Bicycling advocates press Nevada County to revise striping plan; board directs staff to coordinate
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Summary
Sierra Express Bicycle Club and local advocates asked supervisors to narrow travel lanes, create separated bike accommodations and add green intersection markings before the county's western-county striping contract is finalized; county engineers said 11-foot lanes are standard given topography but agreed to meet with advocates and include minor contract modifications where feasible; the board approved the striping contracts.
Pat Perkins, Principal Engineer for Nevada County, presented the annual western-county striping program and noted there are two striping contracts (east and west). "Within Western County is a little bit different; we tend to do that a little bit later in the season," Perkins said, describing how the program evaluates roads and sets lane widths based on topography and existing easements.
Members of the Sierra Express Bicycle Club urged several adjustments before the county issues the bid. Catherine Thompson, the club's president, asked the board to direct staff "to bring back a revised striping plan for roads used as active cycling routes that incorporates lane narrowing, bike accommodation and green conflict markings before this bid is released." Thompson cited national and federal research supporting lane reductions and separated facilities as crash-reduction measures. Reid Hamilton, a bicycle-club transportation committee member, added that safer bike routes reduce emissions and benefit public health and the local recreation economy.
Perkins responded that Nevada County typically uses an 11-foot lane width because of winding foothill roads and wide vehicles; "trying to get down to a 10 foot lane typically doesn't work well for vehicles," he said. Staff said the program will include double white "fog lines" where practicable and is willing to meet with the bicycle club to examine select corridors. Chair Swarthout directed staff to meet with the club and pursue minor contract modifications where cost and safety permit. The board voted to approve the striping contracts with that direction.
The county emphasized that some corridors have limited easement or require wider lanes for safety; staff pledged to return with recommended corridor-specific changes if needed and to pursue grant opportunities for larger shoulder or paving projects that would support dedicated bike infrastructure.
