Bikeways Master Plan

A bikeways plan focuses on special provisions for bicycle facilities, which will encourage bicycle use by all ages on the road system. The Inyo County Collaborative Bikeways Plan will be the official Bicycle Transportation Plan of the County of Inyo, City of Bishop, and Bishop Paiute Tribe.

One of the goals in the General Plan for the County of Inyo is:

Develop a safe, convenient and effective bikeway system that promotes bicycle travel as a viable transportation mode and connects work, shopping, schools, residential and recreation areas.

The California Department of Transportation "Highway Design Manual" provides a discussion of the role of bikeways:

Bikeways are one element of an effort to improve bicycling safety and convenience which, when added to maintenance and support facilities, either help accommodate motor vehicle traffic and bicycle traffic on shared roadways, or compliment the road system to meet needs not adequately met by roads alone.

Off street bikeways in exclusive corridors can be effective in providing new recreational opportunities, or in some instances, desirable commuter routes. They can also be used to close gaps where barriers exist to bicycle travel.

On street bikeways can serve to enhance safety and convenience, especially if other commitments are made in conjunction with establishment of bikeways, such as: elimination of parking or increasing roadway width, elimination of surface irregularities and roadway obstacles, frequent street sweeping, establishing intersection priority on the bike route street as compared with the majority of cross streets, and the installation of bicycle sensitive loop detectors at signalized intersections.

The decision to develop bikeways should be made with the knowledge that bikeways are not the solution to all bicycle-related problems. Many of the common problems are related to improper bicyclist and motorist behavior and can only be corrected through effective education and enforcement programs. The development of well-conceived bikeways can have a positive effect on bicyclist and motorist behavior. Conversely, poorly conceived bikeways can be counterproductive to education and enforcement programs.

The Inyo County Local Transportation Commission is negotiating with a consultant to update the Bikeways Master Plan. The draft document will be published on this site when it is released for review. The 2003 Inyo County Bikeways Master Plan can be viewed by following the corresponding link.