City of Plano’s On-Street Bicycle Routes
2012 On Street Bike Route Map
Background
In 1985 the City of Plano began planning at the city level, with other adjacent cities and surrounding counties for an intricate bicycle transportation network using a combination of multi-use recreational trails and city streets. An important part of the current bicycle transportation network is the multi-use recreational trail system. You might be familiar with several of Plano’s trails already: Bluebonnet, Chisholm, Preston Ridge and Santa Fe. However, because trails require a dedicated space, they are typically located on park property.
Because there is a lack of contiguous park land for trails, the option for a much larger network of trails that interconnect with surrounding cities and facilities is limited. The solution to expanding the bicycle transportation network beyond the multi-use trail system is the designation of on-street bicycle routes. A combination of on-street routes and multi-use recreational trails can help complete a bicycle trip to work, to transit, for errands, or for recreation.
Timeline
As the city street network has been planned and developed, the on-street bicycle transportation network has followed closely behind. Bicycle transportation plans were approved as a part of city comprehensive plans in 1985, 1993 and 2001. Funding for the development and implementation of the on-street bicycle transportation network was approved in a 2005 bond election. An engineering consultant contract was approved on May 27, 2008 to evaluate and further develop the routes and to create an implementation plan. The engineering work was complete in 2009, and the roadway network has also been significantly completed since then with the addition of Rasor, Dominion, as well as the completion of Parkwood, and currently, Communications. This timing lends itself to the implementation of the network. The construction bid for the signage project was approved for construction on Aug 8, 2011. Recently, information on the project has been featured in the Dallas Morning News and on Channel 5.
What is an on-street bicycle route?
An on-street bicycle route is a road or a series of roads identified for bicycle use due to lower volumes of traffic such as residential or collector streets. On-street bicycle routes are also identified for their strategic connections to multi-use recreational trails, schools, libraries, recreation centers, DART bus or rail transit stops, shopping or places of employment.
What is the purpose of an on-street bicycle route network?
The on-street bicycle routes will have signage to show bicyclists how to navigate through the city using lower volume roadways. The on-street bicycle route network also includes several arterial roads or portions of arterial roads that are identified as bicycle routes as they are essential to completing connections where no other option is available. Plano’s on-street bicycle routes can be found on this on-street bicycle transportation map.
Signs are placed along routes so bicyclists can get the route information as they travel to connect to multi-use recreational trails, schools, libraries, recreation centers, DART bus or rail transit stops, shopping or places of employment. The signage also lets motorists know that bicyclists will be present on those routes.
Where will the on-street bicycle routes go?
These on-street bicycle routes are located throughout the city primarily on collector and residential type roads as well as a few select arterials. The city has more than 2,700 miles of total roadway, and this project will incorporate 168 of those miles. The routes will be identified along the roads with specific signage.
What will the signage be?
The signage is in accordance with the Texas Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices, a code that regulates traffic signage at the state level, ensuring that all traffic signage is consistent. This code also dictates how signs are placed in terms of location and frequency and how they are displayed. Most of the signage is green and white guidance signage. According to the Manual, guidance signage must be placed on its own post not in combination with yellow warning signs, stop signs or black and white regulatory signs.
The regulatory sign below tells both the cyclist and the motorist that the cyclist has the right to occupy the whole travel lane.
Guidance signs show the Plano logo, a bicycle symbol and the route number you are on. Some directional signs show which way to turn to intersect with another bicycle route.
Other directional signs show which direction to go, the route number, destination and the mileage remaining to the destination.
What do the numbers mean?
For example, the numbers 90, 88, 70 and 37 above are route numbers. The routes are numbered because they are often not one single through street but a combination of several different streets making up the route.
The numbering system mimics our nation’s interstate highway system. Odd numbers indicate north-south routes. The odd numbers are smaller on the west side of the city increasing as you move eastward starting with 5 and ending with 97. Even numbers indicate east-west routes. The even numbers are smaller on the south side of the city increasing as you move north starting with 2 and ending with 90.
What other cities have designated on-street bicycle routes that connect to Plano?
The City of Dallas has more than 360 miles of signed on-street bicycle routes with another 150 planned miles of future routes. Plano has two on-street bicycle routes that connect into Dallas, Mapleshade Lane and Ohio Drive.
The City of Frisco also has many miles of signed on-street bicycle routes. Plano routes that connect into Frisco include Legacy Drive, Parkwood Boulevard, Ohio Drive and Rasor Boulevard. In Plano Ohio Drive is part of an on-street bicycle route that extends from Main Street in Frisco south to Interstate 20 in Dallas.
What cities currently connect or will connect to Plano with on-street bicycle routes and/or multi-use recreational trails?
Allen, Carrollton, Dallas, Frisco, Murphy, Parker, Richardson, The Colony
Which cities in North Texas have plans for on-street bicycle routes?
Arlington, Denton, Fort Worth, Irving, McKinney
How can I plan a route?
You can plan a route using the on-street bicycle transportation map. Also, the City of Plano has submitted a comprehensive map of its trails and on-street bicycle routes to Google. Using Google Maps to make route planning faster, you can get bicycling directions from point A to B by selecting the bicycle icon above the address text boxes. Google’s bicycle directions are in beta and typically require some additional planning beyond the initial suggested route. Plano’s trails are shown in solid green lines, and the on-street bicycle routes are shown in dashed green lines.
What are the laws for bicycling on the streets?
Texas state law considers a bicycle to be a vehicle, and you must operate your bike according to vehicular laws on the street. A bicyclist should always obey all traffic laws, signs and signals. Never ride opposite the flow of traffic; stop at all stop signs and stop at red lights; wear visible clothing; use a white front and a red rear reflector or light. Although a helmet is not required by law, it is strongly encouraged.
The following resources can help provide more detailed information about bicycling laws and safety.
Plano Police Department
Texas Drivers Handbook
Texas Transportation Code
The following resources offer classroom and on-bike learning opportunities for on-street bicycling education.
BikeDFW
Bike Texas
League of American Bicyclists
What are the rules for bicycling on the multi-use recreational trails?
Multi-use recreational trails are very popular with many types of users. A consequence of their success can be congestion. When you follow the rules, your experience will be safer and more enjoyable. We ask that when you use the trails that you are courteous, stay right, pass left, announce when passing, yield to slower users, stop at stop signs, wear a helmet and obey the 15 mph trail speed limit. Please understand and follow these guidelines when using Plano’s multi-use recreational trails.
What bicycle repair shops are located in Plano?
Performance Bicycle Spring Creek Parkway and US 75
Plano Cycling & Fitness 18th Street and US 75
REI Preston Road and Park Boulevard
What are the local cycling clubs in the Plano/North Texas area?
Carrollton Cycling Club
Dallas Off Road Bicycle Association
Frisco Cycling Club
Greater Dallas Bicycle Association
Plano Bicycle Association
Recumbent Bike Enthusiasts of North Texas
Shawnee Trail Cycling Club
Who can I contact for more information?
Renée Burke Jordan
972-941-7168