Alameda 1999 Bicycle Master Plan

This is an electronic version of the 1999 Bicycle Master Plan, adopted in January 1999 by the City Council. Due to the way the document was put together, many tables and images are not available. (We hope to put them in "by hand" in the future where they are relevant.) The Bike Map, however, is available here.

There are two ways of reading the document: as HTML documents (which are quick to download, but formatted poorly due to being exports for Microsoft Word and/or WordPerfect) or as PDF files (which may require you to download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free from Adobe's site).

Of course, the best way to read the document is to get a printed copy. You can find a couple at the Alameda Free Library, or you buy your own copy from Public Works.

Name

Description
Cover HTML
The credits - community members and staff members who put this together
Table of Contents HTML PDF The table of contents is not too useful online, but serves as an outline of the content.
Executive Summary HTML PDF See Below
Part 1 HTML PDF Goals and Objectives
Part 2 HTML PDF Existing Conditions
Part 3 HTML
Needs Analysis
Part 4 HTML
Recommended System & Improvements
Part 5 HTML PDF Design and Maintenance Standards
Part 6 HTML
Implementation Strategy
Appendix

(Not available online yet)
Please note that on these documents, you may have to scroll down to get from one "page" to another. Keep in mind that they were originally designed for printed output, not online reading.
Executive Summary

The recent and continuing land use changes within Alameda, along with the community's desire for bicycle friendly streets that serve commuters and recreational riders alike, call for a comprehensive Bicycle Master Plan. A safe and effective bikeway network throughout the City enhances the quality of life for residents as well as attracts visitors who wish to explore the island's scenic routes by bicycle. The plan addresses issues of safety, access, quality of life and the effective implementation of bikeways.

Outlined in the plan are a detailed set of policies, goals and objectives designed to be in concert with the City's General Plan, the NAS Street Improvement Plan, as well as other relevant regional plans. These policies address important issues related to Alameda's bikeways such as, planning, community involvement, utilization of existing resources, facility design, multi-modal integration, safety and education, support facilities and programs, funding, implementation and maintenance.

The short-to-mid-term top recommended projects in the Plan include:

  1. Webster/Posey Tubes, Oakland Connection
  2. Central Avenue Bike Lanes
  3. Bicycle Support Facilities
  4. Shoreline Trail Enhancements
  5. Bay Farm Island Bike Bridge Access
  6. Northern Bikeway Corridor and Park/Fruitvale Bridges Bicycle Access
  7. San Jose-Sherman Bikeway Corridor
  8. Commercial Area Bicycle Corridors
  9. Fifth Street Corridor
  10. Atlantic Avenue Bikeway
  11. Bay Farm Island Bikeways
  12. Alameda Point and FISC Bikeway Systems

Along with the completion of a comprehensive bikeway network, the plan calls for new educational and promotional programs to be implemented over the 20-year life of the Plan. The plan recommends that the implementation of bikeways, facilities and signage follow adopted Caltrans standards. Proposals that do not meet current standards should be individually reviewed and approved by Caltrans before implementation. The Design and Maintenance element of the Plan outlines specific standards and guidelines pertaining to Alameda's bikeways.

The plan positions Alameda to successfully compete for state and federal funding from which to implement the recommended projects. The total costs for bicycle projects identified in the plan over a 20 year period is estimated at $3.6 million ($1998), with the Alameda Point Class I facilities representing approximately 55% of these costs. Bicycle program costs are estimated to be $36,000 per year, a fraction of which would be the City's responsibility. The City would be responsible for about 13% of bicycle project costs amounting to an estimated $47,000 per year.

There are a variety of potential funding sources including local, state, regional and federal funding programs that can be used to construct the proposed bikeway network improvements. The application process for many of the funding sources is competitive and in many cases requires an adopted bicycle master plan. Regional funding is primarily obtained from the Air Quality Management District through Transportation Fund for Clean Air grants, state funding typically comes from the Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds, and federal funding comes from newly adopted TEA-21 legislation. Detailed information on these as well as additional funding sources are outlined in the implementation section of this Plan. The Plan recommends implementing projects as funding becomes available and implementing short-to-mid-term and less expensive projects first.


Table of Contents

Introduction
1.0 Goals and Objectives
1.1 Relationship between this Plan and other Planning Efforts
1.2 Goals of the Bicycle Master Plan
2.0 Existing Conditions
2.1 Definition of Bikeways
2.2 Existing Bicycle Facilities
2.3 Relevant Legislation and Policies
2.4 Bicycle Parking Facilities
2.5 Multi-Modal Connections
3.0 Needs Analysis
3.1 Commuter and Recreational Bicycle Needs
3.2 Accident Analysis
4.0 Recommended System & Improvements
4.1 Bicycle System
4.2 Creating a Bikeway System
4.3 Description of Proposed Bikeway Improvements
4.4 Bicycle Parking and Other Support Facilities
4.5 Bicycle Safety
4.6 Community and Employer Outreach
5.0 Design and Maintenance Standards
5.1 Existing Bicycle Design Standards and Classifications
5.2 General Design Recommendations
5.3 Class I, II, and III Bikeway Design Guidelines
5.4 Other Facilities
5.5 Other Design Guidelines
5.6 Monitoring, Maintenance and Security
6.0 Implementation Strategy
6.1 Cost Breakdown
6.2 Funding
6.3 Financing