Pedestrian and bicycle circulation in larger residential and commercial developments is influenced by the infrastructure provided for non-motorized users as well as the infrastructure and design of auto circulation and parking.
(A) Automobile infrastructure. Parking lots should be located in such a manner as to encourage pedestrian access to the development, connect land uses to the street and decrease the distance between adjacent developments. To accomplish this, parking should be located behind and to the side of buildings wherever possible. Landscaping should be provided between the pedestrian circulation system and automobile areas to provide protection, security and accessibility for the pedestrian while providing sufficient sight distance. Parallel parking can also be used to buffer pedestrian routes from moving vehicles.
(B) Pedestrian infrastructure.
(1) An internal pedestrian circulation system should:
(a) Be barrier-free and designed for safety and security;
(b) Provide continuous sidewalks and safe crossing points;
(c) Connect all uses within a development (buildings, parking areas and the like);
(d) Clearly link public sidewalks with all internal walkways;
(e) Clearly link the individual sites within a development to each other and to surrounding off-site uses (mixed-use and residential areas);
(f) Be defined with landscaping, paving, and pedestrian-scale lighting;
(g) Meet ADA standards and guidelines; and
(h) Provide adequate sight distance.
(2) Pedestrian circulation routes could consist of treated surfaces such as scored or brushed concrete to differentiate the pedestrian system from the auto system. Where pedestrian routes cross an auto circulation route, striping should be provided.
(3) To enhance pedestrian connectivity and prevent autos from having to use the public street system to travel between adjacent developments, parking and pedestrian circulation should be designed to accommodate connections between developments.
(4) Pedestrian circulation plans should be required with each large lot development. These plans must emphasize connectivity through sidewalk design, traffic circulation, landscaping and lighting.
(C) Bicycle infrastructure.
(1) Internal circulation for bicyclists is as important a consideration as for cars and pedestrians. Bicyclists should have a clearly delineated travel path through any development, as well as clear travel paths linking individual sites within the development and provide safe travel. In smaller developments or constrained situations, this can be accomplished through directional signage, lane markings and signage clearly delineating a shared roadway system (such as a shared lane marking), and signage and markings indicating slow speeds (ten mph) required while in the development.
(2) In larger developments, bike lanes should be striped to both indicate the preferred bicycle route to constantly inform motorists to expect bicyclists within the development. Bike lanes should be supplemented with appropriate directional signage.
(Ord. passed 6- -2009)