Bike Program Issues Update
January 2012

Bicycle Plan
Implementation of the 2009 Bicycle Plan is ongoing with subcommittees working on Education/Encouragement, Engineering and Enforcement.

Bike network
Ellen and Kelley completed a Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for the City of Oak Ridge. The plan was adopted on April 11, 2011. Kelley is working with Oak Ridge on implementation of part of the plan which calls for installation of bicycle racks at municipal buildings and facilities. Forty racks are about to be installed through the TPO grant program.

The Knoxville-Knox County Bicycle Map was significantly revised and re-printed; 8,000 copies are available at local bike shops and will be distributed at Bicycle Program events as well. For the first time, areas with multi-use trails (mountain biking) are identified, as well as the two skateparks that allow BMX biking.

Counts
We conduct bicycle/pedestrian counts at 10-14 intersections in Knoxville and in Blount County twice a year. Previous counts can be viewed here.

Signage
We have submitted signage plans for three bike routes to City of Knoxville Engineering and are waiting for a response. The routes connect Cedar Bluff & West Hills, Knoxville Zoo & Caswell Park, and Harvest Park/Knoxville Center Mall & North Knoxville to downtown & UT. Along with signage, there will be shared use lane markings (sharrows) on 6 streets and bike stencil markings at several intersections with sensors to show bicyclists where to position themselves to be detected when there is no other traffic.

The second phase of Central Street’s road diet was completed in December, with more bike lanes added. A buffer zone was included in the areas where bike lanes are adjacent to on-street parking, to try to keep bicyclists out of the door zone. Sharrows were also added in a part of Phase I where bike lanes dropped off to provide on-street parking.

Education/Safety
We have10 certified League of American Bicyclists instructors to teach bicycling classes. A variety of classes are available for all ages and skills levels. We hold classes about twice a year. We have developed a new class/ride combination focused on key points about riding in traffic. It’s called Ride Smart, named after a new brochure on the same topic.

Several bike rodeos were held in spring 2011, and planning is already underway for rodeos in 2012.

The Bicycling Ambassadors program is going well. Ambassadors encourage bicyclists to ride more often and more safely, and educate motorists on the rules of the road. Ambassadors attend community events and Bicycle Program events to teach bike safety, sharing the road, greenway etiquette and how to bike to work and school. Our message is conveyed through face-to-face interaction allowing for a conversation targeting the specific interests, questions and needs of each individual. Ambassadors and other volunteers also present to all Knox County and Alcoa high school Drivers Education classes each semester.

More than 400 people have taken the I Bike KNX safe bicycling pledge, either online or at an Ambassadors booth. In return for pledging to be a safe bicyclist, the person receives free bike and helmet stickers. If they bike to a participating business and show their helmet (with sticker), they get a discount. Participating businesses rotate throughout the year and are listed on the website.

Kelley is working with the UT Bike Shop on bicycle issues, as well as with a subcommittee of the Parking and Transportation Authority. Issues such as additional bike racks, bike registration, and bike safety are all being addressed.

Kelley is working with City of Knoxville Parks and Recreation Dept, University of Tennessee, and the Knoxville Area Coalition on Childhood Obesity on an afterschool program to teach bicycle safety to elementary school children. The program will combine greenway rides with parking lot drills and is expected to begin in March.

Events
The 11th annual Neighborhood Bike Ride was held October 14 with about 200 participants. In 2012, the ride will be moved to May to coincide with Bike Month. The 5th annual Tour de Lights was December 15, 2011, with more than 400 participants. Planning for Bike Month 2012 has already begun.

Enforcement
A presentation on bicycle issues was given as part of Knoxville Police Department inservice training in spring 2010. Each officer received the handbook developed by the TPO. We are seeking to give the presentation to University of Tennessee Police and Anderson County/Oak Ridge.

Bike parking
More than 460 bike racks (soon to be more than 500) have been installed through the bike parking program. These locations are now being put into GIS and will soon be posted online.

TDOT Coordination
The TPO coordinator works closely with TDOT staff on bicycle issues.