Bucks County Bicycle Master Plan

November 5, 2012      

Bucks County Bicycle Task Force

A draft of the first-ever Bucks County Bicycle Plan will be presented at an Open House this Thurs. Nov. 8, from 6-8 PM at the Bucks County Community College, Tyler Hall, Room 142 , in Newtown. Please come out and show your support.

MOST IMPORTANT, return to the bikebuckscounty.com website and register to request that the Bucks County Commissioners approve the Bicycle Plan.

Here is an outline of the information that will be presented the Open House.

Benefits of Bicycling

•    Health benefits

•    Recreation benefits

•    Economic benefits

•    Transportation benefits

•    Environmental benefits

Summary of Major Recommendations

•    Create Major Spines

•   The plan defines both on-road and off-road facilities; these major spines would provide access across the county and provide a link between the local bike sheds

•    The plan identifies three priority spines

1.   Woodbourne to Levittown via Levittown Parkway

2.   Doylestown to New Hope via Route 202

3.    Quakertown Trail

•    Establish Connections

•    Education, Safety and Encouragement

•    Foster a Bicycle Friendly Culture

Education & Safety/Encouragement

•    Coordinate education programs for cyclists and drivers so that all can "share the road"

•   Create partnerships on bicycle education with school districts, municipalities, colleges, YMCA's, bicycle shop owners, bicycle event planners, bicycle clubs, East Coast Greenway, State Parks, AAA, and Visit Bucks County

•   Provide maps of "places to bicycle" and "best bicycle rides" in Bucks County

Blueprint for Implementation

Immediate implementation steps, with a focus on the following items:

•    Promotion and implementation of the 3 priority spines

•    Promotion and development of municipal/multi-municipal bicycle plans

•    Education, Safety & Encouragement

Short & Long Term Implementation, 3-15 years

Implementation Partnerships:

•    Bucks County Planning Commission

•    Bucks County Parks & Recreation Department

•    Bucks County Bicycle Task Force

•    Schools

•    Municipalities

•    County-wide Organizations

•    Private Developers

We need you to take the following actions immediately:

1.  Go to bikebuckscounty.com and register to join the email distribution for information on the Bicycle Master Plan going through the final review process in Bucks County.

2. Plan to attend the Open House to be held Thursday November 8, 2012 from 6-8PM at Bucks County Community College, Room 142, Tyler Hall.

3.  Go to the Bucks County Planning Commission website to read the final draft of the Bike Plan (PDF).



4. Finally and MOST IMPORTANT, return to the bikebuckscounty.com website and register to request that the Bucks County Commissioners approve the Bicycle Master Plan. This list of supporters will ONLY be used one time as a submission to the Commissioners.

NOTE: NO OTHER USE OF YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION WILL BE USED IN ANY WAY FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE BESIDES SUPPORTING THE GOVERNMENT PROCESS OF APPROVAL OF THE BICYCLE MASTER PLAN IN BUCKS COUNTY, PA.

As background:

The Bucks County Commissioners have established the Bucks County Bicycle Task Force to make recommendations to support the growing use of bicycles across the county over a 5-15 year time frame. The recommendations, part of a draft Bicycle Master Plan, will be presented to the county's citizens and officials in a Public Meeting on Thursday November 8, 2012 and later submitted for approval by the county. One of the key criteria of the draft Bike Plan is to plan for safe coexistence between cyclists, motorists, pedestrians, and other users of trails, roads, and parks within the county.

If you endorse the future planning for increased bicycle use in the county, we need your support.  Please review the Bike Plan (either on-line at the web address below or at the upcoming public meeting) and communicate your support to the County Commissioners via our website at bikebuckscounty.com. We encourage you to attend the Public Meeting to review the Bike Plan and provide your comments in person for improvements or changes to the final draft Plan.

If you want to learn more about the draft Bike Plan and upcoming events, join the email distribution via the web at bikebuckscounty.com. We will be sending regular informational emails over the next weeks and months.

Please come to the Public Meeting and learn more about improvements for biking in your county. The Open House will be held Thursday November 8, 2012 from 6-8PM at Bucks County Community College, Room 142, Tyler Hall.

To become informed, download and read the latest Bicycle Master Plan (PDF) on the Bucks County Planning Commission website.

Thank you for your support,

Citizen Members
Bucks County Bicycle Task Force