Title
Charlotte BIKES Bicycle Plan
Action
Action:
Approve the Transportation and Planning Committee’s recommendation to adopt the Charlotte BIKES Bicycle Plan.
Body
Committee Chair:
Vi Lyles, Transportation and Planning
Staff Resource(s):
Danny Pleasant, Transportation
Benjamin Miller, Transportation
Explanation
§ Charlotte BIKES Bicycle Plan (Charlotte BIKES) updates the 2008 Charlotte Bicycle Plan and sets a vision of an inclusive cycling environment where people of all ages and abilities can use their bikes for transportation, fitness, and fun.
§ Charlotte BIKES identifies goals and shorter-term strategies and initiatives to both expand the City’s network of bicycle facilities as well as create a culture which recognizes and welcomes bicycling as a safe and affordable means of transportation.
§ Charlotte BIKES is an extension of the recently adopted Transportation Action Plan.
Community Input
§ Since March 2016, public input was gathered.
§ A public draft of Charlotte BIKES was released for review and comment on February 13, 2017.
§ The Bicycle Advisory Committee was a key stakeholder and focus group for the development of Charlotte BIKES.
Charlotte BIKES Recommendations
§ The content and strategies of Charlotte BIKES are organized around the six “E’s” of a bicycle-friendly city:
- Education
- Engineering
- Encouragement
- Enforcement
- Equity
- Evaluation and planning
§ Three key recommendations from the plan include:
- Creating a bicycle network and bicycle-related programming that benefits people of all ages, abilities and neighborhoods in Charlotte,
- Incorporating the latest in bikeway design guidance, and
- Funding a bicycle program that addresses all aspects of creating a bicycle-friendly city.
Transportation and Planning Committee Discussion
§ The Transportation and Planning Committee discussed Charlotte BIKES on five separate occasions over the past year.
§ On April 24, 2017, City Council received public comments at a Citizens’ Forum. Sixteen speakers spoke in support of Charlotte BIKES, with none opposed.
§ On May 8, 2017, staff addressed comments and plan modifications as a result of comments received from the public at the April 24 Citizens’ Forum. The Committee voted (Lyles, Kinsey and Phipps in favor; Smith opposed) to recommend Charlotte BIKES for adoption.
Attachments
Attachment(s)
The Charlotte BIKES Plan can be found online at: <http://charlottenc.gov/Transportation/Programs/Documents/_Charlotte%20BIKES9_PublicCommentDraft.pdf>