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Walk & Bike In Burlington
Residents and visitors of Burlington enjoy bicycling and walking for shopping, commuting, recreation and general transportation. From the installation of the first shared use path along the waterfront in 1986 to the ongoing installation of bicycle facilities & sidewalks, the City of Burlington continues to support bicycling and walking as viable, healthy, and non-polluting modes of transportation.
Burlington applied for Bicycle Friendly Community recognition from the League of American Bicyclists in 2005, 2007, and 2011. In our first two applications, the city was recognized with a Bronze-level award. In 2011, Burlington's commitment to bicycling was recognized with a Silver award.
The DPW develops plans improvements and manages existing pedestrian and bicycle facilities, including signals, crosswalks, sidewalks, on-road bike facilities, and bike parking. To learn more about what the DPW manages, how projects are planned, and how to get involved in the process, read the staff presentation provided at the Burlington Walk Bike Council's annual meeting in 2011.
Special Features:
City sidewalks are repaired and installed through our Sidewalk Strategic Plan. The purpose of the Sidewalk Plan is to create an accepted process to prioritize sidewalk projects within the City of Burlington, including: defining acceptable sidewalk conditions, replacing deficient sidewalk sections, installing new sections of sidewalk, and constructing sidewalk ramps (for accessibility) on existing sidewalks. The goal is to ensure maximum value for investments in pedestrian facilities over the short and long term, and ensure compliance with the American's with Disabilities Act. The benefits to the community include efficient and accessible pedestrian connections, more accessible information regarding the prioritization of sidewalk repairs, a safe and healthy walking environment, and reduced infrastructure costs.
In 2008 the Sidewalk Plan was developed by walking and inventorying the entire sidewalk network within Burlington. The information obtained was entered into a GIS mapping network and database. The inventory included existing sidewalks, lack of sidewalks, ramps, and the condition of each section. In addition, priority pedestrian routes were identified using origin/destination information, street volumes, policies defined by the Transportation Plan, and public input. A matrix was created to prioritize future capital work for new sidewalks and ramps. Since then, the city has been able to test the matrix to determine its effectiveness. For the upcoming fiscal year of 2013, the network will be re-inventoried and the matrix will be improved.
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- Bicycle lockers are now available in the Marketplace Parking Garage! Watch Mayor Kiss'spress conference on CCTV.
- For 6-month rentals, download an application or pick one up the DPW front desk.
- For short-term rentals, simply insert $0.25, close the door, and remove the key. Insert the key when you are ready to remove your bicycle.
- Bicycle lockers may only be used to park bicycles and related equipment. Any items stored within the locker that are not bicycle related may be removed by the City at your expense and may be subject to disposal without your consent, or assessed a storage fee at your expense. Bicycles parked in the short-term lockers for longer than 14 consecutive days may be considered abandoned and removed by the Burlington Police Department.
- Bicycle lockers are also available on the waterfront, courtesy of the Chittenden County Transportation Authority (CCTA). For more information, contact Local Motion or visit their Trailside Center.
- The City of Burlington provides a Bicycle Parking Assistance Program -- subsidizing the cost of bicycle racks for use by private property owners -- and Bicycle Parking Guidelines, containing information on how to install useful bicycle parking. The Guidelines are especially helpful for developers following the Bicycle Parking Ordinance through the Planning and Zoning Department.
- The City installs and maintains bicycle parking on city sidewalks and in select in-street locations. To see a map of available city-owned bicycle parking, view the City's Google Map available here. To request bicycle parking be installed, contact DPW customer service.
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The City of Burlington has miles of bike lanes, shared lanes, and bike paths. To get involved in the discussions for new and existing infrastructure, contact the DPW or the Burlington Walk Bike Council.
The DPW follows several design manuals for bicycle planning, including the Burlington Transportation Plan Street Design Guidelines, AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities (4th edition, 2012), the NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, the Vermont Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities Design Manual, and the Vermont Pedestrian and Bicycle Policy Plan.
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All CCTA buses are equipped with easy to use bicycle racks, which hold up to 2 bikes. Each bike is held securely by a spring-loaded clamp. There is no extra charge for bringing your bike on the bus, but you must load and unload your own bike. Bike racks are available on a first come, first served basis.
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Bicycle commuting is a great way to fit exercise into your day while avoiding traffic and saving money! The following links should give you enough information to make commuting by bicycle safe and convenient.
- Download the Vermont Agency of Transportation's Bicycle Commuter Guide.
- Bike Commuting workshops are often hosted by Local Motion, Old Spokes Home, or other local groups. Check in with them for more information.
- Winter commuting by bicycle? Bike Winter and Ice Bike have some great tips and resources to make your ride safe and more comfortable.
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The BWBC is an all-volunteer advisory council to the City of Burlington, who works closely with the Department of Public Works and the Department of Parks & Recreation on infrastructure improvements and policy changes for bicycling and walking. The council also leads advocacy efforts and organizes events and activities that promote and celebrate walking and biking in Burlington and beyond. Anyone interested in making Burlington a better and safer place for bicycling and walking is encouraged to attend our meetings on the 4th Thursday of each month in City Hall Room 12. Visit their website for more information.
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The Department of Public Works often facilitates planning studies or construction projects intended to improve routes to elementary and middle schools. Our current projects include:
- North Avenue corridor between the Ethan Allen Shopping Center and Plattsburg Avenue:
- Upgrade pedestrian signals to have countdown signals and accessible pushbuttons;
- Add pedestrian signals and crosswalks at the Plattsburg Ave / North Ave intersection and shorten the pedestrian crossing(s).
Status: a public meeting was held on May 1, 2013 and conceptual plans were presented: North Avenue at Plattsburg Avenue, at Shore Road, and at Farrington Parkway. Next Steps: submit plans to the Agency of Transportation for review and environmental permitting, finalize construction plans, and complete the project in 2013.
- Champlain School:
- Add radar speed feedback signs to Shelburne Road and Pine Street;
- Complete a feasibility study to address routes from points north and east of the school.
Radar Feedback Sign Status: as of March 2013, bid documents for the radar feedback signs have been distributed and construction is planned for summer 2013 (this is managed by the Agency of Transportation).
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Bicycle Benefits® are available in Burlington? Get up to 20% off at participating businesses with your Bicycle Benefits sticker on your helmet!
There are always events for biking and walking -- indoor, outdoor, hands-on, and more. Check Local Motion's calendar for a full list of upcoming events.
Can't find information on a project related to walking or biking? Check the "Projects" link under the DPW Transportation page.
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