Adopt-a-Lane Program

BWAM’s Adopt-a-Lane Project provides an opportunity for BWAM volunteers to assist the City Street Maintenance Division in clearing snow from designated bike lanes. Neighborhood “captains” will contact the Streets Division when lanes are not cleared.

Following snowfall accumulations greater than 2", bike lanes along “priority 1” snow removal routes are accorded "priority 1" status, just like the streets. Brian Hensel, Superintendent of the Missoula Street Maintenance Division, has agreed to work with BWAM to assure that bike lanes throughout the city are kept as clear as possible.

Neighborhood captains contact Brian’s office when lanes have not been cleared within a reasonable period OR when city plows have created obstructions in bike lanes. We are also encouraged to contact his office when homeowners or businesses move snow from sidewalks or driveways into bike lanes/routes.

TO REPORT CONCERNS:

We are currently organizing Neighborhood Captains to represent Missoula's Council Districts (578kb). If you want to be a Neighborhood Captain, let us know, or to report an obstructed bike lane in your neighborhood, we encourage you to write a brief email with description, place, and time and send it to BWAM at bikewalk@bikewalkmissoula.org.

CITY OF MISSOULA “BIKE LANE PLOWING” PLAN AND MAP (725kb).

Snow is not to be deposited on bicycle lanes marked with a person/bike over a diamond symbol. A pick-up mounted plow and deicer system (unit 105) is dedicated to plow and deice the full length and width of all bike lanes adjacent to priority one streets during snow fall events. All bike lanes will be plowed concurrently with priority one streets. Bike lane snow removal will be done primarily during day shift hours from 6:30am to 2:30pm. However, additional plowing/deicing may be done outside of snow events to clear snow accumulations resulting from snow shoved into bike lanes by vehicle traffic. These lanes will be kept clear of snow as follows:

1. All snow accumulations will be plowed to the edge of the street or bike lane with the following exceptions:

• A. All bridges/overpasses plow to the center line.
  
• B. Arthur (South 5th to South Avenue) plow to the center line.
  
• C. South Avenue (Arthur to Higgins) plow to the center line except where snow can be plowed to an alternate location.
  
• D. South Avenue (Bancroft to Stephens) plow to the center line.
  
• E. South Avenue (Stephens to Brooks) can be plowed across South Avenue to the Fairgrounds curb line.
  
• F. Myrtle (South 3rd to South 4th) plow to the center line.

2. All other bike lane snow will be plowed to the curb line or to the inside line of the bike lane.

3. A special effort will be made to make remaining routes more usable by bicycles. As soon as time permits after the Priority Routes are completed for motor vehicles, the crews will return and do additional work. This addition work will consist of:

• A. Removing snow and slush from the sides of Madison, Higgins, and Reserve Street bridges as well as the Broadway overpass on Reserve utilizing loaders and graders.
  
• B. Pushing the snow further to the sides with additional deicing to provide space for bicycles.

Plowing Round-A-Bouts

The two round-a-bouts located on Union Pacific and England Boulevard will be plowed and deiced in conjunction with bike lane snow removal operations. Due to the wide turning radius of the full size plowing/deicing trucks the traveled lanes adjacent to the round-a-bouts will be plowed and deiced by Street Division’s one ton pickup mounted plow and deicer unit.