City of Appleton On-Street Bike Lane Plan

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INTRODUCTION
Bike Lane Plan
The City of Appleton has created this On-Street Bicycle Lane Plan to guide decision-making for
facility improvement and installation, education programming, and funding acquisition. It is
also being prepared to recommend appropriate facilities types and locations to enhance the
existing transportation network for bicyclists in the City of Appleton. The plan will prioritize
and determine a project timeline for implementation of improvements over the next 20 years.
Majority funding for this plan was provided by a successful Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities
Program (BPFP) grant through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
This chapter sets a framework for bicycle facilities development, discusses the public process
and preferred routes, and details the results of a bicycle audit of the community.
1.1 Why is this Plan Important?
Before the 1900's, bicycling and walking were common modes of transportation in the United
States. Transportation infrastructure and land use patterns reflected the need to accommodate
these travel modes. Compact communities allowed people to walk to most destinations.
Interestingly, early American urban roads were originally paved to help bicyclists reach their
destinations. As the pace of the American lifestyle quickened and automobiles were made
affordable to a larger portion of the population, bicycling and walking gradually dropped in
priority. Since the late 1940's, motor vehicles have been the dominant influence on
transportation and land use patterns and subsequently, these land use patterns have changed
behavior patterns. The convenience and flexibility of the automobile are easily recognized;
however, automobiles are not the most efficient mode of travel for some types of trips. The
benefits of alternative modes of travel such as bicycling and walking are particularly
significant for short urban trips. The arguments for encouraging these modes of travel are both
functional and philosophical:
a. Bicycling and walking are two of the most cost efficient modes of transportation with
regard to operation, development and maintenance of facilities.
b. Bicycling and walking are two of the best forms of physical exercise and therefore can
effectively enhance the health of the user.
c. Bike and pedestrian facilities developed for transportation purposes can simultaneously
enhance recreation and tourism opportunities.
d. National, state and local units of government increasingly acknowledge the benefits of
bicycling and walking beyond merely recreational values. Recognizing the efficiency
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