Bike Walk Alliance for Missoula

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) and Toole Design Group announce a free webinar series covering the updated American Association of State Highway Transportation Official’s (AASHTO) Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities.   The series offers two presentations a month and is described below.

The updated guide, released in June 2012, serves as a key resource for creating and designing bicycle facilities in the U.S. This seven-part webinar series, which has been approved by the American Planning Association for certification maintenance credits, will cover all aspects of the updated guide.

To register for any of the webinars, go to www.bicyclinginfo.org/aashto.

Aug. 10, 2012: Overview of Revised AASHTO Guide for Development of Bicycle Facilities
This webinar will provide an overview of the entire Guide and its evolution and use throughout the U.S., as well as other resources that are used for bicycle facility design (MUTCD, NACTO). Participants will gain an understanding of the purpose and design imperative for the Guide, as well as the more substantive additions and revisions that have been made to the Guide.  Participants will be encouraged to participate in subsequent webinars that will provide more detail on each topic area in the Guide

Aug. 22, 2012: Bicycle Planning
This webinar will present the fundamentals of bicycle planning, including a discussion of the types of bicycling and bicyclists, methods for planning bicycle transportation networks, and the technical analysis tools that support bicycle planning. This module will also touch on integrating bicycles with transit and bicycle parking.

Sept. 4, 2012: Road Facilities Part 1: Bike Lanes
Webinar 3 will provide an overview of the elements of on-road bicycle facility design, and will focus primarily on bike lanes, including bike lane widths, signs and markings, intersection considerations, and means for retrofitting existing roadways to accommodate bike lanes. This section will cover guidance on where different types of facilities are appropriate, and how to design them including standard bike lanes, buffered bike lanes, bike lanes adjacent to reverse angled parking, green bike lanes, left-side bike lanes and contra-flow bike lanes.  Bicycle facility transitions, e.g. bike lane to shared lane marking will also be discussed. Bicycle operations and safety, including the design vehicle, traffic principles for bicycles, and a review of research on bicycle crashes will be referenced, as appropriate, throughout the module.

Sept. 18, 2012: On-Road Facilities Part 2: Shared Lanes, Paved Shoulders, Bicycle Boulevards and Traffic Signals
This webinar will discuss the design of other (non-bike lane) on road bicycle facilities, including shared lanes (unmarked and marked), paved shoulders and bicycle boulevards. Considerations for accommodating bicycles at traffic signals, including signal detection and timing, will also be discussed.  The fundamentals of bicycle guide signs (wayfinding) will be discussed.  Bicycle operations and safety, including the design vehicle, traffic principles for bicycles, and a review of research on bicycle crashes will be referenced, as appropriate, throughout the module.

Oct. 9, 2012: Off Road Facilities: Shared Use Path Design
Webinar 5 will discuss shared use path design and focus on topic areas that have been significantly expanded, including design speed, slope and gradient (including proposed ADAAG guidance on shared use paths), structures, stopping sight distance, and side path design. Pavement markings and signs will also be discussed.

Oct. 23, 2012: Off Road Facilities: Share Use Path – Roadway Intersection Design
Webinar 6 will focus on the design of shared use path/roadway intersections, including the design of midblock and side path crossings. Intersection controls and treatments, assignment of right-of-way, and other crossing considerations such as transition zones, traffic calming at intersections, and approach markings and signs will also be discussed.

Nov. 6, 2012: Maintenance and Operations
Webinar 7 will discuss recommended maintenance programs and activities. Topics covered will include sweeping, snow clearance, surface repairs, traffic signal detectors, and signs and markings. The operation of bicycle facilities in work zones will also be discussed.

PBIC offers free, public Webinars approximately every other month. To register for upcoming Webinars and to access archived presentations, please visit www.walkinginfo.org/webinars.

Since its inception in 1999, PBIC’s mission has been to improve the quality of life in communities through the increase of safe walking and bicycling as a viable means of transportation and physical activity. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center is maintained by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration.