January 26, 2022 update:

“Currently, the United States is 40 years behind peer countries in Europe when it comes to developing bike networks with bike facilities for people of all ages and abilities….With ‘Benchmarking Bike Networks’ we want to give advocates for better biking another tool to ensure streets in their community are designed in the safest way possible.” —League of American Bicyclists report “Benchmarking Bike Networks”: https://www.bikeleague.org/content/new-report-benchmarking-bike-networks.

* * *

The post below was first published summer 2017 has not been updated.

What are protected bike lanes, and why are more of them so desirable? How can people help bring them to their communities?

Such infrastructure is known by different terms around the nation. In California, the legal term for them, as adopted with California’s related legislation (the Protected Bikeways Act of 2015) is Separated Bikeways. They are a Class 4 facility in the Highway Design Manual for the State of CA.

Maybe you like to bike, but feel unsafe biking on many public roads. Or maybe you don’t personally bike, but know there are multiple benefits when more people do—including reduced carbon emissions and traffic congestion, improved public health, and more—and you want to make biking safer for others. Perhaps you’re even a city council member or other elected official, or a transportation or urban planner, or other person who cares about making communities better. Whatever your interest in bicycling infrastructure, you’re invited to participate in this webinar.

* * *

Update: Missed the webinar? Go to the following page on the California Bicycling Coalition website for a video from the webinar, along with lots more on Class IV lanes. http://www.calbike.org/protected_bike_lanes

* * *

Learn the latest in a free California Bicycle Coalition / CalBike webinar, “The Why and How of Protected Bike Lanes,” July 13, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Pacific time.

For details and to register, start here: http://www.calbike.org/protected_lane_webinar

• Protected bike lanes were approved for use in California by the Protected Bikeways Act of 2015, a legislative campaign of the California Bicycle Coalition. Bicycling Monterey is pleased to be a local ally of CalBike: http://www.calbike.org/local_partners
• CalBike states that the July 13 webinar is part of a series of training and outreach efforts focused on disadvantaged communities by the Active Transportation Resource Team, a collaboration that includes the California Bicycle Coalition, California Walks, Local Government Commission, and Rails to Trails Conservancy. It is funded by the California Endowment.

Cal Endow also funds Building Healthy Communities-East Salinas. Learn more on bikemonterey.org about East Salinas / the Alisal.

Improving bicycling infrastructure—including creating more Protected Bike Lanes—has a big impact on public health and safety.

Below, local teens on the corner of East Alisal Street and Madeira in East Salinas, in front of HER Helmet Thursdays spot Tacos El Jalisciense.

Bike security concerns? Bicycle parking right out front.

*  *  *

Below are a few miscellaneous notes about Class 4 bikeways that were formerly posted in Bicycling Monterey’s Where to Bike section of the Tips for Bicycling Monterey County 20-section guide. Curious about Class 1, 2, 3 bikeways—and want to see photos and tips about those bikeways in Monterey County? See Where to Bike.

Archived notes about Class 4:

• Class 4 Separated Bikeways (Protected Bike Lanes): Signed into law by California Governor Jerry Brown in September 2014, watch for Class 4 Bikeways AKA Protected Bike Lanes to come to Monterey County. [Update: Check with the Transportation Agency for Monterey County / TAMC bike-ped coordinator for details on the first Class 4 bikeway in Monterey County.]
• An early step was a Class IV Bikeway Summit hosted by Caltrans in Sacramento on May 27, 2015. The Monterey County seat is fortunate to have the strong local leadership of City of Salinas Transportation Planner James Serrano, who was among the small group of professionals from throughout the state who gathered to share ideas at that summit. See the list of attendees: Class IV Bikeway Summit Attendees View some of the summit materials: Glossary for Summit, Class IV Bikeway Summit – Participant Agenda, Survey Results, and Streets&HighwaysCode 890-892. As of 9/17/15, it was also anticipated that a brief summary of the summit outcomes will be available; check with Caltrans.
• Some discussion of Protected Bike Lanes  was on the agenda at the Transportation Agency for Monterey County Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee meeting August 5, 2015 (see page 8). In follow-up, October 6-13, 2015, committee members are  reviewing an initial draft of the Caltrans Design Information Bulletin for Class IV Bikeways, Cycle Track DIB Draft 093015 – Edited Copy KMH.  TAMC will then pass along to James Serrano, for Caltrans,  any input committee members may have.
• For the latest on Class 4 bikeways in Monterey County, check with the  Transportation Agency for Monterey County bike-ped coordinator.

This post was previously published on June 28, 2017.