Statewide bicycle system in the works

1:27 p.m., June 9, 2005--The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) has announced the availability of its draft “Statewide Bicycle Facility Master Plan” for public review. The proposed plan will create a statewide system of bikeways that will form a connection between municipalities, activity centers and recreational areas.

Under the proposed plan, DelDOT would integrate 1,700 miles of bikeways into regular road maintenance, design, construction and planning. This document would give guidance to planners, engineers, local governments and developers. In the past, planning bike routes were a hit or miss situation. However, the proposed plan would require bicycle routes be considered in every project.

The bicycle network will potentially bond workplaces and neighborhoods, allow cyclists to reach tourism destinations and provide routes to parks, urban centers and for other shorter trips. A rider will be able to reach these destinations with ease as a result of the route signs and roadway connections.

Initiated in November 2003, the plan includes three main types of bikeways--statewide, regional, and recreational routes.

Statewide routes would make north-south connections as well as join Delaware's bike paths to routes in Maryland and Pennsylvania. In New Castle County, there would be a total of 126 miles, Kent County would have 92 miles and Sussex County would have 117 miles.
Regional routes would connect activity centers. These routes would follow existing roadways to ensure the fastest trip possible. There would be a total of 71 miles in New Castle County, 102 miles in Kent County and 227 miles in Sussex.
Recreational routes would connect activity and recreational centers to the larger bike network. The plan includes 301 miles in New Castle County, 307 miles in Kent County, and 366 miles in Sussex County.

Combined, these bikeways would cover 34 percent of Delaware's roadways. As always, safety is a top concern for DelDOT. Consequently, bike friendly drainage, appropriate signage and lane striping, and special consideration for bridges have been incorporated into the plan.

"We have listened to concerns voiced by cyclists from around the state," Joe Cantalupo, project manager, said. "Bicycling is a form of transportation. Accordingly, we feel that it is necessary to address the needs of the cyclists in everything we do."

DelDOT seeks additional public comments as it finalizes the plan and encourages cyclists and others to visit [www.deldot.gov/static/projects/bike_and_ped/bike_facilities/index.html], or call 1-800-652-5600 (instate only) with questions or comments by June 30.

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