Piedmont Greenway Master Plan - Town of Kernersville

with bike lanes, bike routes or streets that are frequently used by bicyclists.
On diagonal railroad crossings, the flangeway can trap a bike’s front wheel causing it to divert. The
end result is a quick fall for the bicyclist. This problem is most serious when the track crosses at an angle
less than 45 degrees to the direction of travel. One solution is to provide a way for bicyclists to approach
the track at a 60 degree angle or greater, by flaring the street. This solution allows the bicyclist to cross at a
right angle without swerving into the path of passing motor vehicle traffic.
Another solution is to install a commercially-available rubberized flangeway filler strip. The filler
normally fills the gap between the inside railbed and the rail. When a train wheel rolls over it, the flangeway
filler compresses. This solution, however, is not acceptable for high-speed rail lines, as the filler will not
compress fast enough and the train may derail (North Carolina Bicycle Facility Design Guidelines, 1994).
Secondary Trails
Several other trail types are defined within the Master Plan. These range from natural surface footpaths
to sidewalk trails. Footpaths along creeks should be maintained as natural surface trails. The only construction
necessary will be the removal of stumps, fallen limbs, rocks and trash. These trails will be usable most
of the time except when heavy rain have made the surface exceptionally muddy.
Secondary trails also include sidewalk trails from adjacent neighborhoods and businesses to the primary
trial, and signage that includes all on-road bicycle routing. Sidewalk trails are constructed from concrete
or asphalt where they are missing from the existing route plan, and should be at least 6 feet wide. The
additional trails should consider usage by cyclists where possible. The cyclists should be encouraged to use
existing roadways and follow the appropriate signage. Some joint use of sidewalks may be necessary due to
constrained roadway width.
Concrete trails will be used at all bridge underpasses
and in areas that are near the creeks such as box-culverts or
along sewer easements. Sidewalk trails will be (preferably)
8 feet wide. Sidewalk trails should also consider usage by
cyclists; especially in and near the downtown Kernersville
areas. Where possible, cyclists should be encouraged to use
existing roadways, although some joint use of sidewalks
may be necessary due to constrained roadway width. All
ramps will be constructed of concrete for a sturdy trail tread.
has existing equestrian trails which will share access with some sections of the corridor and will be
maintained along the length of the greenway. At the Pleasant Ridge Road Trailhead, both gravel
trails and boardwalk trails will be used throughout the site to the north. The boardwalk trails are
located in areas that are usually wet or are considered jurisdictional wetlands.
Bicycle Facilities
A bicycle route is a “suggested way” for a cyclist to get from a point of origin to a destination.
Bike routes do not necessarily require physical improvements in order to accommodate bicyclists
as they meet minimum safety criteria in their present conditions. Bike routes are preferable for the
on-road trail sections for a number of reasons including directness, scenery, less congestion and
lower speed limits.
Location and Use
Bicycle routes may be used by all types
of cyclists. In the urban areas of the Piedmont
Greenway they will be designated on residential
streets with low traffic volumes where their use will
be to direct cyclists to a destination within the community
(parks, historic areas, etc.), or to provide a
through-route for bicyclists. Additionally, the routes
will serve as alternatives when the primary greenway
is closed due to flooding and/or general maintenance. The routes will also serve as linkages
for existing and proposed greenways within the corridor.
Safety Criteria
Residential streets do not necessarily have to be physically widened in order to be designated
as bicycle routes. Most roads meet the minimum 12 foot standard wide lanes (or less) that can be
designated as a bike route with appropriate signage, given that each condition below is met:
Bike route signage should be used according to the standards in the MUTCD, which provides
several choices in styles. Bicycle route signs should be placed at all areas where new incoming
traffic enters the roadway. The recommended distance between signs should not be greater than
two miles. In urban areas, directional arrows and captions are recommended to indicate nearby
destinations of interest, particularly at intersections and railroad crossings.
Where the elevation is higher and the soil is dryer
(such as the Moore's Creek section), the trail tread will be
densely compacted granular stone. The Moore's Creek trail
PIEDMONT GREENWAY
Final Master Plan Report • 58