What is a Bicycle Boulevard?
Bicycle Boulevard FAQ
What is a Bicycle Boulevard?
A bicycle boulevard is a type of shared roadway. They are generally located on local, residential streets with lower speed limits (25mph or less) and lower average daily traffic in order to create routes that are safer and more bicycle friendly. They help give bicycles priority over automobiles.
Are there any Bicycle Boulevards in Tucson?
A large part of 3rd Street is a bicycle boulevard.
How do Bicycle Boulevards work?
Bicycle boulevards usually take advantage of the “grid system” that is typical of most cities. They almost always connect with other bikeways to complete a larger regional bicycle network. Typically, they involve frequent wayfinding signage and include some traffic calming devices such as traffic circles and chicanes. They also help make busy intersections safer to cross by the installation of bicycle and pedestrian specific facilities such as Hawks and Toucans.
To recap, Bicycle Boulevards usually have 5 main elements:
- Traffic Calming
- Traffic Reduction
- Signage
- Intersection Treatments
- Prioritized Travel
Where are Bicycle Boulevards used?
Bicycle Boulevards work best in dense urban areas, where they can integrate into other bicycle facilities such as bike lanes, mixed use paths, etc. The goal is for them to provide a network of safe routes for people to access grocery stores, the bank, schools, and other amenities that we all visit in the course of our daily routine.
How are they different from bicycle lanes?
Bicycle lanes are an appropriate measure for establishing space for bicycles along major, congested corridors (for example along Speedway Boulevard, here in Tucson). They are generally good for experience cyclists making longer, often recreational commutes to the outskirts of the city. Bicycle boulevards are more about safe daily commuting for all experience levels of cyclists.
How can I support Bicycle Boulevards in the greater Tucson area?
One way is to write letters of support to your county supervisors. We’ll have demonstration letters posted to this site soon, but for now you’re welcome to use our comment form below and we’ll forward them for you.
Who else in Tucson Supports Bicycle Boulevards?
- The Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee (TPCBAC) (Read their letter of support)
- The Tucson Department of Transportation (See their presentation on bicycle boulevards)
- The City of Tucson (seeApril 6, 2010 memorandum from Richard Miranda, Deputy City Manager)
How can I learn more about Bicycle Boulevards?
There are many websites that explain the ideas behind and the benefits of bicycle boulevards. These are just a few:
- Jenny Leijonhufvud, a graduate student at the U of A, did a comprehensive thesis on bicycle boulevards in Tucson. You can download it from TDOT’s website by clicking here.
- Alta Planning has new guidelines for Bicycle Boulevards that you can download here.
- Portland State University published a case study entitled “Resident Perceptions of Bicycle Boulevards: A SE Salmon Street Case Study”
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_boulevard
- http://www.bta4bikes.org/at_work/bikeboulevards.php
- http://www.streetfilms.org/portland-or-bicycle-boulevards/
- http://streetswiki.wikispaces.com/Bicycle+Boulevard
- http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/faqs/answer.cfm?id=3976
