The City of Irving, in collaboration with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), is making strides towards enhancing bicycle infrastructure with the release of the final draft of the Irving Bike Plan. The plan, aimed at fostering safer and more inclusive bicycle travel throughout the city, is now open for community review and comment.
Scheduled for potential City Council consideration on March 21, the Irving Bike Plan is a crucial step in identifying comprehensive on-street networks dedicated to bicycle travel. These networks will cater to individuals of all ages and abilities while also establishing vital connections to neighboring cities. The Bike Plan also aims to pinpoint key corridors for immediate action and establish strategies for ensuring safe bicycle passage from current infrastructure and trails to new city zones. Furthermore, it will outline estimated costs for both short and long-term projects, as well as propose phased implementation plans. These insights will inform recommended policies and funding approaches outlined in the Bike Plan.
The plan outlines various types of proposed bicycle facilities, each designed to address specific traffic conditions and enhance the safety and comfort of cyclists:
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Bike Lane: A dedicated lane adjacent to vehicular travel lanes, marked with "Bike Lane" signage.
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Buffered Bike Lane: Similar to a bike lane, but with an added visual buffer space separating cyclists from vehicular traffic. Ideal for roads with moderate traffic volumes and speeds.
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Separated Bike Lane: A physically separated lane with vertical elements like lane separators, concrete curbs, or flex posts, providing improved safety on roads with higher traffic volumes and speeds.
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Two-Way Cycle Track: Dedicated lanes separated from vehicular traffic, allowing bi-directional bicycle movement on one side of the roadway. Suitable for streets with few intersections and high vehicular volumes.
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Side Path (Shared Use Path): An off-street facility shared by pedestrians and cyclists, physically separated from motorized traffic.
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Bicycle Boulevard: Streets designed for shared bicycle and vehicular travel, incorporating various elements like pavement markings, traffic calming measures, and signage. Ideal for areas with low traffic volumes and speeds. View example of Bicycle Blvd from Tucson AZ.
Community members are encouraged to review the final draft of the Irving Bike Plan and provide feedback to help shape the future of bicycle infrastructure in the city. The plan's proposed policies and funding strategies will be influenced by the input received from residents.
Access the final draft of the Irving Bike Plan and its Appendices.
The Irving Traffic and Transportation Department is accepting public input on the Draft Bike Plan until March 13. Comments and questions can be submitted via email to traffic@cityofirving.org.
Survey Revealed Community Insights on Bicycling in Irving
In an effort to understand public perspectives on bicycling safety and infrastructure, the City of Irving conducted an online survey in 2022. The survey, which ran from May 4th to August 5th, garnered responses from 457 individuals, with 327 fully completing all questions.
Key findings from the survey shed light on various aspects of bicycling within the community:
Frequency of Bicycling:
- Nearly 90 percent of respondents had bicycled at least once in the past 12 months, with almost 76 percent biking at least a few times or more every month.
- More than 65 percent of respondents reported bicycling at least a few times a week, highlighting a significant portion of regular bicyclists in the community.
Bicycling for Transportation or Recreation:
- Over 52 percent of respondents indicated biking to reach destinations such as work, school, or shopping on a monthly basis.
- Nearly 94 percent of respondents engaged in biking for fun or exercise at least once or twice a week in the past month.
- A substantial 95 percent of respondents expressed a desire to travel by bike more frequently than they currently do.
Perceived Barriers to Bicycling:
- 43 percent of respondents expressed feeling unsafe while biking in their community, indicating concerns about bicycling safety.
- More than 35 percent cited feeling unsafe as a reason for not biking as much as they would like.
Bicycle Access:
- 23 percent of respondents considered a quarter mile as a reasonable maximum distance for reaching a bicycle facility.
- Sixty percent highlighted the absence of bike lanes, trails, and paths near their vicinity as a deterrent to bicycling more often.
- Nearly 78 percent expressed dissatisfaction with disconnected bike lanes, trails, and paths, indicating the need for improved connectivity in the bicycle infrastructure network.
