EVALUATION AND DATA ANALYSIS

Conclusions

This plan has considered a variety of issues that directly affect the decision to implement and develop a bicycle system for the City of Las Cruces and MPO area.  The most important information in terms of the data presented are outlined below:

1. Estimated future populations will place a greater impact on existing transportation infrastructure and bicycle transportation can be used to alleviate such impacts.
2. Many f the area's residents have an interest in bicycling, regardless of their destination and purpose.
3. Funding sources are available for the implementation of bicycling facilities, and the types of facilities vary with use, type, cost, safety, and design.

Bicycle riding can serve as a viable form of transportation for the City of Las Cruces and MPO area, while still providing a form of recreation.  Current bicycle facilities, due to their location and lack of connectivity, do not present themselves as a safe and efficient form of transportation for most bicycle riders, making bicycles less competitive with automobile use.  Population projections and bicycle riding trends indicate that bicycling can become even more viable form of both transportation and recreation as the area continues to grow and if bicycle facilities are provided.

In outlying or undeveloped areas, the future construction of roadways will present themselves for the implementation of bicycle facilities.  In developed areas, the wide rights-of-way and lateral system lend themselves to the construction of bicycling facilities for connection to existing residential areas and bicycling destinations.   The type of facilities that will be needed in the future are those that will utilize existing roadways and that follow normal automobile traffic flow.  The use of existing roads are the preferred route for bicyclists over separated paths.  The use of existing roadways will save on the expense of acquiring additional right-of-way and construction costs while allowing bicycle riders to travel on their preferred riding surface, city streets.  Also, with additional awareness and safety improvements, both bicycle and automobile users will be able to share the roadway with limited conflict and inconvenience.

In order to address safety, design, development, and construction criteria, Staff feels that the best possible way to address bicycling facilities is to:

1. establish various forms of bikeways along streets that will definitely be used by bicyclist and that will also connect existing facilities and riding areas;
2. Bikeway Study Corridors for those street that will most likely provide for bicycle travel in the future; and
3. Bicycle Facility Study Corridors/Areas in those areas of the City and MPO that need further analysis for final alignments that will present themselves to safe and efficient bicycle travel.
4. Detailed analysis along future or potential bicycle routes will be conducted through the Uniform Work Program of the Las Cruces MOP and Capital Improvement Program for the City of Las Cruces.  Implementation and construction of major projects along Bicycle Facility Study Corridors/Areas can be developed after completion of detailed analysis of specific roadways.

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