We often think of cycling in the narrow realm of recreation, but the benefits extend to many different facets of our everyday life. Consider the impact riding a bicycle can make on your health as a transportation option to reduce congestion and the positive affects on the environment. The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) is committed to making cycling a greater part of improving mobility in Southern Nevada and that commitment is represented in the RTC's Alternative Transportation Mode Master Plan. To view the RTC's current bicycle map please click on the image of the map located to the right.
RTC Family-Friendly Bicycle Rides (PDF)
Read more about cycling: Secret To A Long, Healthy Life: Bike To The Store (NPR Blog)
Master Plan of Pedestrian and Bicycle FacilitiesThe Regional Transportation Plan projects seek to extend alternative modes of travel by linking bicycle facilities to the farthest reaching points of transit service, locating new routes within a quarter mile of transit, and, when possible, providing routes within transit corridors including Boulder Highway from Henderson to downtown Las Vegas. RTC's transit system carries more than 40,000 bike trips every month, which may be the greatest number of any transit system in the United States.
The RTC’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Element (BPE) thus far has:
- Completed the Alternative Mode Transportation Plan, which prioritizes safe bicycle/pedestrian opportunities throughout the Las Vegas Valley.
- Continued a communications outreach program to educate the driving public and the bicycling community on the responsibilities of operating a vehicle on public roadways.
- Adopted Uniform Standard drawings to accommodate bicycle/pedestrian facilities within the roadway right-of-way calling for all roadways to provide at a minimum, a 14’ shared use lane and/or a 4’ paved shoulder where feasible.
- Added bike racks on the front of all RTC vehicles.
- Provided incentives through the Club Ride program to walk or bike to work.
- Prioritized facilities through local planning efforts and the RTC adopted planning process.
- Developed a plan for a comprehensive trail system connecting open space and recreational parks to neighborhoods and the entire Las Vegas community.
- Continued coordination of on- and off-street bicycle and pedestrian routes through Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
The Regional Bicycle Plan
Through the activities of the Alternative Mode Plan (AMP) working group (comprised by the RTC, various jurisdictions, and outside organizations), a Regional Bicycle Plan was adopted. The working group accomplished the following: 1) identified candidate alignments for on-street bicycle lanes and routes and off-street shared-use paths, 2) created improved design standards for proposed facilities, 3) produced cost estimates for each improvement type, 4) identified funding sources, and 5) devised an acceptable implementation strategy. The recommendations are outlined in the following text.
Bicycle Facility Types
The Regional Bicycle Plan recognizes the following Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) definitions for a signed bicycle route, a bicycle lane, a shared use path and a bicycle compatible street/road.
- Bicycle Route – A shared roadway which has been designated by signing as a preferred route for bicycle use. Bicycle routes are designated on roadways that have a wide curb lane of at least 14 feet or greater between the lane line and the lip of the curb, plus a 1.5 foot wide gutter pan. Adjacent signage is also recommended as the standard to alert motorists to the presence of bicyclists. Figure 1-1 depicts a bicycle route.
- Bicycle Lane – A bicycle lane is a portion of a roadway that has been assigned using striping, signing and pavement markings for the use of bicyclists. The width of the bicycle lane is set at a four foot minimum from the bicycle lane strip to the edge of the pavement, plus a 1.5-foot wide gutter pan.
- Shared-Use Path – A shared use path is a bikeway physically separated from motorized vehicular traffic by an open space or barrier and either within the highway right-of-way or within an independent right-of-way. Pedestrians, skaters, wheelchair users, joggers and other non-motorized users also may use the shared-use paths. The minimum width for a shared-use path is 12 feet of paving for bidirectional travel, with a minimum two foot shoulder on both sides of the path.
- Bicycle Compatible Street / Road – A bicycle compatible street or road has at least 14 feet or greater between the lane line and the lip of the curb, plus a 1.5-foot wide gutter pan that can accommodate shared lane travel between motorists and cyclists.
