MASTER PLAN 5. Shared Use Roads—Roads and shared space used by bicycle and vehicles. Shared use roads can contain painted markings on COUNTYWIDE Chapter IV: Trails, Bikeways, Transportation travel lanes or bicyclists can utilize wide outside lanes and wide and Pedestrian Mobility shoulders or on-road shared space that can be signed and/or signalized). 6. Hard Surface Trails—Recreational trails and other multiuse bidirectional trails. Introduction 7. Natural Surface Trails—Unpaved trails and footpaths for hiker, The vision for bicycle, pedestrian, and equestrian facilities is to biker, and equestrian use. develop a comprehensive network of paved and natural surface trails, sidewalks, neighborhood trail connections, and on-road bicycle 8. Equestrian Trails—Trails for equestrians and hikers only facilities for transportation and recreation use. Trails should be in (bicycles prohibited). compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and 9. Water Trails—Kayak, boat, and canoe trails for water craft. designed to accommodate hikers, bicyclists, equestrians, and mountain bikers. Communities and roadways should be designed to 10. Bicycle-Compatible Roads—Roads that are designed to be accommodate pedestrians and bicycles, as well as automobiles. compatible with bicycle and pedestrian facilities and that facilitate Sidewalk and trail connections should be provided to schools, parks, these modes of transportation. A “bicycle compatible” road activity centers, and other public facilities. recommendation means that the road should incorporate the appropriate or feasible bicycle facility. Appropriateness is evaluated Bike Facility Definitions1 by the Planning Board and the implementing agency for each 1. Bike Lanes—On-road dedicated one-way bicycle facilities. specific project depending on community needs, environmental Roads are signed and signalized for bicycle use. constraints, and right-of-way constraints, with final determination 2. Buffered Bike Lanes—On-road and off-road dedicated one-way by the County Council. Due to site-specific constraints, the road bicycle facilities. Roads are signed and signalized for bicycle use. agencies frequently need flexibility when determining the most effective way to accommodate bikes along a particular road. 3. Bicycle Buffers—A combination of physical space and horizontal elements, such as stone, brick, concrete, berms, fences or walls, 11. Walkable Nodes—Areas that support a dynamic mix of uses and and on-road striping, established to mitigate tension between that serve as a destination for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. who want to park their cars once and walk to their destinations. Walkable nodes contain “complete streets” as defined in this plan. 4. Sidepaths and Multiuse Pathways—Off-road bidirectional multiuse facilities adjacent to major roads. 12. Bicycle (Bike) Route—A segment of a system of bikeways designated by the jurisdiction or agency having authority with 1 Note: All facilities are evaluated according to the standards approved by appropriate directional and informational markers and signage, the Planning Board, with final determination by the County Council. with or without a specific bicycle route number. Facilities on roads owned and maintained by the Maryland State Highway Administration and the Prince George’s County Department of Public 13. Bikeway—A thoroughfare or trail suitable for bicycles that may Works and Transportation are subject to review by their respective agency either exist within the right-of-way of other modes of transportation, for consistency with their agency standards. such as highways, or along separate and independent corridors. Maryland State Highway Administration Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s “Metro The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) has developed a Bike ‘N Ride Bicycle Program” statewide network of bicycle routes using on-road and off-road Metro offers cyclists the Bike ’N Ride program. Metro recognizes that facilities. The routes are contained in Maryland’s bicycle map bicycling can be an easy and inexpensive way to get to a Metro station, produced by SHA. SHA recognizes bicycling as a legitimate mode of a bus stop, or a park-and-ride lot. Metro is working to promote transportation and recreation and addresses the needs of cyclists on all bicycling as a healthy, environmentally friendly way of getting around roadway improvement projects where appropriate and feasible to do Prince George’s County. Its efforts are an important part of the region’s so. In 2003, SHA developed a statewide network of bicycle routes, commitment to improving mobility and protecting the environment. and many of these routes are in Prince George’s County. The stated purpose of the effort was to provide long-distance touring cyclists Many Metro stations have facilities for bicycle storage. This direction and guidance when crossing the state. The routes were facilitates riding a bicycle to a station, storing it there, and continuing developed in cooperation with Maryland’s Bicycle and Pedestrian the trip on Metrorail or Metrobus. The storage facilities include Advisory Committee and with input from local cycling organizations bicycle parking racks for free and lockers for rent and are available and citizen members. The state’s effort is being phased in until all of on a first-come, first-serve basis. Two types of racks can be found at the routes as indicated on Maryland’s bicycle map are complete. In Metrorail stations, Inverted U racks and Rally III racks. More Maryland, the bicycle is defined as a vehicle and as such is required to information is available from Metro at the following address: operate under the same rules and regulations as a motorized vehicle. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Cyclists are required to obey all traffic signals and signs. Bike ’N Ride Program Office of Marketing, 6th Floor For safety, the SHA recommends: 600 5th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001 202-962-1116 • Riding in the same direction as motorized traffic. Goals: • Stopping for all pedestrians. Provide a continuous network of sidewalks, bikeways, and trails that • Yielding to equestrians. provides opportunities for residents to make some trips by walking or bicycling, particularly to mass transit, schools, employment centers, • Sharing the road and trail. and other activity centers. • Being courteous. Develop a comprehensive and accessible trail network designed to • Wearing an approved bicycle helmet. meet the recreational needs of all trail groups, including equestrians, mountain bikers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. • Using lights at night. Policy 1: All persons in Maryland under the age of 16 are required by law to Incorporate appropriate pedestrian-oriented and TOD features, to the wear a bicycle helmet when on public property. Some local extent practical and feasible, in all new development within jurisdictions carry their own restrictions for helmet use. In Prince designated centers and corridors. George’s County, state law prevails for bicycle helmet use. Approved Countywide Master Plan of Transportation 7 Policy 2: Policy 10: Provide adequate pedestrian and bicycle linkages to schools, parks, Promote the use of walking and bicycling for some transportation trips. recreation areas, commercial areas, and employment centers. STRATEGIES: Policy 3: 1. Increase the awareness of existing trails through signage at cross Develop bicycle-friendly roadways in conformance with the latest streets and trail heads. standards and guidelines, including the 1999 AASHTO Guide for the 2. Develop trail user maps for major trails and trail networks within Development of Bicycle Facilities. Prince George’s County. Policy 4: 3. Incorporate wayfinding and directional signage along major Identify sidewalk retrofit opportunities for small area plans within trails. Signage should be provided for specific destinations, the the Developed and Developing Tiers in order to provide safe routes names of cross streets, and services. to school, pedestrian access to mass transit, and more walkable communities. Policy 11: Develop theme-based marketing of major hiker/biker/equestrian Policy 5: trails and bicycle commuting routes. Plan new development to help achieve the goals of this master plan. STRATEGIES: STRATEGIES: 1. Incorporate themes into new trail corridor maps and brochures, 1. Revise the subdivision regulations to incorporate appropriate signs, trail access locations, and other media as a means of setbacks for master plan trails on public or private land. advertising and marketing the major trail corridors. Policy 6: 2. Apply for federal funding to prepare a marketing and promotion plan. Ensure funding to achieve the goals of this master plan and the state’s priority list. 3. Determine desired level of tourist and commuter activities. Policy 7: 4. Develop campaigns to create two promotional/identification Increase trail funding by one percent of the total county transportation logos—one for bikeway commuters and one for recreational budget (excluding developer funding). Give priority to trails that function trails. as transportation facilities or as links to other transportation facilities. 5. Develop tours of the full range of county historical, cultural, and Policy 8: natural resources and other significant features along and near Design and construct master plan park trails to accommodate all user major commuting and recreational streets, roads, and highways groups (pedestrians, bicyclists, equestrians,