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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 76 141R-,74- i -q t RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT: THAT the preliminary bicycle plan for the City of Beaumont, a copy of which is attached hereto and made a part hereof for all purposes, be, and the same is hereby, approved as the preliminary bicycle plan for the City of Beaumont. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this the oR day of G 1976. — 9� �1- I I . I - - Mayor - DRAFT BICYCLING IN BEAUMONT A Preliminary Plan For a Comprehensive Bicycle Program. April -1976 Prepared by: City of Beaumont Traffic $ Transportation Department Director. - H. E. Whitnel.l Assistant Director - Glen Siecko Transportation Operations Superintendent - L. L. Willis Transportation System Development/Traffic Safety 'Coordinator - C. L. Overman Typing - Debra jtiidner TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter I Introduction Chapter II Bicycle Safety Education Chapter III Bicycle Registration Chapter IV Bicycle Facilities CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The development of an effective and practical program--�for the control and encouragement of bicycling has been addressed only sporadically in recent years in Beaumont. The most significant reactions relative to bicycling occur im= . mediately after a bicycle fatality has occurred. Fatalities and injuries involving bicyclists shouid,be met with concern and demands "that something be done" however, in the past, solutions have been advocated that would impact on only a portion, if any part, of the problem.. Following a bicycle fatality which occurred in the summer of 1975, advocates of various solutions to the bicycle safety problem voiced their opinions by letter, by personal contact with elected and 'appointed city officials 'and in a special public meeting which was held to provide a forum for public comments. All comments were analyzed by the Bicycle/Pedestrian Subcommittee of the City of Beaumont Traffic Safety Support Committee which eventually resulted .in an initial set of recommendations being submitted to the Beaumont City Council for consideration. The basic elements of these initial recommendations included safety education, voluntary registration, and development of a bicycle facilities plan. Reaction from specific persons in the community, who were in total support of mandatory registration (to a point of detrimentally effecting a comprehen- sive program) prompted the Bicycle/Pedestrian Subcommittee to reconsider its initial recommendations in light of the criticism received. 2 ) / 1-7 l (7 The revised recommendations included the same basic points as the initial recommendations with the exception of recommending implementation of mandatory registration within a reasonable period of time. These recommendations were presented to the City Council for consideration. A compromise position established subsequent to various discussions is that the Beaumont City Council supports mandatory registration of new and used bicycles sold through local, businesses. With this point resolved, the Traffic F Transportation Department has moved ahead of the bicycle safety program. The purpose of this preliminary document is to collect and inventory all information relative to a bicycle program for the City of Beaumont to establish a point of reference for program planning and direction from this point forward. This document does not establish firm and fixed projects and schedules, but outlines general needs,'potential projects, and overall conceptual design for a truly meaningful comprehensive bicycle program. Each chapter following this introduction will deal with a specific area of concern each of which. will have its own felt influence on the success or failure of Beaumont's bicycle program. Review each chapter with an open mind so as to be able to make constructive comments. A comments sheet is attached for use by interested readers. We do not ask for your name, but we do ask for your area of interest whether elected official, bicycle rider, etc. CHAPTE R..,I I BICYCLE SAFETY EDUCATION The primary focus of "Bicycling in Beaumont" is a concentrated program of educating bicycle riders, motorists, and the public in general concerning 'the hazards faced by bicycle riders and the pleasures to be derived from safe bicycling. .The potential positive aspects of safe bicycling are too numerous to allow an education program to be oriented toward "what not to do". The positive effects of increased bicycling include less consumption of natural resources, less strain on our street system, reduced air pollution, healthier bodies,,physically, and a better psychological outlook resulting from a change from the routine, everyday schedule'. The organization of the Traffic & Transportation Department has been tentatively revised recently to include a safety education position. Due to economic restraints, no local funds were immediately available to fill the position, however, the Governor's Office of Traffic Safety was convinced to allow funds in the Systems Management for Traffic Safety grant to be utilized for the hiring of a specially funded Safety Education Specialist. This program will proceed in accordance with the following outline: 1) .Establish and define working relationship with public and private elementary schools; 2) Gather resource material from agencies and other cities; : 3) Survey program participants (administrators, teachers, students, and education agencies) to and desires; determine their needs . 4) Prepare school program in -accordance with the above mentioned multiple inputs; 5) Work wiih.teachers as determined in STEP (1) 6) Set up and coordinate special bicycle oriented safety activities such as contests, rodeos, and bicycle clubs; Z7-1276 7) Work with civic clubs in their safety programs in an attempt to integrate all city-wide efforts into a coordinated and effective action; 8) Make safety education presentations to Civic club; 9) Prepare media releases to provide for wide dissemination of safety information; 10) Seek out and encourage safety education efforts in all segments of the community. As the safety education program develops', it will be refined and altered as necessary to provide greater impact on the youth and other citizens of Beaumont. Primary agencies assisting the Safety Education Specialist will be the Beaumont Police Department, other departments of the city,as necessary, the Traffic Safety Support Committee, and local civic groups.'. The Public Information and Education subcommittee of the Traffic Safety Support Committee will provide citizen input into the safety education effort of the City of Beaumont. In accordance with a request from the Governor's Office of Traffic Safety, the City of Beaumont will authorize the Safety Education Specialist to utilize a reasonable amount of time for the development of a bicycle/pedestrian safety curriculum which may be implemented on a state-wide basis. One of the conditions included in their authorization for use of Systems Management funds for safety education was that the incumbent of the position would develop.this curriculum. CHAPTER III BICYCLE REGISTRATION The registration concept of the City of Beaumont is basically outlined below: 1) A practical, inexpensive, and reasonable registration method is to carry out registration when a bicycle is purchased. The .general procedure will be for bicycle dealers to provide bicycle pur- chasers with a registration decal and form at the time of purchase. The purchaser will be made aware that city ordi- nance requiresthat the decal be affixed to any newly pur- chased bicycle and that the form be filled out and submitted to the City of Beaumont for filing. Over a period of time, this method will'provi.de for an increasingly greater percen- tage of bicycles to be registered without inordinate expense and additions to staff. 2) To provide a method for registration of existing. bicycles two methods are suggested: a) Designation'of two local bicycle shops as "bicycle registration stations". At these locations bicycle owners could take their bicycles for a safety inspection and registration. If the bicycle passed safety inspec- tion, it would be registered. The cost would be ap- proximately $2.00 to cover the shop's cost and the city administrative time. b) Encouragement of the Beaumont Police Department program in which parents' drivers license numbers are engraved on the bicycle. This program has been aided by local civic clubs which should continue to assist in this effort. The only drawback to the problem is that sale of an engraved bicycle can cause some confusion due!to the original owners drivers' license number remaining on the bike. 6 3) The above stated concept has been outlined in an ordinance which . has been submitted for review and comment to the City Manager's Office. The program leaves much room for improvement and ex- pansion in this area, particularly in the safety inspection. The future will hopefully bring more support for a realistic mandatory registration and inspection program. Some states, notably California, have implemented state-wide registration legislation, however, it should be noted that even at this level of interest (state-wide) registration is required only for new bicycles providing for gradual implementation of the legislation. Tt is recommended that the Beaumont Police Department assume full responsibility for bicycle registration and inspection at such time as: a) State law dictates that bicycle registration and/or inspection be implemented.; or, b) Sufficient local support- results in the appropriation of necessary local funds for an adequate mandatory program. CHAPTER IV BICYCLE FACILITIES The following narrative outlines the concept and resultant guidelines. to be followed in the consideration of facility alternatives. Construction of exclusive, restricted, or shared bikeways shall be accomplished in accordance with guidelines set forth in Chapter 9, "Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Program Concepts" with one exception. The design of any bikeway demon- stration project for which funds are to be requested from the Federal Highway Administration will be in accordance with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' "Guide for Bicycle Routes". Shared Bikeways Chapter 10 of the Wilbur Smith and Associates Study,"Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Plan",recommends implementation of a program providing approx- imately 45 miles of signed bikeways and 11. miles of delineated lanes. At the present time (April 1976), shared bikeways (signs only) have been established in the southern and western sectors of the city. A work order has been proces- sed to provide a Type II shared bikeway on Gladys between Fenwick and Dowlen. This bikeway will be delineated by signs and pavement markings. These three projects are in accordance with the general. recommendation of the Wilbur Smith Study. Prior to the implementation of additional shared bikeways (both signed bikeways and pavement - marking delineated bikeways) these two types of facilities will be analyzed to determine their use and effectiveness. If these facilities are shown to be cost-effective, additional shared bikeways will be established utilizing local funds. .Restricted Bikeways Analyses will be carried out to determine thoroughfares which might 'lend themselves -to adaptation to motor vehicle/bicycle carriers. This type of facility would be of greatest use to the bicyclist who uses his/her bicycle for commuting or shopping. A minimum number of arterial or collector streets should be adapted, ii' -possible to this use. Examples of area to be connected by this type of facility might be the central business district, Lamar University, the Dowlen/Phelan apartment complex, and various shopping centers. Exclusive Bikeways Demonstration Program. The implementation of shared and restricted bikeways is generally afford- able within reasonable limits. In an attempt to approach the analysis of the need for exclusive bikeways, the cost factor immediately comes to the forefront. Of the available alternatives considered in determining the need for ex- clusive,bikeways, the most appealing option is submission of a request to the Federal Highway Administration for funding of a bikeway demonstration project. A survey of potential demonstration projects reveals that the following guidelines should be adhered to if a 'f'undable project is to 13e produced. Alternative Project Areas Area #1 (East Beaumont - bounder! by Buford, Irving, Carroll, and Madison) concurrent with the redevelopment of this area utilizing Community Development Block grant funds, there is an opportunity to include a bikeway demonstration project in the planning of this area. A project in this area would connect a i housing area with the neighborhood school and recreational facilities utilizing, street rights-of-way which have been closed to vehicular traffic. Area #2 (South Beaumont -'bounded by Avenue A, Washington Boulevard, 11th Street, and Cardinal Drive). A demonstration project in this area would be developed utilizing pipeline and/or utility easements, undeveloped street rights-of-way and drainage easements. It would connect schools, recreational facilities, and residential areas. Area #3 (West Beaumont). This area -is more conclusive.to development of ex- clusive bikeways due to the existence of several drainage easements. This po- tential demonstration -project would connect schools, recreational areas, resi- dential/apartment areas and conceivably shopping centers and the newly developed Athletic Complex. Area #4 (North Beaumont). A demonstration project for this.area would be dif- ficult to develop within the time allotted for this project due to the lack of adequate corridors and dispeiksed nature of development, however, further work will,be carried out to develop possible exclusive bikeway alternatives in that area. Area #5 (Gulf Terrace). A continuing problem in this .area is the lack of'a corridor between Forest Park High School and the Gulf Terrace Subdivision for bicycle and pedestrian traffic. A potential demonstration program would be an adequate bicycle/pedestrian link for these generators. A secondary benefit would be the possible elimination of some present vehicular traffic on Major. Drive generated due to the fact that no facilities exist to carry bicycle and foot traffic to Forest Park High School. 7,6 While the above stated areas are discussed in terms of demonstration pro- jects, these same'areas will form the basis of planning for locally funded bike- ways. In the selection of one of the above areas as a demonstration area,, the overriding factor in alternative selection should be which area can demonstrate that bicycling is.a "safe and viable alternative mode of transportation for commuter and/or recreational use in urban or urbanized areas. When one of the .above indicated areas is selected as a demonstration area, a.project application will be processed in accordance with appropriate guidelines. To: Traffic & Transportation Department Comments - "Bicycling in Beaumont" Signature (if desired)