Nokomis East Area Bicycle Routes Project

Resources and mockup photos

Program Background

In 1996, NENA gathered a group of residents and business owners together to explore the needs of our community regarding commercial area revitalization. The hope of this revitalization was to improve the streetscape character and increase shopper convenience by reducing the potential need for additional parking space in the future. Part of this strategy is to encourage shoppers to walk and bicycle.

The neighborhood routes chosen for this project were selected based on their access to the city bikeway system, connections to existing routes and (then future) LRT stations, travel past commercial nodes and other popular neighborhood destinations, andtheir safety for bikers (see attached neighborhood route map). These proposed routes were carefully examined by NENA, the City of Minneapolis, a member of the State Bicycle Advisory Committee, and NENA residents and felt to be the best choices for connecting bicyclists with our commercial and recreational areas.

Goals & Plan

The goal of the Neighborhood Bicycle Routes plan is to establish a network of signed bicycle routes on selected streets throughout the neighborhood to enhance travel to our commercial nodes and to increase bicycle safety and awareness for both motor vehicle drivers and bicyclists. As an alternate to bicycle lanes (Our streets are not wide enough) the plan calls for placing bike route signs along the selected routes. As part of the project, NENA will also prepare and distribute bicycle education and safety materials. The signs and educational materials will help motorists and bicyclists be more aware of each other on the street, providing a safer environment for all.

In addition to signing the routes, bicycle racks will be installed in the business community (where permitted) to encourage more bicycle traffic to NENA’s commercial areas. All routes will appear on a new citywide map as part of the city’s 5-year plan and will give bike riders a preferred route of travel through our neighborhood. This map will also appear on the internet. A map of the bicycle routes was included in the NENA Review prior to being presented to community members at a NENA Town meeting in November 2001 and through an article in the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.

Notes:

1. The original concept (from the Board-approved February 2002 Scope of Services) called for a neighborhood identifier sign, approximately 12x20" mounted over a similar-sized single sign with routes and directions marked on it.

2. Several assumptions were made during the preperation of the mockups. They are based on a reading of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 2003 edition and on field observations. Sign clusters are shown approximately 100' ahead of traffic Stop signs. The bottom edge of each sign cluster is 7' from the ground. This differs slightly from the Bicycle section, Part 9B. which requires 8' clearance on mixed use paths (streets?). However, 7' is standard for existing parking and traffic control signage in Minneapolis. Signs shown use an approximation of the standard Pantone 342 (green) color for the background as specified inthe MUTCD.

3. The supplied mockup sign is approximately 6 " x 30" in size.

4. Size and position of the signs were determined by photographing the same location twice. In the first shot, a person held a Public Works-supplied mockup in position and at the 7' level. That part of the first image was used as a temporary sizing aid for drawing the signs which were then placed in a second photo reshot without person and sign.

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Sample Mockups:	Click an image or link for larger views
	Post #5 43rd Ave at 50th St, facing north.
	Post #8 50th St at 43rd Ave, facing east.
	Post #25 50th St at Nokomis Ave, facing east
	Post #28 - front view Nokomis Ave at 50th St, facing south
	Post #28 - back view Nokomis Ave at 50th St, facing north

All photo images and the Nokomis East specific map were created by Nena staff and are (c) copyright 2005 by Nokomis East. The line map and bicycle sign outline drawings were supplied by the City of Minneapolis.