Programs

Program Description: Signs are a low cost measure that can be used to improve safety and provide an identity for the County bicycle and pedestrian system. Effective signage will enhance existing facilities and improve user safety by signaling the presence and location of facilities to existing users, potential users, and motorists. Signs can encourage more people to walk and bicycle by leading residents and visitors to existing facilities and destinations. Finally, signs promote motorist awareness by alerting them to expect the presence of bicyclists and pedestrians either on the roadway or at crossing locations.

Bike routes should be identified with a modified Caltrans SG45 bike route sign. The modifications may include logos, route name and route number. Route signs should be placed on all Class I, Class II and Class III bikeways. Unique logos should be developed for Class I bikeways and be included on all route finding signage used to define the bikeway. Bikeways that form the primary arterial bikeways network should be assigned route numbers to aid bicyclists along routes that traverse various classes of facilities. The numbers should use a route numbering system similar to the Federal Highway System methodology where routes are numbered based on their north-south and east-west alignment.

In addition to signage identifying a specific route, way-finding signs should be placed at appropriate locations. These signs include directional arrows and distance information to significant local and regional destinations and connecting bicycle facilities. 

Warning Advisory Signs and Pavement Markings

A variety of warning advisory signs and pavement markings may be used in conjunction with the signs described above to further reinforce the presence of bicyclists and pedestrians and inform motorists. These include bicycle and pedestrian warning signs that can be combined with a variety of messages such as “Share the Road”, “Watch for Bikes”, “Pass with Care”, “Bikes on Roadway Next xx Miles”, and others.

Regulatory Signs

Regulatory signs should be installed to inform bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists of their rights and responsibilities. Examples of regulatory signs include “Bikes May Use Full Lane”, “Wrong Way, Ride with Traffic”, and “No Parking, Bike Lane”.

Sign Placement

Signs should be placed at route start and stop points, route junctions, and turns within a route. Reassurance signs should be placed along long uninterrupted segments and at wide or odd-angled intersections. Share the road signs should be installed on routes with little or no shoulder space for bicyclists, at the county boundaries, and at transition points between jurisdictions to alert motorists. The County will need to work with Caltrans to site and maintain the signs on State Routes.

Program Description: Limited trip generation, vehicle counts, and accident data makes it difficult to plan for future bicycle and pedestrian improvements. Without accurate and consistent data, it is difficult to measure the positive benefits of bicycle and pedestrian investments, especially when compared to the other types of transportation such as the automobile. In order to supplement Census 2000 Journey to Work data, to attain a better understanding of existing usage and travel patterns, and to be able to project demand, regular bicycle and pedestrian counts are needed.

Count Methodology

In 2003, MTC developed the Bicyclist and Pedestrian Data Collection and Analysis Project. The project resulted in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Handbook for Bicyclist and Pedestrian Counts. This methodology represents standard guidelines typically used when conducting counts of bicycle and pedestrian activity. Using the procedures outlined in this handbook maintains consistency with other local jurisdictions, as well as with regional data collection conducted by MTC throughout the Bay Area.

Count Locations

Count locations will be establish by the BPAC and should be reviewed on an annual basis. Count locations should include points along Class II and III bikeways located on arterial streets, and population centers, attractors and generators, and community gateways along Class I bikeways.

Sidewalk Inventories

Maintaining a database of sidewalk locations and their condition is an effective tool to identify gaps in the pedestrian network, prioritize maintenance, and take advantage of maintenance and upgrade opportunities, such as those provided by new development or road improvement projects. It is recommended that the various County departments develop a centralized inventory program and database. This database should be updated on a regular basis.

Program Description: The “Pedi/Bike-Bus” is a program where students are met at their homes and taken to school on foot and/or bicycle using volunteer parents. It operates in all weathers and picks up students at various points or stops along the way, in accordance with a pre-defined, fixed timetable. The program is based on the school bus model: Students wait for the Pedi/Bike-Bus at "stops" in front of specified signs (giving Pedi/Bike-Bus schedules, and volunteer parent details), and then join the “bus” to complete their journey to school, with volunteer parents. The program is based voluntary parental collaboration with organizational and logistic support from school districts.

The purpose of the Pedi/Bike-Bus program is to:

1. Reduce road traffic in front of the school and in that way reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Give students the opportunity to spend time together outside the classroom.
3. Make daily physical activity a part of students lives and reduce childhood obesity.
4. Teach younger students how to follow fixed timetables, acquire independence and understand how to safely use streets and sidewalks.

Program Description: The availability of safe and convenient parking is as critical to bicyclists as it is for motorists, and lack of adequate secure parking is a significant barrier to increased use of bicycles for transportation. This program will develop design guidelines for location, placement, and design of bicycle parking facilities.

Program Description: This program will establish pedestrian and bicycle friendly design standards for freeway interchanges and work with Caltrans to implement these standards in Sonoma County. The program will also identify appropriate locations to construct bicycle and pedestrian over/under crossings in order to improve east/west connectivity for bicycles and pedestrians.

Program Description: Develop a program that guarantees commuters who regularly vanpool, carpool, bike, walk, or take transit with a reliable ride home in the case of personal emergency, sickness, or unscheduled overtime. Participants will be issued vouchers good for a free ride home in a taxi or rental car, depending on distance between work and home.

Program Description: A Bicycle Boulevard is a street where all types of vehicles are allowed, but the roadway is modified as needed to enhance bicycle safety and convenience. Typically these modifications will also calm traffic and improve pedestrian safety. This program will develop Bicycle Boulevard design standards and identify streets that are appropriate for conversion to Bicycle Boulevards.

Program Description: Narrow and/or unsafe bridges create significant gaps in the County bicycle and pedestrian transportation network. This program will establish a list of bridges along County bikeways with inadequate width or other safety deficiencies that create hazards for bicyclist and pedestrians. The BPAC would establish priorities for improving these bridges based on hazards involved, gap closures, and anticipated usage by bicycles and pedestrians once the bridge is widened and hazards are eliminated.

Program Description: While maintenance of Class II and Class III bikeways is funded as part of overall road maintenance, a similar reliable source of maintenance funding does not exist for Class I bikeways. This program will establish a strategy to identify and secure a permanent funding mechanism for maintenance and operation of Class I bikeways.

Program Description: Currently, there is not a methodology for evaluating the effect of new development functionality of the bicycle and pedestrian transportation network. This program would develop Level of Service standards that would evaluate demand for travel, facility deficiencies, length of trip, and proximity to generators and attractors for the bicycle and pedestrian transportation network in order to:

1. Establish method to rate performance of various segments of the networks and
2. Establish thresholds to determine when a discretionary project would have an impact on bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and
3. Identify actions needed to mitigate impacts.