Projects Supporting the Lincoln Bike Plan

The primary purpose of the Lincoln Bike Plan is to identify an on-street bicycle network that builds on the City’s extensive trail network and will provide safe and low-stress bicycle commuting and recreational opportunities. The plan depicts a comprehensive system of off-street and on-street facilities that will safely connect neighborhoods and destinations and encourage bicycle travel.

Read the Lincoln Bike Plan

The first project to be built as part of this effort is the "F" Street Bicycle Boulevard, which is detailed below.

“F” Street Bicycle Boulevard

Bicycle boulevards are residential streets that provide a safe and comfortable environment for people bicycling, walking, and driving. The goal is to help create and maintain quiet neighborhood streets that benefit and improve the safety of all road users and discourage speeding and cut-through traffic as well.

PDF fact sheets:  English(PDF, 12MB) • Español(PDF, 12MB)

Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU) has opened the “F” Street bicycle boulevard, which stretches from South 6th Street from “G” to “F” streets and along “F” Street from South 6th to Southwest 2nd streets in the South Salt Creek neighborhood.

The “F” Street bicycle boulevard will offer convenient and easy access to nearby amenities:

  • Jamaica North Trail between South 4th and Calvert streets to a ½ mile south of Saltillo Road
  • Salt Creek Levee Trail from Haymarket Park to the Jamaica North Trail near Calvert Street
  • Cooper Park near South 8th and “D” streets

Map of Area (JPG, 105KB)

Design Elements

Bicycle boulevards will incorporate wayfinding and route signage, along with pavement markings.

  • Bike Route Signs
  • Bikes May Use Full Lane Signs
  • Wayfinding Signs
  • Bicycle BLVD Pavement Markings

Benefits

  • Safety
    By reducing motor vehicle speeds and cut-through traffic on residential streets.
  • Livability
    By preserving neighborhoods and reducing traffic noise.
  • Public Health
    By making it easier to engage in physical activity.
  • Accessibility
    By providing connections that are safe and comfortable.

Frequently Asked Questions

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What is a bicycle boulevard?

A bicycle boulevard is one or more residential streets with bicycle street markings and signage that allows bicyclists to ride on the street amongst vehicles. Bicycle boulevards promote safe, quiet and comfortable surroundings for people who bicycle, walk and drive, along with environmental benefits and discourage speeding and cut-through traffic.

Will the “F” Street bicycle boulevard take away street parking?

No street parking will be affected.

(JPG, 1MB)

Will the “F” Street bicycle boulevard prohibit from driving on the street?

No

How much did the “F” Street bicycle boulevard project cost to complete?

The “F” Street bicycle boulevard project had a low cost impact. The project cost $4,000 and came from the Traffic Engineering Operations and Maintenance Budget.

Why are bicycle boulevards beneficial to the city?

*Studies show bicycle boulevards prioritize all modes of travel and maintain quiet neighborhood streets. They also make it easier for people to engage in physical activity like walking and biking. Bicycle boulevards assist Lincoln with reducing net greenhouse gas emissions and aligns with Lincoln’s Climate Action Plan. Supplementing our streets with livable neighborhoods that provide safe and accessible infrastructure for pedestrians and bicyclists is an overall net positive. Increasing the comfortability of the public to walk or bike to places will alleviate stress on Lincoln’s transportation network and reduce maintenance costs.

Do bicycle boulevards assist with revitalization?

The Resident Perceptions of Bicycle Boulevards (nacto.org) study, Cyclist safety on bicycle boulevards and parallel arterial routes in Berkeley, California (nacto.org) study, and BIKESAFE: Bryant Street Bicycle Boulevard (pedbikesafe.org) study show areas of cities that have installed bicycle boulevards experience positive signs of revitalization, safety, growth and increases of comfortability in their neighborhoods in other states.

Locally, LTU has partnered with the City of Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department, Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln, and Burlington Northern Santa Fe to revitalize and increase safety and comfortability of the “F” Street Pedestrian Tunnel that connects to the bicycle boulevard. Improvements include lighting, painting of a mural, landscaping, drainage, and retention wall improvements.

(JPG, 865KB) “F” Street Pedestrian Tunnel

Why do you need to put pavement markings on the street for a bicycle boulevard?

The reason why we include pavement markings is to reinforce to drivers that bicyclists are allowed and encourage to use the full lane on a street that is designated a bicycle boulevard.

The pavement markings also draw drivers attention to the street being a bicycle boulevard. Additionally, those pavement markings identify the street as a designated bicycle boulevard to new and experienced bicyclists.

(JPG, 926KB)

Why did LTU choose “F” Street for the bicycle boulevard?

“F” Street was identified as a potential bicycle boulevard project within the Lincoln Bike Plan. Upon further evaluation, LTU found it was a great candidate for installation for the following reasons:

  • Low cost
  • Minimal impact
  • Connector between two major trail systems (Jamaica North and Salt Creek Levee) as well as near Cooper Park, the South Salt Creek neighborhood, and the South of Downtown area.

How many bikes are expected to use the “F” Street bicycle boulevard?

LTU hopes bicyclists learn about this new option in Lincoln and use this street to help increase their quality of life through physical activity. LTU will conduct a traffic study to develop additional information on how many bicyclists are using the bicycle boulevard.

Is the “F” Street bicycle boulevard the first bike boulevard in Lincoln and Nebraska?

Bike Walk Nebraska has confirmed Lincoln is leading the way with being a bike-friendly community and has the first bike boulevard in Nebraska.

Will the City be bringing more bike boulevards to Lincoln?

There are other bicycle boulevards identified in the Lincoln Bike Plan as well as other on-street bicycle facility types and each will be evaluated from a feasibility and implementation standpoint. LTU is analyzing locations and costs currently. We do not have locations designated at this point.

How is a bicycle boulevard different than an on-street shared lane?

Bicycle boulevards differ from on-street shared lanes/bike routes by utilizing a combination of signs, wayfinding, pavement markings, and traffic calming strategies to optimize the street for bicycle travel, whereas a bike route only utilizes signs to let users know that it is preferred for bicycling due to low traffic or access to destinations.

*References

  • Resident Perceptions of Bicycle Boulevards – nacto.org
  • Cyclist safety on bicycle boulevards and parallel arterial routes in Berkeley, California – nacto.org
  • BIKESAFE: Bryant Street Bicycle Boulevard – pedbikesafe.org
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