PI-4
|
CITY OF OLATHE |
Policy No.: |
PI-4 |
|
|
COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT |
Date Issued: |
10-5-93 |
|
|
General Scope: |
Public Improvements |
Effective Date: |
10-5-93 |
|
Specific Subject: |
Designing, Modifying, and Maintaining Public Streets for Bicycle Usage |
Cancellation Date: |
|
|
Supersedes No.: |
|||
Purpose:
To set forth the general public policy objectives of the city as it relates to designing modifying, and maintaining public streets to facilitate bicycle usage.
Statement of Policy:
The statement of policy is hereby incorporated with Resolution 93-1136.
RESOLUTION NO. 93-1136
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING POLICY ON DESIGNING, MODIFYING AND MAINTAINING PUBLIC STREETS TO FACILITATE BICYCLE USAGE.
WHEREAS, the bicycle is a legitimate vehicle and as is suggested in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 should be an integral part of the transportation system; and
WHEREAS, the city of Olathe is a bicycle friendly community and wishes to encourage the use of bicycles as a means of transportation within the city; and
WHEREAS, inexpensive roadway improvements can facilitate bicycle travel, and often an improvement that aids bicycle travel will aid motor vehicle travel as well; and
WHEREAS, the provision of wider outside lanes on major streets can better accommodate both vehicular and bicycle traffic in the same lane and thereby aid both bicyclists and motorists; and
WHEREAS, parallel drainage grates may be hazardous to bicyclists, and the necessity for bicyclists to take sudden evasive action may create a hazard for motor vehicle traffic; and
WHEREAS, other measures can be taken to improve conditions for bicyclists on public streets.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF OLATHE, KANSAS:
SECTION 1. That the following guidelines are hereby established.
1. When minor arterial and arterial streets are initially constructed, overlaid with a new course of asphalt, or reconstructed, the outside lanes may be striped wider than the inside lanes if the following criteria are met, as determined by the Director of Municipal Services.
a. The segment of street being constructed, overlaid, or reconstructed must have a continuous length of at least one-half mile or connect to an existing or proposed wide outside lane;
b. The street segment must have a driving surface in one direction at least 24 feet wide, exclusive of curb and gutter sections on four-lane streets or at least 16 feet wide, exclusive of curb and gutter sections, on 2-lane streets;
c. The Director of Municipal Services must determine that the street segment does not contain any unique geometrics or other unusual circumstances that would cause the uneven lane widths to present a hazard to the public health, safety and/or welfare; and
d. If the street is a state and/or federal highway or project, the appropriate state and/or federal agency must approve the modified striping plan.
2. The city is encouraged to make every reasonable effort to either maintain traffic signal detectors that are sensitive to the presence of bicycles or provide for other means of actuation of traffic signals for bicyclists.
3. When designing or reviewing plans for new streets or when developing plans for the reconstruction of existing streets, the city and all utility companies are encouraged to specify that any storm water inlets containing street grates, and utility covers and other surface irregularities be designed to be safe for the passage of bicycles.
4. Wherever it has street maintenance responsibility, the city is encouraged to make every reasonable effort to maintain as smooth as practical transitions between street surfaces and bridge decks, between street surfaces and concrete gutter sections, and between street surfaces and any street grates.
SECTION 2. That the purpose and intent of this Resolution is to give broad, general policy direction to the Director of Municipal Services and other appropriate employees and officials of the city and to strongly encourage them to utilize their best efforts to improve conditions for bicyclists on public streets within the city, and to grant them the authority to take the actions recommended in this Resolution if, in the exercise of their discretionary authority and sound engineering judgement, they deem such action to be appropriate.
ADOPTED, by the Governing Body of the city of Olathe, Kansas, this 5th day of October, 1993.
/s/ J. Michael Haskin
J. Michael Haskin, Mayor
ATTEST:
/s/ H. Pevehouse
City Clerk
(SEAL)
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
/s/ Thomas A. Glinstra
Municipal Counsel