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Home My WebLink AboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 02/21/2017 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 028, 2017, AMENDINGAgenda Item 8 Item # 8 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY February 21, 2017 City Council STAFF Paul Sizemore, FC Moves Program Manager Joe Olson, City Traffic Engineer Craig Horton, Police Lieutenant SUBJECT First Reading of Ordinance No. 028, 2017, Amending the Fort Collins Traffic Code Restricting Parking in Bicycle Lanes. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to amend sections of the Fort Collins Traffic Code to clarify regulations relating to bike lanes. The amendment to Section 1013 clarifies that bicycle lanes can be identified by signs or pavement markings and that parking in bike lanes is prohibited. The amendment to Section 1204 includes bike lanes in the list of locations where parking is prohibited. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION The Fort Collins Traffic Code is largely based upon the Model Traffic Code for the State of Colorado. The Code includes a section that enumerates various places where parking is prohibited without the need for traffic signs or pavement markings. Currently the Code does not specifically identify bike lanes as one of these locations and there are differences of interpretation among City staff whether such a prohibition is implied. This lack of clarity results in difficulty enforcing the Code and keeping bike lanes clear for cyclists. In order to address this problem, staff from FC Moves, Traffic Operations, Police Services, and the City Attorney’s Office worked together to clarify the Code. Other Colorado cities, including Denver, have already adopted amendments to the model code language to specifically include bike lanes as one of those locations where parking is prohibited. The proposed Ordinance follows a similar formula to the one used by these other cities, and will provide clarity allowing more effective enforcement. The Ordinance includes amendments to two sections of the Traffic Code applicable to this issue. The first amendment is to Section 1013, which establishes regulations for driving on roadways with designated bicycle lanes. The amendment clarifies that bike lanes can be identified by either signage or pavement markings, or that parking in bike lanes is prohibited. For internal consistency, the Ordinance also amends Section 1204 to include bike lanes in a list of locations where parking is prohibited. CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS The proposed changes to the Traffic Code are not anticipated to have a financial impact on the City. Agenda Item 8 Item # 8 Page 2 BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Staff presented the concept of the proposed changes to the three City boards and committees with a direct interest in parking and bicycling issues. On November 28, 2016, staff discussed the changes with the Bicycle Advisory Committee. The Committee was supportive of the proposal, but a formal endorsement was not requested. On December 21, 2016, the Transportation Board voted unanimously in support of the proposal. On January 9, 2017, the Parking Advisory Board voted unanimously in support of the proposal. PUBLIC OUTREACH Public engagement around this proposal consisted of discussion and input from the three City boards and committees described above. These are citizen boards with an interest in bicycling and parking issues. Any new projects that involve the installation of bike lanes will include public outreach specific to the project type. ATTACHMENTS 1. Transportation Board Memo, December 21, 2016 (PDF) 2. Parking Advisory Board Memo, February 3, 2017 (PDF) 3. Bicycle Advisory Committee minutes, November 28, 2016 (PDF) Eric Shenk, Chair Annabelle Berklund, Vice Chair Transportation Board DATE: December 21, 2016 TO: Mayor Troxell and City Councilmembers FROM: Eric Shenk, Transportation Board Chair, on behalf of the Transportation Board CC: Darin Atteberry, City Manager RE: Traffic Code Amendment: Parking in Bike Lanes The Transportation Board reviewed the proposed Traffic Code Amendment: Parking in Bike Lanes by Paul Sizemore at our December 21, 2016 meeting. The Board voted unanimously to endorse changes to the code with the understanding that the final wording of the code amendment will be at the discretion of the City Attorney’s Office. Respectfully submitted, C. Eric Shenk, Transportation Board Chair ATTACHMENT 1 Boards & Commissions 300 Laporte Avenue PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.416.2525 970.224.6107 - fax fcgov.com MEMORANDUM DATE: February 3, 2017 TO: Mayor Wade Troxell and City Councilmembers FROM: Parking Advisory Board RE: PAB Support of Traffic Code Amendment: Parking in Bike Lanes During the January 9, 2017 meeting of the Parking Advisory Board (PAB), City Staff presented the concept of amending the traffic code to specifically prohibit the parking of vehicles in bike lanes and clarifying the regulations regarding crossing bike lanes to make turns. PAB unanimously voted to support this traffic code amendment and believes this will provide the community with the following benefits:  Clearer understanding of where vehicles can cross over a bike lane to enter into a turn lane.  Provide a safe approach to intersections for cyclists in bike lanes.  Vehicles not obstructing bike lanes could potentially lead to fewer bike and vehicle accidents. PAB members would like to state that public outreach of this amendment will be a crucial component for it to be successful. ATTACHMENT 2 BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE November 28, 2016 Proposed Traffic Code Amendments – Parking in Bike Lanes (Tessa Greegor, FC Bikes) Tessa presented an update on the traffic code amendments, which would also be presented to the Transportation Board and ultimately City Council. Traffic Code – Part 1204 was reviewed in respect to stopping, standing or parking prohibited in specified places. FC Bikes met with legal, police, traffic, and department staff about interpreting the codes as it relates to parking in bike lanes. It was found that the existing Code does not clearly specify that you cannot park in a bike lane. Todd Dangerfield indicated that this issue is prevalent in south Fort Collins – Tessa identified a recent concern along Redwood Street north of Vine. Enforcement of violators – The best reporting procedure is to call the non-emergency line for police. The Access Fort Collins Website can also be used. ATTACHMENT 3 -1- ORDINANCE NO. 028, 2017 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AMENDING THE FORT COLLINS TRAFFIC CODE RESTRICTING PARKING IN BICYCLE LANES WHEREAS, on February 18, 2003, by Ordinance No. 016, 2003, the City Council adopted the Fort Collins Traffic Code (the “Traffic Code”); and WHEREAS, due to an ambiguity in the current Traffic Code, there is often confusion for citizens and City staff whether vehicles may park in bicycle lanes; and WHEREAS, bicyclists are often placed in difficult and unsafe positions when vehicles park in designated bicycle lanes; and WHEREAS, after a robust outreach to the citizens of the City, staff recommends the Traffic Code be amended to state without ambiguity that parking in bicycle lanes is not permitted; and WHEREAS, the City Council believes it is necessary for the preservation of the health, safety, and welfare of the City’s citizens to amend the Traffic Code to reflect that vehicles may not park in bicycle lanes. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and findings contained in the recitals set forth above. Section 2. That Section 1013 of the Traffic Code is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 1013. Driving on roadways with designated bicycle lanes. Whenever a bicycle lane has been established on a roadway as a bicycle lane, any person operating a motor vehicle on such roadway shall not park in such bicycle lane drive and shall not move in into or out of the such bicycle lane except to park where parking is permitted, to enter or leave the highway, enter or leave a parking space, or to prepare for a turn. Any person operating a motor vehicle shall not enter a bicycle lane as provided by this Ssubsection until yielding the right-of-way to all bicycles lawfully within the bicycle lane. For purposes of this subsection and subsection 1204, at least three signs or pavement stencils per mile designating a lane as a bicycle lane, together with a white line parallel to the roadway, shall constitute prima facie evidence that a bicycle lane has been established on such roadway. -2- Section 3. That Section 1204(3) of the Traffic Code is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 1204. Stopping, standing or parking prohibited in specified places. . . . (3) In addition to the restrictions specified in Subsections (1) and (2) of this Section, no person shall park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or official traffic control device, in any of the following places: (a) Within fifty (50) feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing. (b) At any other place where official signs prohibit parking. (c) To park any vehicle other than an authorized vehicle in any area designated for such use. (d) Where a lane has been established on a roadway as a bicycle lane pursuant to subsection 1013. . . . Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 21st day of February, A.D. 2017, and to be presented for final passage on the 7th day of March, A.D. 2017. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _______________________________ City Clerk -3- Passed and adopted on final reading on the 7th day of March, A.D. 2017. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _______________________________ City Clerk