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2002 Knoxville Regional Bicycle Plan
Appendix B: Prioritized Action Steps
Continual
- Pursue grants and other funding sources in addition to TEA-21 monies.
- Continue to support the efforts of the Bicycle Advisory Committee.
- Produce quarterly progress reports on Bicycle Plan implementation.
- Work with bike organizations to implement the Bicycle Plan in conjunction with their groups’ missions.
- Make transportation funding information available so the public has a better understanding of how projects get funded.
- Facilitate citizen involvement by providing information on bicycle programs and events, and comment on transportation projects.
- Advertise the availability of bike racks on buses and bike parking.
- Provide for appropriate access control on arterial roadways in order to increase the function and safety of these roadways for both bicyclists and motorists, while at the same time ensuring adequate access and crossing opportunities for pedestrians and bicyclists.
- Research innovative treatments used in other communities and determine if they would be applicable in Knoxville.
- Provide better signage during construction to indicate work in progress, road or path conditions and, alternate route information when applicable.
- Ensure that vegetation does not encroach on sidewalks, bike lanes or shoulders, and does not impede sight distance at intersections.
- Adjust sensitivity of loop detectors at traffic signals to detect bicycles.
- Educate and train law enforcement personnel in bicycle enforcement.
- Keep up-to-date on code/ordinance modifications that could affect bicyclists.
- Continue to train officers for bike patrols.
- Encourage bicycle patrol officers to continue to report road hazards.
- Provide and promote safety education and encouragement programs taught by qualified instructors and targeted to youth and adult bicyclists and motorists.
- Work with Tennessee Department of Safety on updates to the Drivers’ Handbook to strengthen the bicycle section and include exam questions relating to bicycle issues.
- Work for inclusion of motorist-bicyclist safety information in defensive driving courses.
- Continue to monitor and improve the data available on bicycle crashes.
- Identify locations and corridors with more than one crash reported, and look for potential improvements.
- Train law enforcement staff in the investigation of crashes involving bicyclists.
- Continue to increase the number of special events and programs that encourage bicycling, including bicycle rides, bike giveaways and Bike Week events.
- Coordinate and continue bike light, helmet and bike giveaway efforts by various agencies and groups.
- Provide regular workshops and other training opportunities for local planners, engineers and parks and recreation professionals on bicycle transportation and facility design issues.
Priority I (First Year)
- Establish clear roles and responsibilities for all affected agencies and departments in the implementation of the Bicycle Plan.
- Utilize Bicycle Compatibility Index analysis to develop a recommended bicycle system for the TPO study area, with a prioritized implementation plan.
- Develop improvement projects to focus on “weak links” in the bicycle system.
- Pursue a policy change with the Tennessee Department of Transportation to allow bicyclists on certain portions of limited access highways.
- Adopt the US DOT Policy Statement on Integrating Bicycling and Walking into Transportation Infrastructure.
- Identify locations for “Share the Road” and other related signs and recommend to the appropriate departments/agencies.
- Work with Knoxville Smart Trips Program to encourage employers to implement incentive programs and develop facilities to encourage employees to bicycle to work
- Consider including a bikestation in the Downtown Intermodal Transfer Center and at the University of Tennessee.
- Implement the Bicycle Parking/Enhancement Program, which provides bicycle parking facilities and “company” bicycles to businesses and agencies.
- Develop a policy requiring that bicycle and pedestrian access be maintained during construction. When access is not feasible, detour routes should be as short as possible.
- Educate project managers about the construction access policy and its significance.
- Develop a policy regarding sweeping of roads, including shoulders and bike lanes, that addresses bicyclists’ needs.
- Develop and implement an inspection and maintenance program that addresses minor repairs such as potholes, improper drainage grates, broken pavement and other hazards to bicyclists.
- Ensure that maintenance workers are aware of the maintenance policies.
- Develop a Bicycling Improvement Program to gather and respond to citizen complaints and recommendations, utilizing a telephone hotline, Website and comment card.
- Issue a press release clarifying the traffic laws with respect to bicyclists and motorists.
- Establish a policy clarifying law enforcement agency’s procedures regarding enforcement of laws concerning bicycles, including motorist behavior.
- Increase the use of bike patrols for standard duty, rather than concentrating on special events.
- Coordinate the bicycle safety programs being conducted by various agencies, health care providers and organizations.
- Promote bicycling for transportation as well as recreation, particularly for trips to school, work, shopping and special events.
- Increase awareness of the benefits of bicycling, and the rights and responsibilities of bicyclists and motorists.
- Develop a public information and education campaign to encourage bicycling and improve the behavior of both motorists and bicyclists.
- Develop a bicycle map of downtown, UT and surrounding neighborhoods showing existing conditions on roadways to highlight the best ways to travel by bicycle.
- Establish, maintain and publicize a webpage and telephone hotline with information and links to other agencies/organizations/websites.
- Develop a Guide to Bicycle Resources with information on bike clubs, shops, events and other useful information.
- Develop a Bike to Work Guide for Knoxville, with information for employers and employees on benefits, safety and available resources.
- Increase and publicize the number of free repair classes offered throughout the community.
- Develop a presentation for interested groups, such as Leadership Knoxville and Leadership Blount.
Priority II (Second Year)
- Establish a Bicycle Program staffed at a level sufficient to implement the Bicycle Plan.
- Ensure that all jurisdictions support and participate in the Bicycle Program.
- Ensure that all buses within the TPO boundary, including downtown trolleys, have racks to carry at least two bicycles.
- Revise zoning and subdivision regulations to include bicycle-friendly policies as requirements of developments.
- Adopt the Bicycle Parking Requirements and Guidelines included in the Appendix.
- Develop a policy requiring 5 to 10 foot aprons on gravel driveways or roads to be paved wherever a roadway is constructed or widened to prevent loose gravel from being carried out onto the shoulders.
- Develop and implement an inspection and maintenance program to address signage and pavement marking issues.
- Increase traffic law enforcement efforts focusing on those violations most likely to lead to bicycle-motor vehicle crashes.
- Increase the availability of and participation in cyclist training courses for college students and adult bicyclists. (The adult-targeted Effective Cycling course by the League of American Bicyclists would serve the need and could be offered at bike shops and community centers.)
- Develop a bicycle checkout program focused at the University of Tennessee and downtown.
- Review the Bicycle Plan every two years and revise as necessary.
Priority III (3 – 5 Years)
- Develop and implement destination-based signing for the bicycle system.
- Research the ability to carry more bicycles on buses where the racks are frequently full.
- Provide bike parking at major bus stops and transfer points, including short-term and long-term parking.
- Develop a coordinated land use and transportation plan for more efficient use of land and infrastructure in the future.
- Form a committee of businesses, organizations and agencies interested in economic development and bicycle tourism.
- Develop a funded Traffic Calming Program in each jurisdiction.
- Educate parent groups and adult groups that supervise children, such as PTAs, day care centers and youth camp operators.
- Develop a Safe Routes to School program in conjunction with Bike to School Day during Bike Week, but to be used year-round.
- Update the Plan every five years.
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