffic lane that is wide enough to accommodate bicycles and motorized vehicles side by side in the same lane. (This is not a striped bike lane.)

Bike "Lane" A part of the roadway which is striped and signed for bicycles only. On this plan, only rural roads have striped bike lanes.

Bike "Path" An off-road paved trail for bicycles.

Bikeway System Bike Lanes, Paths, and Routes linked together to make a complete bicycle transportation pattern.

Neighborhood Bikeway Consists of Routes and Paths on low-speed roadways. For everyone.

Arterial Bikeway Consists of Wide Curb Lanes on medium-speed roadways. For advanced bicyclists.

Rural Bikeway Consists of Lanes on improved shoulders of high-speed roadways. For advanced bicyclists.

Disclaimer and Credits

This is a long-range Master Plan. Not all routes are in place. Remember that bicyclists may ride on any street in Norman, but Bikeway System streets will be enhanced with bicycle signage, upgraded traffic signals, and special maintenance. If more information is needed, contact: City of Norman Planning Department (405) 366-5432.

Report prepared with funding from ODOT and FHWS Enhancement Grant and City taxes.

Master Plan Consultants:

• Architects in Partnership, Norman, OK, Great Plains Design, Oklahoma City, OK
• Brochure Design: Howard Visual Productions

Website note:

The map included with the brochure is impractical to consider in one piece. It would be a huge file that would be slow to download. It has been broken up into four pieces here, but these still are large, slow-loading files. For a careful study of the plan's map, please obtain a copy of the brochure or obtain the Bike Plan documents at the locations mentioned earlier

map piece #1

map piece #2

map piece #3

map piece #4