HomeMy WebLinkAboutApplication Part II - League of American Bicyclists CITY OF PALM DESERT
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: Authorize staff to submit "Application Part II" to The League of
American Bicyclists for consideration of designation as a Bicycle
Friendly Community.
SUBMITTED BY: Kevin Swartz
Assistant Planner
DATE: July 9, 2009
CONTENTS: Application Part II
List of cities recognized as Bicycle Friendly Communities
Website address www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org
Recommendation:
That the City Council, by minute motion; authorize staff to submit"Application
Part II" of the process to The League of American Bicyclists for becoming a
Bicycle Friendly Community.
Executive Summary:
Approval of the staff recommendation will allow staff to apply to The League of American
Bicyclists for consideration of designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community. At the March
26, 2009 meeting, the City Council authorized staff to submit Part 1, which was approved
by the League of American Bicyclists. Staff is seeking approval to submit Part II,which is a
comprehensive application that is designed to yield an overall picture of the community's
work to promote bicycling through a detailed audit of the Five E's: engineering, education,
encouragement, enforcement and evaluation efforts in the City. The committee reviews
and scores the application and consults with local cyclists in the community. An award of
platinum, gold, silver or bronze status may be designated for four years.
Discussion:
Representatives of Planning, Police, Public Works, Building and Safety, and Parks and
Recreation divisions of the City, as well as local League Cyclists have met and have gone
over Part II. The deadline for Part II is August 14, 2009, and the review process by the
League of American Bicyclists is two to three months.
Staff Report
Bicycle Friendly Community
July 9, 2009
Page 2 of 3
The Bicycle Friendly Communities Campaign is an awards program that recognizes
municipalities that actively support bicycling. Cities that are designated as Bicycle Friendly
Communities provide safe accommodation for cycling and encourage their residents to
bike for transportation and recreation.
Benefits:
With more people bicycling, communities experience reduced traffic demands, improved
air quality and greater physical fitness. In addition, bicycle-friendly cities are often seen as
places with a high quality of life. This can translate into increased property values, business
growth and increased tourism.
Award Determination:
The League of American Bicyclists reviews and scores the application and consults with
local cyclists in the community. An award of platinum, gold, silver or bronze status may be
designated for four years. If the committee feels that the city does not meet the
qualifications, the League and technical assistance staff will continue to work with the city
to encourage continual improvements.
The League of American Bicyclists recognizes newly designated Bicycle Friendly
Communities with an awards ceremony, a Bicycle Friendly Community road sign, and a
formal press announcement.
Renewing the Designation:
Renewals are due every four years after a community is designated. The League will also
require a short annual update. Award levels may change based on the renewal feedback.
Conclusion:
With City Council approval, staff will submit Part II to the League of American Bicyclists to
determine if or at what level the City qualifies as a Bicycle Friendly Community. Staff has
the support from the Parks and Recreation Commission, the local bicycle club, and other
involved residents. There are no fees associated with the submittal process, but future
capital expenses may be necessary for signage and for such infrastructure or programs as
may be desired to market the designation. If the City qualifies and is awarded a rating of
platinum, gold, silver, or bronze, the City will be provided with an award at a ceremony, a
Bicycle Friendly Community road sign, and a formal press announcement, and will be
g/Planning/kevi nswartz/bicycletriendlystaffreport
Staff Report
Bicycle Friendly Community
July 9, 2009
Page 3 of 3
recognized in various bicycle magazines. The less tangible benefits include reduced traffic
demands, improved air quality and greater levels of physical fitness.
Submitted By:
- ,.
Kevin Swartz ani Steele
Assistant Planner s and Recreation Services Manager
Department Head: Approval:
Lauri Aylaian Jo n . Wohlmuth
Director of Community Development C' y anager
CITY COUNCIL AC�N
APPROVED DENIED
RECEIVED OTHER
MEET G A
AYES: - �
NOES:
ABSENT: �
ABSTAIN:
VERIFIED BY:
Original on File with City lerk's Office
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The League of American Bicyclists
Bicycle Friendly Communities Campaign
www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org
Part 11 is a detailed audit of the engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, evaluation and planning
efforts in your community. Complete this application on www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org. This
comprehensive inquiry is designed to yield a holistic picture of your communify's work to promote bicycling.
Technical assistance for completing Part ll is available at www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org or by calling the
League at 202-822-1333.
APPLICATION PART II
ENGINEERING
1. Do you have a policy that requires the accommodation of cyclists in all new road construction
and reconstruction and resurfacing? Please include a copy of this legislation or policy.
2. Have you provided training for your engineers and planners on how to accommodate
cyclists? Please describe. Is there a mechanism to provide training on an on-going basis?
3. How many bridges are in your community? How many are closed or inaccessible to cyclists?
Of those accessible by bike, how many have shoulders, bike lanes, wide curb lanes, or multi-
use paths?
4. Do you have a bike parking ordinance? If yes, please include a copy of your ordinance:
5. Are there bike racks or storage units at:
Schools (All) (Most) (Some) (Few) (None)
Libraries (All) (Most) (Some) (Few) (None)
Transit stations (All) (�u►ost) (Some) (Few) (None)
Recreation centers (All) (Most) (some) (Few) (None)
Government buildings (All) (Most) (Some) (Few) (None)
Office buildings (All) (Most) (Some) (Few) (None)
Retail centers (All) (Most) (Some) (Few) (None)
Public spaces and parks (All) (Most) (Some) (Few) (None)
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6. If your community has transit service:
a. Are buses equipped with bike racks? (All) (Most) (Some) (Few) (None) (N/A)
b. Can bikes be brought inside transit vehicles?
7. How many miles of bike lanes do you have? How many miles of bike lanes are in your bicycle
master plan? What is the mileage of your total road network? In rural communities, rideable
paved shoulders may also be considered.
8. What percent of arterial streets have bike lanes or paved shoulders?
9. How many miles of designated bike routes do you have? How many miles of signed bike
routes are in your bicycle master plan?
10. Please describe any maintenance programs or policies that ensure bike lanes and shoulders
remain usable.
a. Routine maintenance
b. Capital improvements
1 1. Please describe initiatives your community has taken to ensure or improve bicycle access,
safety and convenience at intersections, including bicycle detection, signing and marking.
12. How many miles of paved or hard surface trails (e.g. asphalt, concrete, crushed rock) do you
have? How many miles of paved or hard surface trails are in your bicycle master plan?
13. How many miles of natural surface trails (singletrack) do you have? What is the total mileage
of natural surface trails that are open to mountain bikes?
14. What is the estimated acreage of open space and public lands within the community (city,
county, state, and federal public lands)? Are these areas open to cyclists?
15. Please describe maintenance programs or policies for your Multi-use Paths.
a. Routine maintenance
b. Capital improvements
16. Does your community have an ordinance or local code requirement for employers to provide
bicycle parking, shower facilities, etc.? If yes, please describe or include a copy.
17. Please describe recreational facilities for cyclists such as low traffic rural roads and signed
touring routes.
18. Are there other facilities that have been created to promote bicycling in your community? If
yes, please describe.
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EDUCATION
1. How do you educate motorists to share the road with cyclists? Please describe. How many
community motorists do you reach with these efforts?
(All) (Most) (Some) (Few) (None)
2. Are there other bicycle education opportunities for adults? Please describe.
3. Do you have a bicycle safety program for children in schools? How many schools participate?
(All) (Most) (Some) (Few) (None)
4. What other types of bicycle safety and education opportunities are available for children?
Please describe. How many children participate?
5. Do you make bicycle safety materials available to the public? Please describe.
6. Do you have a bicycle ambassador program that educates community members on local
opportunities for bicycling and answers their questions?
7. Do you have League Cycling Instructors in your area? Please list active instructors.
8. Is bicycle safety education included in routine local activities (e.g. tax renewal, drivers licensing
and testing, or inserts with utility bills each month)? If so, please describe.
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ENCOURAGEMENT
1. How do you promote National Bike Month in May (or another month)? Please describe.
2. How many people do you reach with events and activities during this celebration?
3. Do you actively promote Bike to Work Day or other bicycle commuting incentive programs?
Please describe. What portion of the community workforce do you reach?
(All) (Most) (Some) (Few) (None)
4. Is there an annual bike tour or ride promoted to the general public in your community? Please
describe.
5. Are there community road or mountain bike clubs, bicycle advocacy organizations or racing
clubs? Please describe.
6. How many specialty bicycle retailers (i.e. bike shops, not big box retailers like K-Mart or Wal Mart)
are there in your community?
7. Are there other bicycling areas or facilities such as BMX tracks, velodromes or mountain biking
centers in your community?
8. Does your trails system have a unit of the National Mountain Bike Patrol? Patrollers inform, assist
and educate mountain bikers and other trail users.
9. Are there opportunities to rent bicycles in your community or other recreational opportunities
involving bicycling? Please describe.
10. Do you have Safe Routes to School program that includes bicycling? How many schools are
involved?
(All) (Most) (Some) (Few) (None)
1 1. Does your community have youth recreation and intervention programs that are centered
around bicycling?
12. Do you publish a bike map and keep it up to date?
13. Do you publish a map of mountain bike trails?
14. Please describe any other efforts in your community to encourage cycling.
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ENFORCEMENT
1. Is your local police department addressing the concerns of cyclists in your community? Is there a
liaison that communicates with the bicycling community?
2. Do you offer specific training to police officers regarding traffic law as it applies to bicyclists?
3. Do you use targeted enforcement to encourage cyclists and motorists to share the road safely?
4. Do you have public safety employees on bikes? Indicate the number of employees on bike as
well as the size of the entire staff.
5. Do you have a mandatory helmet law? If so, is the requirement a state law or local ordinance?
To what ages does it apply?
6. Do you have a mandatory sidepath law? If so, is the requirement a state law or local ordinance?
Is it enforced?
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EVALUATION & PLANNING
1. Do you have any information on the number of trips by bike in your community including census
data? Please describe.
2. How many cyclist/motor vehicle fatalities have occurred in your community in the past five years?
3. How many cyclist/motor vehicle crashes have occurred in your community in the past five years?
4. Do you have a specific plan or program to reduce these numbers?
5. Do you have a system in place that allows bicyclists to submit ideas and concerns to public
officials? Please describe.
6. Do you have a comprehensive bicycle plan? Please include a copy. When was it passed or
updated? Is it funded? What percentage has been implemented?
(All) (Most) (Some) (Few) (None)
7. Do you have a trails master plan that addresses mountain bike access, and are there ongoing
relations between the mountain biking community and the community recreation and planning
staff.
8. Is your bicycle network part of broader development plans, land use plans and ongoing
development projects? How many trails, bike lanes, paved shoulders, and bike routes connect
with each other to provide seamless transportation options?
(AII) (Most) (Some) (Few) (None)
9. Have you evaluated your transportation network and prioritized bicycle improvements based on
hazards and needs?
10. What specific improvements do you have planned for bicycling in the following year?
1 1. What are the three primary reasons your city deserves to be designated as a Bicycle Friendly
Community?
12. What are the three aspects of your community most in need of improvement in order to
accommodate bicyclists?
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FEEDBACK
1. How has completing this application affected your awareness of improvements which may be
made for bicyclists?
2. Are you planning any new projects based on your involvement with the Bicycle Friendly
Community program? Please describe.
3. How do you foresee this designation affecting your community's outlook on bicycling?
4. How do you foresee this designation affecting future bicycle improvement efforts?
5. Are you aware of other communities which should be involved with this program? Please list
below.
Communit State Current Award Level Since Po ulation S uare Miles
Davis CA Platinum < 20DS 63722 lOS
Portland OR Platinum 2003 533492 134.3
Boulder ' CO Platinum 2004 f01500 24
Corvallis OR Gold 2003 53165 13.83
Fort Collins CO Gold 2003 118652 46.5
Jackson&Teton Count WY Gold 2006 8647 2.8
Madison WI Gold 2006 221551 84.7
Palo Alto CA Gold 2003 56862 23.7
San Francisco CA Gold 2006 739426 47
Seattle WA Gold 2008 563374 142
Stanford Universit CA Gold 2003 13315 2.8
Tucson/East Pima Re ion AZ Gold 2004 1004477 1 924
Ann Arbar MI 5i(ver 2005 11310Q ' 28
Ar1in ton VA ' Si{ver 20D3 2D��226 26
Aus�in '� 7?� Silver � 2t�07 681,$t#4 � 27'1.��
Bellin ham WA SiEWer 20U6 ?346Q 25.5
Bend ' OR ' Silver 20OS 88995 33
Chica o Tl 5ilver 2Q05 2896015 ' ' 234 :
Cvtumbi8 MC3 Sifver 20D9 96093 60
Coforado S rin s CQ Sitver ZOflB 36089Q ' 186 '
Duran o CO Si[�er 2Q08 15878 7
Eu ene � � � t3R. �'�� Silver 2�1t34 142681 �� �� 4€1.5����
Fofsam ' CA ' Sifver �003 63964 21.7 '
Gainesville FL Silver 2004 217182 49.1
Mfnnea oiis ' MN ' Si[v�r 2008 373188 58"
Missoula MT ; Sifuer Z003 57053 24
OI rn i� WA Si[ver 2(I04 4446Q 18.5
Presidio of 5�n Francisco CA Si[ver 20tl3 300(3 ' 1
San Luis fJbis o CA Silver 2007 44174 11
Santa Barbara CA ' Si(ver 2003 87370 19
5anta Gruz ' CA ' Sifuer 2007 54593 "' 15.5 ;
Scottsdafe " A2 ' Silver 2pfl5 221792 184.2
Steamboat S rin s ' CO Sifver 2007 9815 4.98
Tem e A� ' Silver 2003 160676 40.1 '
Woad River Val[e SD Si[ver ZOQ8 12506 17
Ada Count ID Bronze 2004 395974 1060
Albu uer ue NM Bronze 2005 448607 187
Alexandria VA ' Branze 2009 140024 15.4
Arcata CA Bronze 2008 16651 i l
Arvada CO Bronze 2008 107050 32.5
Ashland QR 6ronze 20Q4 1952,Z 6.5
Aubum AL Bronze 2Q05 42987 39:1
Bainbrid e Island WA` Branze 2008 2030Q ' 27
Beaverton OR Bronze 2003 79350 16.3
Billin s MT Bronze �008 1OQ147 41.6
Bloomin ton IN Bronze z003 69107 20
Brentwood - CA Bronze 2�06 40007 11.7
Brunswick ME ` Branze ' ' 2003 21820 47
Burlin ton VT Bronze 2004 38889 10.6
Carmel IN Bronze 2�06 700�0 17.9
Carrboro ' NC Bronze 2004 177�7 5S
Car NC ' Bronze ' 2003 119745 42
Cedar Falls IA` Bronze 2009 36145 28.9
Chandler AZ Brqnae 2006 176581 58
Charlotte NC Bronze 2008 648387 287
�harlottesviiie VA Bronze 2008 40315 10
Chattanoo a TN Bronze 2003 155554 135
Chico CA Bronze 2004 79000' 21
Claremont �R Bronze 2008 36612 14.14
Coeur d`Alene TD Bronze 2008 41983 14
Columbia �e Bronze 2OQ8 116278 127.7
Columbus '' dH Bronze 2009 74800Q 212.6
Denver CO Bronze Z003 556835 153.4
Fla staff AZ Bronze 2006 57391 63.6
Gilbert > AZ Bronze 2003 196000 76
Irvine ' CA Bronze 2009' 186220 65`
La Crosse WI Bronze 2007 51818 22
Lakewood �� Bronze 2009 14500Q 43
Lawrence KS Bronze" 2004 88664 ` 28.1
l.exin ton-Fa ette Count KY Bronze ' 2007 246800 85
Libert Lake WA Bronze 2007 6344 6-
Lon Beach CA Branze 2Q09 466520 65.9
Lon mont CO Bronze 2004 84636 21.8
Louisville KY Bronze 2006 700030 399
Mesa AZ Bronze 2Q03 437454 " 125
Milwaukee WI -= Bro►�ze 2006 578887 96.9
Mauntain View CA ' Bronze Z004 69011 12.1
Na erville A Bronze 2009 128358 35.52
New York NY Bronze' 2007 8143197 469
Oceanside CA Bronze 2008 174925 42
Orlando F� Bronze 2004 205648' 93.5
Qxford MS Bronze 2008 16727 15.74
Park Cit UT Bronze 2007 2Q62Q 102
Philadel hia PA Bronze 2009 1454382 42
Port Townsend WA Bronze 2Q08 8334 9.45
Redmand WA Bronze 2(l03 49890 16.9
Rosevilie �A Bronze `2008 1A9154 35.6
RosweU ' GA' Bronze 20Qb 85920 38.6
Sacramento '' CA Bronze 20D6 457514 99.2
5alem OR Bronze 200$ 152239 48.37
Salt Lake Cit UT Bronze 2007 18`1743 111
San Jose CA ` Bronze 2006 912332 `- 178.2
Santa Clarita GA ` Bronze 20Q7 175314 52
5anta Monica �A ` Bronze 2009 87400 8.3
Schaumbur Tl. Bronze 2003 73346 49.5
Shawnee KS Bronze 2003 57628 42
Sitka AK Bronze 2008 88$3 4811
South Lake Tahoe CA Bronze 2006 23609 16.5
South Sioux Cit ` NE Bronze �Qp6 11925 5.2
S artanbur SC Bronze 200'7 39487 20
St. Petersbur FL ' Bronze 2006 249090 133.1
Sunn vale GA Bronze ' 2�06 13176Q 22.6
Thousand Oaks CA Bronze 2008 127644 56
Traverse Ci MI Bronze ` 2009 14Z075 8J
Tulsa �K Bronze 2009 38403J 200.62
Vaif �� Bronze 2009 '4806 S
Vancouver WA Bronze 2005 156600 48.55
Washin ton DC Bronze 2003 553523 61.4