The Fort Worth City Council approved a long-range plan Tuesday to make it easier for bicyclists to get around the city. Here are some highlights of the plan, known as Bike Fort Worth:

Goals

• Triple the number of bike lanes and trails to 1,100.
• Increase the number of bicycle commuters from 0.2 percent of the population to 0.6 percent.
• Decrease the number of car-bicycle fatalities by 10 percent.
• Attain designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community through the League of American Bicyclists.

Plan of action

• Adopt a “complete streets” policy so that new streets are built with room for cars, mass transit, pedestrians and bikes.
• Establish a bicycling education program to promote safe bicycling and interaction between cars and cyclists.
• Include the bike plan in the city’s Master Thoroughfare Plan. This will allow the city to set aside land for trails and bike lanes when it acquires land for future roads, and make it easier to apply for state and federal grants.
• Distribute an updated bicycle map and commuter guide.
• Ensure bicycle accommodation on all major transit corridors, station areas and transit hubs.
• Develop a bicycle and pedestrian transportation plan.
• Implement a zoning ordinance for bicycle parking.

By MIKE LEE – from http://www.star-telegram.com/local/story/1961439.html

Bike Fort Worth is the City’s comprehensive bicycle transportation plan for developing a friendlier bicycle environment.  Recommendations for supportive policies, programs and facilities are included to increase bicycle transportation within the City of Fort Worth.

The City has identified three goals to benchmark the success of the plan:

• Triple the number of bicycle commuters
• Decrease bicyclist related crashes by 10 percent
• Attain official designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community through the League of American Bicyclists.

Implementation of the Bike Fort Worth plan will promote bicycling as a safe and attractive transportation alternative.  A bicycle transportation network will improve livability in Fort Worth by providing an alternative travel option to residents of the City and improved access to other modes of transit.

For parking facilities Dowtown and from Magnolia Street to Magnolia Avenue area, please refer to the Bicycle Rack Map (PDF). For information regarding Regional Bike Trail systems visit the North Central Texas Council Of Governments (NCTCOG) Bike Web.

For comments or questions regarding the Bike Fort Worth plan, contact Julia McCleeary, 817-392-2593.

Public Hearing

A public hearing on the draft Bike Fort Worth Plan is scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at the regular City Council meeting. The meeting will take place in City Hall’s Council Chamber, 1000 Throckmorton St.

Documents

• Draft — Bike Fort Worth Plan
• Draft — Recommended Bicycle Transportation Network
• Presentation to Plan Commission (Oct. 28, 2009)

Source: http://www.fortworthgov.org