Framework for Bikeway Designation on Rural Roads

Description/Learning Outcomes:

This webinar provided an overview of the development and content of the Framework for Bikeway Designation on Rural Roads. The document was developed as a resource for road owners that are considering bikeway designation on one of their roads. The Framework addresses liability and safety concerns that road owners frequently face when considering roads that are shared by motor vehicles and people on bicycles. While Oregon’s Scenic Bikeway program was the catalyst for this research, shared use on rural roads is an issue across the United States, and the Framework is intended for use by any road owner considering bikeway designation. The development of the document was guided by a technical advisory committee with representatives from a state DOT, county road officials, cycling tourism groups, the Oregon Scenic Bikeway Program, the USDA Forest Service, and the Federal Highway Administration. It is anticipated the Framework document will be finalized and available for use in March 2019.

Webinar Outcomes

At the conclusion of this webinar, participants were able to:

• State differing points of view on bikeway designation by bikeway proponents and road owners.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the background and need for the Framework for Bikeway Designation on Rural Roads.
• Identify relevant data to consider when evaluating the safety of a shared road.
• Differentiate between the quantitative and qualitative considerations of bikeway designation.
• Identify key components of a bikeway field safety visit.
• Summarize the benefits and outcomes of a bikeway field safety visit.

Target Audience

This training was directed towards federal land management agencies and road agencies in Oregon and across America that are considering designating and promoting state and national bikeways and bicycle tourism. 

Course Presenters

• Amy Thomas, PE, PMP – Deputy Director of Engineering, Forest Service Alaska & Pacific Northwest Regions

Amy is the Deputy Director of Engineering for the Alaska & Pacific Northwest Regions of the USDA Forest Service. Amy supports the Directors of Engineering in providing engineering, fleet, and sustainable operations guidance to the 19 different National Forests and Area in our Alaska & Pacific Northwest Regions. She previously worked as the Engineering Partnerships Program Leader and has extensive experience partnering with multiple groups to collaborate on projects which mutually benefit the Forest Service, special interest groups, and private landowners. Prior to joining the USDA Forest Service, Amy worked for various agencies within the Department of Defense, beginning her professional career as an active duty US Army engineer officer. Amy graduated from the US Military Academy, West Point, in 1998 with a BS in Civil Engineering and earned her MS in Civil Engineering from the University of Hawaii, Manoa.

• Rebecca Gleason, MS, PE – Research Engineer, Western Transportation Institute

Rebecca is a research engineer for the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University (MSU). She is a key team member of the Small Urban, Rural and Tribal Center on Mobility. For the past 11 years, she has worked on various projects aimed at making it safer and more convenient for people in small towns and rural areas to get around by bicycle, foot, bus and rideshare. Rebecca was the primary author of the Guide to Promoting Bicycling on Federal Lands, the first comprehensive report that examined bicycling issues in federal lands and gateway communities across the country. She was part of a team with Alta Planning and Design and others that created The Small Town and Rural Multimodal Networks report, intended to help small towns create active travel options for people of all ages and abilities. She is currently working to finalize the Framework for Bikeway Designation on Rural Roads intended to provide guidance to road owners on what to consider when asked to designate a road as a bikeway.

• Taylor Lonsdale, PE, Research Engineer, Western Transportation Institute

Taylor has 22 years of civil engineering experience and is a key team member of the Small Urban, Rural, and Tribal Center om Mobility (SURTCOM) at the Western Transportation Institute of Montana State University as a research engineer. As a member of the SURTCOM staff, Taylor is working on projects that inform the ability of communities to increase the quality of life through changes to the built environment. Taylor is currently involved in research supporting improved bicycle and pedestrian accommodation and safety on rural roads. The focus of his work is on how infrastructure and land development choices affect the ability of people of all ages and ability to move around their community on foot and on bike. His true passion is empowering people of all ages to walk and bike safely in their community.