Subways of North America
Monthly Archives: April 2014
Bicycle Infrastructure Classification (yes, I should be writing a paper …)
I’m one of those people that likes to classify things. Is taxonomist the right description? Anyway, for me, it’s important to be buzz-word compliant but with a purpose: Once I have the list in my head, I can hang the details off each peg. So it appears that bicycle infrastructure is classified something like this:
Separate Facility (a.k.a. Class I) – A non-motorized facility, paved or unpaved, physically separated from motorized vehicular traffic by an open space or barrier. Also called Bicycle Path, Bike Trail, Non-motorized Trail, Multi-purpose Trail or some combination thereof.
Bike Lane (a.k.a. Class II) – A portion of a roadway that is designated by striping, signing and pavement markings for the preferential or exclusive use of bicyclists. Most often these are done in couplets, each one being one way and adjacent to the outside through travel lane. Also called Bicycle Lanes.
Bike Route (a.k.a. Class III) – A segment of road designated by the jurisdiction having authority, with appropriate directional and informational markers, but without striping, signing and pavement markings for the preferential or exclusive use of bicyclists. Also called Bicycle Route.
Bike Friendly (a.k.a. Class IV) – A roadway not designated by directional and informational markers, striping, signing nor pavement markings for the preferential or exclusive use of bicyclists, but containing appropriate bicycle-friendly design standards such as wide-curb lanes and bicycle safe drain grates.
This is all stolen from this site, which in turn seems to have stolen it from AASHTO.
I have simplified this further:
- Hardscape
- Paint
- Signs
- Luck
😀
I don’t know if those classes are AASHTO or not. MOAR RESEARCH!
Updated to add a few links to similar resources:
Cool Land Re-use Project
This Thursday, The Mass Pike Straightening Project Begins Public Process
The railroad yard was old, probably dating to the 1800s (would have to look it up). Built by the Boston & Albany RR, part of the New York Central System. It eventually went to Penn Central, then Conrail, and finally CSX Transportation. Well, CSX has pulled back to Worcester if I remember correctly, meaning that almost all freight now moves into and out of Boston by truck. The MBTA still runs commuter trains along the line that this yard was on.
That unfortunate reality aside, the abandonment of the yard means that the Allston interchange on the Mass Pike can be rebuilt and simplified and 60-100 acres of land reclaimed for new uses. Very cool!
Oklahoma City transit changing name, increasing service
Oklahoma City transit changing name, increasing service.
Before it was EMBARK, it was METRO Transit (well, I guess it’s not actually EMBARK yet). Before it was METRO Transit, it was MassTrans. Before it was MassTrans, I believe it was just COTPA (Central Oklahoma Transit and Parking Authority). Before it was COTPA, it was the Oklahoma Transportation Company, a private company. Before it was the Oklahoma Transportation Company, it was the Oklahoma Railway Company. Before it was the Oklahoma Railway Company … it was actually several different street railway companies, interurban railway companies, and some companies just set up to build the lines and I really don’t have a good handle on that.
But, hey, WiFi.