REPORT TO BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Title
Class III Bike Routes and Class IV Protected Bikeways (Garcia)
Report
BACKGROUND
At the August 28, 2023, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) meeting former member Granvold requested to have the BPAC discuss the use of Class III Bike Routes and Sharrows (Attachment 1). Specifically, the topic includes discussing the usefulness of Class III bicycle facilities and potentially removing them from recommendations in the current Bicycle Master Plan.
At the August 22, 2022, BPAC meeting, member Megas requested BPAC discuss Class IV Protected Bike Lanes (Attachment 2). Specifically, the topic includes discussing the best practices and designs for construction of Class IV bicycle facilities.
DISCUSSION
Currently, the California Streets and Highways Code (SHC) 890.4 includes the following bikeway categories and definitions:
a) Class I Bikeways - Bike paths or shared use paths which provide a completely separated right-of-way designated for the exclusive use of bicycles and pedestrians with crossflows by motorists minimized.
b) Class II Bikeways - Bike lanes which provide a restricted right-of-way designated for the exclusive or semi-exclusive use of bicycles with through travel by motor vehicles or pedestrians prohibited, but with vehicle parking and crossflows by pedestrians and motorists permitted.
c) Class III Bikeways - Bike routes which provide a right-of-way on-street or off-street, designated by signs or permanent markings and shared with pedestrians and motorists.
d) Class IV Bikeways - Cycle tracks or separated bikeways which promote active transportation and provide a right-of-way designated exclusively for bicycle travel adjacent to a roadway and which are separated from vehicular traffic. Types of separation include, but are not limited to, grade separation, flexible posts, inflexible physical barriers, or on-street parking.
The Santa Clara Bicycle Plan Update, 2018 ("Bike Plan"...
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