8A - Bike Signing Program Update
CITY OF BOULDER
TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD
NON-AGENDA ITEM
MEETING DATE: October 28, 2002
SUBJECT: Staff update on Bicycle Facility Signing program
TO: TAB Members
FROM: Tracy Winfree, Director of Public Works for Transportation
Mike Gardner, Sweeney, Transportation Operations and Planning Coordinator
Bill Cowern, Transportation Engineer
Marni Ratzel, Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Planner
PURPOSE:
This item updates TAB on the Bicycle Facility Signing program and presents a new mock-up
sign design for TAB discussion and comment.
BACKGROUND:
Since our last update outlined at the March 2002 TAB meeting, staff completed additional tasks
to advance the following sign elements of the Bicycle Facility Signing Program:
■ corridor-naming;
• way-finding / trailblazer; and
• street name identification signs on underpasses.
A status and proposed next steps for each element are outlined below.
Corridor Signs
As part of the Bicycle Corridor Signing program, transportation staff developed a DRAFT
implementation plan for installing bike signage on the Pearl /Walnut and South Boulder / Table
Mesa corridor bike facilities. In September 2002, staff conducted rides of segments along each
corridor with members of the bicycle community to review the proposed implementation plan for
installing bike signs. Collectively we identified a potential new sign concept that preserves three
of the four elements originally proposed. These are: system identification ('Boulder Bikeways"),
facility type and directional arrow (s). In general, the group agreed that the corridor-naming
element of the original bikeway sign concept would be duplicative along on-street bikeway
facilities, as the street network is already identified with existing street name signs. However, in
instances where a bicycle corridor warrants its own name designation, the corridor name element
would be incorporated into the corridor sign. Examples include a continuous multi-use path
corridor that does not follow the roadway network grid or a unique on-street bicycle corridor that
is comprised of a designation along several roadway streets such as the South Boulder Loop -
Outer Loop corridor.
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Additionally, the group proposes that a sign design similar to the city's existing roadway street
name signs be considered as an option. Attachment A depicts the proposed mock sign design.
The implementation plan proposes to install corridor signs at the following locations:
1. On a primary bike facility corridor at the junction of any primary or secondary bicycle
corridor.
2. On any intersecting primary or secondary bicycle corridor designated as an existing
facility at the junction with this corridor. Note: If a missing link is identified along the
intersecting existing corridor, staff will assess whether it is appropriate to install corridor
signs on the intersecting corridor.
Regarding bike routes, which are facilities designated by directional signs only, staff proposes
that the corridor sign design adopted by the city be installed instead of the Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) standard bike route sign. Staff is not planning to remove
existing MUTCD bike routes signs; these will likely serve as supplemental directional signs
along the corridor.
For instances when a bicycle facility corridor transitions from one street to another, trailblazing
signs will installed. For example, 19th/20th Street is a secondary north-south bicycle corridor
that transitions from 19th to 20th street at Walnut Street. In accordance with the sign plan
detailed above, corridor signs would be installed on Walnut Street and 19th/20th Streets. The
following supplemental trailblazing signs will be installed to direct cyclists accordingly:
At 19th and Walnut: "Walnut Street to NB 20th Street 4" facing n/b cyclists
At 20th and Walnut: "Walnut Street to SB 19th Street facing sib cyclists
Destination and "U R Here" map signs will be installed along the primary corridor as
appropriate.
It also was recommended that signs be installed at the intersection and placed in accordance with
standards for installing roadway street name signs, either on the signal pole master arm or
cantilevered above the pedestrian signal. This placement is beneficial in advising both motorists
and bicyclists that the corridor accommodates a bicycle facility and educates all roadway users on
the three main facility types of Boulder's bikeways: bicycle lane, bicycle route, and bicycle path.
The final implementation plans will site locations for corridor identification, destination and "U
R Here" map signs and will assist in developing policy to guide the installation and maintenance
of bikeway signs for the city's network of on-street and off-street bicycle facilities. Staff seeks to
establish a unique yet uniform corridor identification plan that users could easily recognize and
associate with the bicycle network.
TAB expressed a general agreement with staff's recommendation to develop an annual operating
program for installing bicycle corridor signs. Adopting a corridor approach, the existing scope of
work will install signage along the remaining 10 high priority corridors identified to date (one by
one). Two corridors will be signed in FY 2002: Walnut Street and South Boulder / Table Mesa.
Trailblazer / Way-finding signs
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The system also has been inventoried to identify potential locations for improved trailblazing /
way-finding signs. Fieldwork completed to date has yielded approximately 40 potential
locations for consideration. Most of these locations are at the entry of constrained neighborhood
access roadways (No Outlet or Dead End) and existing sidewalk multi-use paths that may be
perceived as pedestrian-only facilities as well as along select sidewalks. Transportation staff is
reviewing these locations and, as appropriate, will have the signs installed.
An additional task resulted from conducting the inventory. Over 50 additional locations were
identified which are sidewalk rights-of-way and public easements that are not part of the bicycle
network. Staff is reviewing this list and discussing the feasibility and logistics of establishing a
new sign scheme for pedestrian-only rights-of-way. A recommendation will be submitted for
TAB consideration at a future meeting.
Street name identification signs on underpasses
Community members submitted a request for the installation of street name signs on multi-use
path underpasses to identify the above street corridor that bicyclists cross under. Staff agrees
that posting these signs on each underpass is a valuable element that would help cyclists and
pedestrians better navigate our multi-use path system.
Staff's review of the bicycle / pedestrian map yielded a total count of 60 existing multi-use
underpasses. The street name of the above cross street is identified on a number of these
structures. The majority of these are an etching rather than a sign.
The first task is to conduct an inventory of these underpasses, which should include an
assessment of whether the underpass is identified by:
• Street name signs posted and the color scheme of these signs
■ Street name etchings and the condition of the etching
■ No street name identification and recommended for one
■ No street name identification and not recommended for one.
At the suggestion of Boulder Bicycle Commuter (BBC) members, staff has requested that BBC
solicit its members to voluntarily ride the network, conduct an inventory to compile data as
detailed above and submit a prioritized list of recommendations for sign installations. City staff
will evaluate and incorporate the recommendations into our work plan. Staff is compiling a list of
underpasses by location and working with BBC to schedule an inventory. It is anticipated that the
inventory data will be compiled in the next four to six weeks.
Staff encourages comment and discussion by TAB on the proposed next steps. Additions and
suggestions are welcomed. Please direct questions and comments to Marni Ratzel by email at
ratzelm@ci.boulder.co.us or telephone at 303-441-3266.
Attachments:
Attachment A: Mock-up Sign Design
Attachment B: Proposed Corridor Placement Options
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ATTACHMENT A
MOCK SIGN DESIGN
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Recommended installation along on-street corridors where street name sign exists
Recommended installation along off-street corridors and on-street corridors where a
street name sign does not exist or as appropriate.
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ATTACHMENT B
PROPOSED CORRIDOR SIGN PLACEMENT OPTIONS
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Proposed placement
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