CITY OF ALBANY BICYCLE MASTER PLAN FINAL REPORT DECEMBER 2009 City of Albany Capital District Transportation Committee IBI GROUP FINAL REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................... 1 Objectives of the Bicycle Master Plan ............................................................................................................ 1 Public Participation .......................................................................................................................................... 2 Bikeway Design Ideas for Albany ................................................................................................................... 2 The Recommended Bikeway Network ............................................................................................................ 3 Cycling Policies, Practices and Programs ..................................................................................................... 6 Institutional Structure ...................................................................................................................................... 7 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Objectives of the Bicycle Master Plan ................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Study Process ....................................................................................................................................... 1 2. BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................ 3 2.1 Benefits of Cycling ................................................................................................................................ 3 2.2 Bicycle Master Plans ............................................................................................................................. 3 2.3 Types of Cyclists ................................................................................................................................... 4 3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ....................................................................................................... 6 3.1 Public Workshop No. 1 ......................................................................................................................... 6 3.1.1 What We Learned ........................................................................................ 6 3.2 Public Meeting No. 2 ........................................................................................................................... 12 3.3 Final Public Presentation ................................................................................................................... 14 4. EXISTING CONDITIONS ....................................................................................................... 17 4.1 Existing Bikeways and Trails ............................................................................................................. 17 4.2 Key Destinations and Barriers ........................................................................................................... 18 5. BIKEWAY DESIGN IDEAS FOR ALBANY ........................................................................... 21 5.1 Major Bikeways ................................................................................................................................... 22 5.2 Neighborhood Routes ......................................................................................................................... 26 5.3 Multi-use Trails .................................................................................................................................... 29 5.4 Bike Gutter on Stairs ........................................................................................................................... 30 5.5 Bikeable Buses .................................................................................................................................... 30 5.6 Signage Strategy ................................................................................................................................. 30 5.6.1 Cyclists’ Needs ......................................................................................... 31 5.6.2 Signage Examples ..................................................................................... 31 5.6.3 Recommendation ....................................................................................... 31 December 2009 Page i. IBI GROUP FINAL REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT’D) 5.7 Bicycle Parking .................................................................................................................................... 32 5.7.1 Parking Requirements ................................................................................ 33 5.7.2 Bicycle Parking in the Right-of-way ............................................................ 34 5.7.3 Other End-of-Trip Facilities ....................................................................... 34 5.7.4 Recommendations ..................................................................................... 35 6. BIKEWAY NETWORK ........................................................................................................... 36 6.1.1 Network Guiding Principles ........................................................................ 37 6.2 Recommended Bikeway Network ...................................................................................................... 38 6.2.1 Major Bikeways ......................................................................................... 40 6.2.2 Neighborhood Routes ................................................................................ 49 6.2.3 Multi-use Trails ......................................................................................... 51 6.2.4 Hudson River Crossings ............................................................................ 55 6.2.5 Future Connections ................................................................................... 57 7. CYCLING POLICIES, PRACTICES AND PROGRAMS ........................................................ 59 7.1 Bicycle-Friendly Communities and Development Sites ................................................................... 59 7.1.1 Encourage bicycle-friendly development by adopting site plan review criteria requiring bikeway routes, bike parking and other end of trip facilities................................................................................... 59 7.2 Bikeway Infrastructure ........................................................................................................................ 60 7.2.1 Develop bicycle parking design guidelines on good rack designs and locations ............................................................................................ 60 7.2.2 Implement the proposed bikeway network over time .................................... 61 7.2.3 Develop a bikeway signage program for major bikeways and neighborhood routes ................................................................................. 61 7.2.4 Collaborate on integrating cycling with transit (bicycles on vehicles, bicycle parking at stations/stops, network connections to stations / stops, etc.) ................................................................................ 62 7.2.5 Plan for comfortable and frequent crossings for cyclists of significant barriers such as waterways, freeways and interchanges ............. 63 7.2.6 Routinely consider the needs of cyclists in transportation / traffic projects, services and programs ................................................................ 63 7.2.7 Evaluate and consider a Complete Streets policy within the Comprehensive Plan .................................................................................. 64 7.3 Bikeway Maintenance ......................................................................................................................... 65 7.3.1 Review and update current maintenance practices for on-road bikeways .................................................................................................. 65 7.3.2 Develop standards to address the continuity of bikeway routes through construction zones ....................................................................... 66 7.4 Encouragement Programs.................................................................................................................. 66 7.4.1 Collaborate with CDTC on transportation demand management TDM initiatives ................................................................................................. 66 7.4.2 Provide web page about cycling in Albany .................................................. 67 December 2009 Page ii. IBI GROUP FINAL REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT’D) 7.4.3 Support a bike week or month program or campaign .................................... 67 7.4.4 Continue to encourage the provision of bicycle parking at events and festivals supported by the City ............................................................ 68 7.5 Safety and Education Programs ........................................................................................................ 68 7.5.1 Support marketing and education campaigns and programs