BY DAVID NORTH
Transportation Board Liaison to the Bicycle Working Group

The initial map showing primary and secondary bicycle routes is complete as of May 23. Discussion will now move to the areas that are most in need of improvement. The intent is to order them in priority and submit general ideas for fixes.

The group has determined the three intersections of Diamond Drive north of Omega Bridge as the most detrimental to bicycle commuting to the lab. Particularly troubling was the need to cross West Road, followed by Trinity and Canyon. The suggested improvement so far is a two-way bike lane on the west side starting at the north end of the Omega Bridge path continuing at least to Canyon Road. There was some discussion of changes to the traffic lights or other modification that may be fleshed out later.

Discussion of the Central/Downtown area was inconclusive, in part because of the difficulty predicting the results planning changes and new development.

The Canyon Rim Trail is no longer likely to extend as far as Los Alamos Medical Center so there is revived interest in running a bicycle lane along Trinity from Diamond all the way to the East Circle. The leading proposal now is for a two-way bike lane on the north side, which seems to get general support from the group. This will probably see more input from County Engineering Staff.

Another mapping project has begun to locate all the existing paved bicycle or mixed use trails in the county and determine what improvements or maintenance are needed.

The group will inspect the feasibility of bike lanes on the Meadow/Rover loop in White Rock. Complaints were raised about close calls both there and in Pajarito Acres.

There should be bike lanes along SR4, at least from the Truck Route through White Rock to the junction with SR 501 (West Jemez Road). The working group is unanimous in preferring a separated lane, but the situation is critical enough that any improvement is welcomed. This is a State Road, which leads to complications.

Generally, strong evidence was presented that roads with common motor vehicle speeds above 25mph should have separated bike lanes rather than just painted lines between car and bike lanes. There was some limited discussion of how to implement the separation, and further information was presented later in an email from Eddie Schoute. It turns out there are actually some advantages in respect to snow clearance. Probably the exact implementation will depend on the individual circumstances on any stretch of road.