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Kittitas County Transportation Element 2018 <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, Cle <br />Elum, and Roslyn all enjoy walkable downtowns with <br />at least partial sidewalk coverage. South Cle 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 SO mph on rural routes unless otherwise signed . <br />High speeds roadways without separate <br />non motorized 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 />The John Wayne Trail is a scenic pedestrian route. <br />Wide shoulders and separated trails provide safer <br />accommodations for bicyclists. <br />23 IP age