Dallas on Wednesday updated its bicycle plan for the first time in more than a decade, in a move celebrated by cycling advocates.
The plan, unanimously adopted by the Dallas City Council on Wednesday, is the first update since 2011. It offers a renewed look at where bike facilities could be installed in the city, updates design standards for facilities and recommends a set of priority projects.
The city devoted more than $800,000 in professional service fees to update the plan, which was first established in 1985.
City leaders have said the update is necessary to improve safety and mobility throughout Dallas.
“Unfortunately, Dallas is a national leader in traffic fatalities, but we know if we make our streets safer for bikes, they will be safer for pedestrians and drivers too,” Council Member Chad West said in a statement.
The proposed bike network includes more than 500 miles of bicycling improvements, including 179 miles of neighborhood bikeways, 118 miles of visually separated bike lanes, 108 miles of physically separated bike lanes and 139 miles of trails. Funding is currently in place for 69 miles.
The long-range plan would be rolled out in three phases, with both pre-funded and high-priority, low cost projects completed in the next five years.
Other priority projects with a price tag of up to $300 million are also being implemented in 5-20 years. Additional unidentified projects not funded would be implemented in the third phase of the plan.
About 30% of residents are within a half mile of a bike facility, but that would increase to more than 82% once the network is fully implemented.
At Wednesday’s meeting, public speakers said the move was long overdue.
“Bicycles are legitimate means for transportation,” said Ashly Fletcher, executive director for Bike Friendly South Dallas.
“They’re good for our minds, our body and our community, the environment. They’re affordable, and that’s why I appreciate everyone for ing the Dallas bike plan, because it allows us to keep people more motivated to bike,” Fletcher added.
City staff will establish a permanent bicycle advisory committee in the coming months to help implement and advance the plan.
Staff writer Devyani Chhetri contributed to this report.