BICYCLING IN COLLEGE STATION
In 1975, the Brazos Valley League of Women Voters, the Environmental Action Council, and the A&M Wheelman Club collected data that concluded that more than 10,000 bicycle trips were occurring on a daily basis to and from Texas A&M University campus. As a result of this study, the City began planning to develop bicycle routes in the Southside and Eastgate areas. By August of 1976, the proposed routes had been signed and the City applied for Federal funds to develop an improved system. Unfortunately, the funds never materialized.
In 1980, City Staff, along with members of the community, revised policies and developed the first City Bike Plan (refer to Appendix A). Many residents objected to the 24 hour parking restriction along the signed routes, so City officials only installed bike lanes on two streets - Jersey Street (now George Bush Drive [FM 2347]) and Southwest Parkway. It included bike lanes, signed bike routes, and some paths on Texas Avenue [BUS 6]. The City also prohibited bicycle travel on a designated portion of Texas Ave [BUS 6] (from Lincoln Avenue to Holleman Drive) and along Harvey Road [SH 30]. The Bike Plan created the foundation for subsequent plans that served to address the high volume of students commuting to and from Texas A&M University campus.
BICYCLING, WALKING, AND GREENWAYS
In 1992, the City of College Station updated the Bikeway Master Plan. This update identified not only bicycle facilities but incorporated pedestrian facilities and multi-use paths in the form of sidewalks, side paths, and greenway trails. It called for approximately 40 miles of bike lanes, 50 miles of bike routes, and 30 miles of multi-use paths. That same year, the City's Subdivision Regulations were modified to include the development of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, specifically sidewalks and bikeways on collector and arterial streets. In 1994, the Sidewalk Master Plan was created with the help of a Sidewalk Committee.
In 2002, the Bikeway and Pedestrian Master Plan Update was completed. It called for 20 miles in addition to 25 miles of existing bicycle lanes, 50 miles in addition to 59 miles of existing bicycle routes, and 40 miles in addition to 3 miles if existing multi-use paths. In 2003, the City of College Station was designated as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. In 2004, the Hike and Bike Task Force was formulated to prioritize the multi-use paths defined in the 2002 Plans.
RECOGNITION
The City of College Station currently has 33 miles of bike lanes, 59 miles of bike routes, over 130 miles of sidewalks and 8 miles of multi-use paths. An additional 4 miles of bike lanes, 7 miles of sidewalks, and 6 miles of multi-use paths are funded.
According to the 2010 Community Service Data, College Station ranks #1 in
Texas for having the highest percentage of bicyclists who commute to work. In September 2011, the City of College Station received Honorable Mention from the League of American Bicyclists to be designated as a Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC). Only three cities in Texas are
designated as Bicycle Friendly. The BFC award recognizes a community's
commitment to improving conditions for bicycling through investment in bicycling
promotion, education programs, infrastructure and pro-bicycling policies. For
more information, visit the League of
American Bicyclists website.