HomeMy Public PortalAbout20100202Tybee Island Bike Plan.doc1. INTRODUCTION
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Bike Plan for the City of Tybee Island is to improve and encourage bicycle transportation within the City Limits. It is being constructed to develop and promote and
comprehensive system of bikeways and facilities. This is Tybee Island’s first adopted Bicycle Plan and will serve as an important tool in providing current and future policies and proposals
that will mold and conform bicycle facilities and guide bicycle planning activities within the City.
BICYCLING AND TYBEE ISLAND
With rising concerns regarding fuel prices and sedentary lifestyles, bicycling offers a clean, economic, and healthy transportation mode. Tybee Island with a mild climate, strong sense
of community lifestyle, compact location, and smooth terrain is an ideal location for the enhancement of bicycling. Through the implementation of this plan, Tybee Island residents and
visitors will have access to a safe and well maintained network of bikeways, which link to important destinations on the Island.
THE PLANNING PROCESS
This plan has been developed by the Bicycle Committee for the City of Tybee Island, which includes representatives from city personnel, public safety, community groups, and citizens.
The process for development of this plan involved identifying problems and proposing a vision, goals, objectives, and policies.
There have been three key elements that have been identified to address within the initial Bike Plan for the City of Tybee Island. Throughout this planning document these areas will
be:
The Tybee Island Bicycle Network
Bicycle Parking on Tybee Island
Bicycle Safety, Education, and Outreach.
POLICY FRAMEWORK AND PRIORITIZATION
The policy framework provides the basis for planning bicycle facilities and to encourage and promote the safe usage of bicycles throughout Tybee Island. The policies will address network
improvements, parking, facilities, promotion, and education for biking through the city. The goals that can be found throughout this plan reflect the City of Tybee Island’s ongoing
commitment to making Tybee Island a bicycle friendly city and increasing the transportation options for the visitors and residents of Tybee Island.
The Plan provides the model for the city to furnish the facilities and promotion needed to advance bicycling as a truly viable transportation alternative. With the creation of this Plan
and coordination with the Tybee Island Master Plan, efforts towards a multi-use transportation network throughout Tybee Island will be furthered.
The prioritization of projects and facility improvements will provide City staff with a defined set of goals to be completed as financing becomes available. It is intended for these
goals to be reviewed, evaluated, and amended on an annual basis, along with any other areas of this plan as deemed necessary by City Council and/or City staff.
SETTING
The City of Tybee Island is located along the eastern portion of Chatham County with the eastern boundary of the City being the Atlantic Ocean. Tybee Island’s natural surroundings attract
thousands of people for recreation and relaxation on a monthly basis throughout the year. The largest increase of visitors to Tybee Island occurs between the months of May and September
each year, which is generally the heavy tourist season throughout the region.
Tybee Island is a municipality located within a 2.7 square mile area and has a residential population of 3,732, according to the 2006 U.S. Census update. With the favorable climate,
flat terrain, family-oriented lifestyle, compact location, and the convenient proximity to a larger urban area, Tybee Island is an ideal location for bicycling.
Land Use
Tybee Island has as much of a rural and small town feel as can be found in a beach community. However, the city has done a tremendous job in fostering and managing growth for the area
to such an extent as still not reaching the carrying capacity for the area. However, as time has gone on, the needs for the island and the carrying capacity are becoming closer and
closer. The city has taken measures, through its Land Development Code, to encourage mixed-use developments, encourage conservation easements for the preservation of the natural areas
of the island, undertaken measures to improve drainage concerns for the island, and funded studies to find solutions for alleviating several concerns on the island: parking, littering,
healthiness of the beach, and streetscape improvements. In 2009, Tybee Island was named “America’s Healthiest Beach” by Health magazine.
Demographics
Commuting patterns and the City’s transportation options are not in line with each other at the present time. There is no public modal transportation option that enters or exits Tybee
Island for those that live on the island and work off or vice versa. Just to be specific modal transportation refers to walking, bicycling, driving, or taking public transportation.
Essentially, it refers to available and common transportation options. While commuting to the Island is not a feasible alternative to some, the promotion of cycling throughout Tybee
Island certainly is.
According the 2000 US Census, as seen in Table 1, only 3.3% of the population of the United States walked or biked to work in 2000 with an additional 16.9% either using public transportation
or carpooling. In comparison, the State of Georgia figures for cycling were less as a percentage than the national average. Even with such a small population, Tybee Island residents
(1.3%) are cycling at a rate three times the national average (0.4%). This demonstrates the importance of a bicycle network and safety measures to ensure that cyclists are receiving
as much attention as fellow motorists.
Table 1- 2000 Modal Split in the United States, State of Georgia, and City of Tybee Island
Mode
U.S.
Georgia
Tybee Island
Bicycle
0.4%
0.1%
1.3%
Drove Alone
75.7%
77.5%
83.7%
Carpool
12.2%
14.5%
8.3%
Public Transit
4.7%
2.3%
0.2%
Walked
2.9%
1.7%
1.7%
Other
4.1%
3.8%
4.8%
Source: U.S. Census 2000 www.census.gov
2. THE TYBEE ISLAND BICYCLE NETWORK
GOAL
Expansion of a well connected and comprehensive bicycle network.
OBJECTIVES
Provide safe spaces for bicycling through a comprehensive network of bikeways and routes that are appropriately signed and marked for both cyclists and motorists. The facilities should
include on-street routes, marked bicycle lanes where possible, and multi-use trails through unimproved areas of the Tybee Island network of roads.
POLICIES
Keys to Implementation
Additional bikeways will be established while incorporating future and current routes within an overall network.
The Department of Public Works will continue to maintain a weekly sweeping schedule and provide any maintenance required for the bikeways.
Bicycle projects will be incorporated into the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP).
They City will provide adequate access to all schools, recreation facilities, and potential transit stops in the future event of the location of public transportation to Tybee Island.
Integrate residential and commercial areas of the island in the plan.
Interconnecting existing resources will be a top priority for all future improvements in the bike network.
The plan will continue to encourage bicycle networks to be located on minor streets while intersecting major and collector streets only at necessary junctures.
Estimated Cost: $65,000
The expansion of the bicycle network can be done for less than $15,000 as the requirements for such will fall on city staff for the designation and information. The costs for this will
lie within the creation and implementation of additional signage for designations of future areas of the bicycle network and the printing of educational materials for the public detailing
the bike routes and their respective locations. A majority of the remaining costs of $50,000 would be incurred with the improvements made to the existing trail through Memorial Park
on Tybee Island. The existing designated bicycle routes are currently shown in the Tybee Island Bicycling Guide, which is included as “Appendix A” in this plan. This guide is available
at City Hall and can be found on the City’s website at http://www.cityoftybee.org/Assets/Files/BikeBrochure.pdf.
Figure 1.
Existing Tybee Island Bicycle Network
3. BICYCLE PARKING ON TYBEE ISLAND
GOAL
Increase and ensure plentiful bicycle parking of the highest possible quality.
OBJECTIVE
Provide adequate and aesthetically pleasing short and long-term end of trip bicycling parking throughout the island.
ACCOMODATING BICYCLISTS
In order to properly accommodate and encourage the use of bicycling, secure and convenient bicycle parking facilities must be available at all convenient locations throughout Tybee Island.
There are two types of bicycle parking that will need to be addressed:
Short-term parking – This is the manner of bicycle parking meant to accommodate visitors, retail patrons, messengers, bicycle delivery users, and others that will typically only remain
their locations for a maximum of two hours. This requires the strategic placement of standard bike racks.
Long-term parking – Bicycle parking meant to accommodate employees, students, residents, potential commuters, and others that are expected to park for longer than two hours as that will
be the ideal threshold for short-term parking.
Currently, the there are no long-term parking options for cyclists provided by the City of Tybee Island in a public capacity. There may be some businesses that provide this type of service
for their employees but it is not open to the public. The City of Tybee Island does provide public bike racks throughout the city and are they are located strategically in such areas
as shopping hubs, heavily trafficked beach entry locations, City Hall, and at the YMCA recreation center to name a few. While it is acknowledged that there are currently not enough
of these racks, future acquisitions are being budgeted.
POLICIES
Keys to Implementation
For short term parking, the city shall encourage the continued use of the inverted “U” racks as shown below.
Inverted “U” racks will be located on sidewalks for short-term parking and placed as close as allowed to the curb under the ordinances of Tybee Island.
Explore the potential location for long-term parking facility at major areas of employment and public facilities.
Implement a bike rack donation program where a rack can be donated to the city and be affixed with a plaque recognizing the donor of that rack. Attempts will be made, if a business,
to locate the rack in the closest proximity to the business as possible.
Create an amendment to the parking regulations of the Land Development Code to allow for certain numbers of bicycle parking spaces on private parking to substitute for off-street parking
required by the ordinance.
Estimated Cost: $50,000
The addition of parking facilities for cyclists on Tybee will be a hard cost that will require a budgeted item. The cost of the bike racks and placement of those racks will be the majority
of the costs associated with increasing the parking for bicycles on Tybee. However, if the city wishes to pursue placement of bicycle lockers on the island, the cost will increase as
they range upwards of $4,000 for a locker that parks two bikes. At the time, the City will continue to focus on short-term parking options in hopes that the need will be met through
the increase in bicycle parking racks in strategic locations.
4. BICYCLE SAFETY, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH ON TYBEE ISLAND
GOAL
Educate school age children and the general public about bicycle safety both on Tybee Island and when cycling in other locations as well.
OBJECTIVE
Create and conduct annual or more frequent new and existing education programs that promote bicycle safety for all age groups on the island.
BICYCLE SAFETY AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Educational programs for bicycling are an integral part of bicycle safety. As typical accident data reveals, most collisions occur due to negligence of the cyclist, driver, or both.
Therefore, a greater effort needs to be made to ensure that motorists are educated on cyclists and cyclists are educated on motorists. In the State of Georgia, cyclists must obey the
same laws that apply to motorists. Safety education programs for schools and the community provide an essential foundation for bicycle safety by informing cyclists of their rights and
responsibilities as a moving vehicle. Schools should be encouraged to continue their bicycle safety presentations and if they see the need increase the frequency of such presentations.
These presentations are given by a member of the Tybee Island Police Department.
Bicycle events not only increase safety awareness and bicycle usage, but also provide community-oriented activities that build community character and pride. While current programs,
such as the police department’s educational program, provide much needed in-school bicycle safety awareness, cycling events in the community, sponsored by local businesses and civic
organizations, can teach both children and adults about the benefits of safe cycling.
Current Programs available to Tybee Island
Tybee to Savannah Bike Ride
This is the annual bike ride held in November of each year and sponsored by the Savannah Bicycle Campaign where cyclists begin their 23 mile journey on Tybee Island and end in downtown
Savannah. The 2009 event drew 160 riders and is a tremendous way to promote cycling in the region.
City of Tybee Island Police Department Programs
The Tybee Island Police Department conducts various training courses at the local school on Tybee Island throughout the school year. They also coordinate with the school to enforce the
helmet law that requires students to wear their helmet when using their bicycles. In addition, there are efforts currently underway with the police department to increase the frequency
of
events such as bike rodeos and increasing the amount of uniformed patrol on bicycles during special events on the island. These events are not only useful in teaching safe practices
while cycling, but can also be fun for the entire community.
Helmet Campaigns
The Tybee Island YMCA has conducted programs where they pass out free helmets to those that stop in and request one during their operating hours. This program will be a continual effort
to ensure cyclists on the island are abiding to the safety requirements set forth by the State of Georgia.
Bike to Work Week/Month Proclamations
The City of Tybee Island annually promotes these series of events that are organized by the city and community members. There is an effort to increase the cycling on the island through
these designated time frames as established by full support and proclamation of the Mayor and City Council of Tybee Island.
POLICIES
Keys to Implementation
Work with local community organizations to ensure that they are educating their members on bicycle safety and request their participation in educational efforts for the island.
Update and distribute educational brochures (See Appendix A) that promote safe cycling on Tybee Island and also providing a map of the designated safe bike routes.
Provide bicycle information via the City of Tybee Island website, www.cityoftybee.org and promote bicycle safety programs through the social networking feeds that are in use via the
City of Tybee Island, Facebook and Twitter.
Utilize the Bike to Work Week and National Bike Month proclamations to show the City’s commitment to these efforts by having city staff and elected officials utilize the bicycle network
for conducting of routine business of the city during those times.
Work with the local business community in order to reach guests of the island during the high tourist season that might not have received any education of these practices for the island.
In addition, ensure that each business which requests copies of the Tybee Island Bicycle Safety Guide understands that they will be able to customize this brochure to include the name
and logo for their specific business. This will facilitate a public-private partnership in the community.
The City of Tybee Island must continue to update and maintain the devoted section of the city’s website aimed at bicycling on Tybee Island.
The city must coordinate with organizations such as Better Hometown, Tybee Island Tourism Council, and other groups with a strong business presence to spread information concerning training
opportunities and efforts that are undertaken by the city in regarding cycling on the island.
Estimated Cost: $15,000
The costs for the education and outreach portions of this Bike Plan are geared at promoting cycling safety on the island. These funds will be used to print and distribute materials explaining
all aspects of Tybee’s bicycle program. In addition, the utilization of Tybee Island Police Department will allow for the state of the art safety equipment available for cyclists to
be utilized in order to maintain safety while cycling. The city should work with the YMCA to ensure that their free helmet program is continued.
Appendix B: Land Use Map