Laserfiche WebLink
Kittitas County Transportation Element 7oi8 <br />Pedestrian and Bicycle Network <br />Provision of facilities for walking and biking is <br />essential to providing a functional, multimodal <br />transportation system that accommodates all users. <br />Residents and visitors walk and bike as part of their <br />daily travel for many reasons. Children attending <br />school, seasonal laborers hiking to a jobsite, and <br />senior citizens taking a mid-day stroll, all require safe <br />amenities. <br />Most of the highly walkable areas in Kittitas County <br />are in incorporated downtowns: Ellensburg, Cie <br />Elum, and Roslyn all enjoy walkable downtowns with <br />at least partial sidewalk coverage. South Cie Elum, <br />Kittitas, and many of the unincorporated towns have <br />significant sidewalk deficiencies that make walking <br />and biking more difficult. Many rural routes lack <br />facilities like sidewalks and wide shoulders <br />altogether, and County ordinance allows speeds up <br />to 50 mph on rural routes unless otherwise signed. <br />High speeds roadways without separate <br />nonmotorized facilities make walking and biking <br />uncomfortable and less safe. <br />The Ellensburg Comprehensive Plan identifies areas <br />in the city for improvements to the bicycle and <br />pedestrian networks. It also calls for improved <br />pedestrian and bicycle safety. As a result, providing <br />pedestrian and bike infrastructure in connecting <br />unincorporated areas should remain an important <br />goal for the County. <br />Countywide, biking is accommodated on trails and <br />on shoulders along rural roadways. The scenic John <br />Wayne Trail, Coal Mines Trail, and routes in the <br />recreation areas provide bicycle access and <br />connectivity throughout the County. Moreover, the <br />County's Park, Recreation & Open Space plan <br />identifies multiple locations for future trail <br />improvements. <br />Figure 10 is from the County's Long Range <br />Transportation Plan and shows the location of bike <br />and trail facilities in Kittitas County. <br />Some bicyclists may be uncomfortable sharing the <br />road with high-speed vehicles. <br />' V41.1j, <br />The Johri Wayne Trail is a scenfc p6dastrian route. <br />Wide shoulders and separated trails provide safer <br />accommodations for bicyclists. <br />23 -agc <br />