40.350.015 Pedestrian/Bicycle Circulation Standards
Pedestrian and bicycle circulation facilities shall be designed to provide safe, convenient and appropriate levels of access for pedestrians and bicyclists, and allow for unobstructed movements and access pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended.
A. Applicability.
This section applies to any subdivision, short plat, site plan application, or conditional use permit; provided, that for the purposes of Sections 40.350.030(B)(4) and (B)(8), it shall also apply to applications for building permit or other applications for access to a public road, or to projects within the public right-of-way.
(Amended: Ord. 2019-11-05; Ord. 2020-12-02)
B. Pedestrian Circulation/Sidewalks.
For sidewalk construction standards, construction timing, construction bond and procedure, see Section 40.350.030(C)(4)(h). For sidewalks specifications, see the Standard Details Manual. For reference materials, see Pedestrian Facilities Guidebook – Incorporating Pedestrians into Washington’s Transportation System, sponsored by WSDOT.
1. Urban Areas. Sidewalks shall be constructed as provided below.
a. Where Required. Sidewalks shall be constructed along both sides of all public roads in urban areas in accordance with the standard plans. Sidewalks shall be constructed in accordance with the Standard Details Manual.
b. Exceptions. Sidewalk requirements may be waived or reduced where an approved pedestrian circulation plan is incorporated into the development application. Sidewalk requirements may also be reduced to one (1) side only of the development frontage for new streets when topography or other physical features require a reduction in transportation standards. Any reduction in transportation standards requires a road modification pursuant to Section 40.550.010.
c. Width. Sidewalks shall be constructed to the minimum width listed in Table 40.350.015-1; provided:
(1) In instances where a minimum width less than five (5) feet is approved, there shall be Americans with Disabilities Act compliant five (5) foot by five (5) foot landings every two hundred (200) feet.
(2) The remaining area between the curb and the edge of the right-of-way may be hardscaped if approved by the review authority.
d. Obstructions. Fixed objects such as trees, tree wells, mailboxes, fire hydrants, utility or telephone poles, or benches may be placed on the sidewalk; provided, that a minimum unobstructed width of forty-eight (48) inches is provided.
e. At Transit Stops. Sidewalks at transit stops shall be a minimum of eight (8) feet wide and may abut the curb.
f. When Attached to Curbs. Where sidewalks abutting the curb have been approved, sufficient right-of-way or easement shall be established to provide a minimum of three (3) feet of clearance between the back of the sidewalk and the right-of-way.
g. Curb Ramps. On all curbed streets along the frontage of a development, ramped sections to facilitate passage of handicapped persons, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, shall be constructed through curb and sidewalk at street intersections and other crosswalk locations.
h. Where Intersecting with Driveways. Sidewalks crossing driveways shall be constructed in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (see the Standard Details Manual).
2. Rural Areas. Commercial, industrial, conditional use, and public facility developments within rural centers shall construct detached sidewalks or walkways of Portland cement concrete or asphalt along all street frontages. Such facilities, when required, shall be constructed to urban standards.
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Table 40.350.015-1. Sidewalk and Streetscaping Requirements |
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STREET |
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LAND USE |
Arterials/Collectors |
Local Access |
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Commercial, multifamily residential, public facilities, and institutional uses |
6 ft. wide sidewalks (5 ft. if detached). Hardscaping vs. landscaping allowed with approval. |
5 ft. wide sidewalks. Hardscaping vs. landscaping permitted. |
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Single-family residential (including townhomes) and industrial1 uses. |
6 ft. wide sidewalks (5 ft. if detached). Hardscaping vs. landscaping allowed with approval. |
5 ft. wide sidewalks. Hardscaping vs. landscaping permitted for industrial uses. |
1 Industrial uses containing over five thousand (5,000) square feet of office space shall comply with the requirements for commercial, multifamily residential, public facilities, and institutional uses.
(Amended: Ord. 2012-12-23; Ord. 2014-01-08; Ord. 2019-11-05; Ord. 2020-12-02)
C. Bicycle Circulation.
1. Urban Area – Where Required. Bike lanes shall be included in the reconstruction or new construction of any arterial or collector street if bike lanes are indicated in the Arterial Atlas or as required by the County Engineer.
a. Signage and Markings. Bike lanes shall include signage and pavement markings in conformance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
b. Vertical Clearance. Bike facilities shall have an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than eight (8) feet.
c. Reference Standards. Standards for bikeways consist of the following: Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, USDOT, and Federal Highway Administration. For additional reference see “Guide for Development of New Bicycle Facilities,” American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), 1991.
2. Rural Area. Rural area developments outside rural centers are not subject to the bicycle circulation requirements.
(Amended: Ord. 2020-12-02)
D. Bicycle Guidelines.
Bicycle areas are not required to meet the following standards; however, developments are encouraged to meet these standards to the extent practicable.
1. Design Guidelines.
a. Bicycle parking facilities should either be a lockable enclosure in which the bicycle is stored, or a secure stationary rack which supports the frame so the bicycle cannot easily be pushed or fall to one (1) side. Racks that require a user-supplied lock should accommodate locking the frame and both wheels using either a cable or U-shaped lock.
b. Bicycle parking spaces should be at least six (6) feet long and two-and-one-half (2 1/2) feet wide, and overhead clearance in covered spaces should be a minimum of seven (7) feet.
c. A five (5) foot aisle for bicycle maneuvering should be provided and maintained beside or between each row of bicycle parking.
d. Bicycle racks or lockers should be securely anchored.
e. Required bicycle parking should be well lighted and secure.
f. Bicycle parking should not obstruct walkways. A minimum five (5) foot wide aisle shall remain clear.
g. If ten (10) or more bicycle spaces are provided for commercial development, then at least fifty percent (50%) of the bicycle spaces should be covered. A lockable enclosure shall be considered as a covered parking space.
h. All of the required bicycle parking for residential uses should be covered. This may include space provided in a carport or garage.
2. Location Guidelines.
a. Bicycle parking should be located on the site within fifty (50) feet of main building entrances and not farther from the entrance than the closest standard or compact motor vehicle parking space. Bicycle parking should have direct access to both the public right-of-way and to the main entrance of the principal use.
b. For buildings or developments with multiple entrances, bicycle parking should be distributed proportionally at the various public entrances; employee bicycle parking should be located at the employee entrance, if appropriate.
c. Bicycle parking may be located in the public right-of-way only with the approval of the responsible official.
d. Bicycle parking may be provided within a building easily accessible for bicyclists.
(Amended: Ord. 2020-12-02)
E. Accessways.
1. Applicability. The review authority may require an off-street accessway be constructed to provide direct routes for pedestrians and bicyclists not otherwise provided by the street system to mitigate the impact of development.
2. Collector and Arterial Roadways. Off-street accessways shall be required of development that has frontage, access, or abuts a collector or arterial classified roadway and if any lot within the proposed subdivision’s pedestrian circulation is further than one-quarter (1/4) mile from the collector or arterial roadway, and the pedestrian has to travel out of direction to access the collector or arterial classified roadway.
3. Design. Accessways shall consist of a ten (10) foot minimum public easement or tract and may be entirely hardscaped. All surfaces shall be designed to drain stormwater run-off to the side or sides of the accessway. Accessways shall comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
4. Visibility. Accessways shall be constructed so that the entirety of the accessway is visible from one (1) or more adjacent public streets. On-street parking shall be prohibited within fifteen (15) feet of the intersection of an accessway and a public street to preserve safe sight distances. A vertical clearance of eight (8) feet is required.
5. No Vehicular Access. Accessways shall be designed to prohibit motorized traffic. Curbs, bollards or branching the accessway into two (2) narrower one-way paths before it reaches the roadway are suggested design considerations.
6. Stairways. Accessways must not exceed a 1:12 slope. If a 1:12 slope cannot be graded or constructed due to physical topographic constraints, stairs will be required. Accessways that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act standards are the preferred design to accommodate all users. A design memorandum shall be submitted for review and approval demonstrating that all Americans with Disabilities Act standards were incorporated to the maximum extent feasible and documenting any infeasibility to comply. Stairways shall be at least five (5) feet wide with a center handrail, and flat sloped surfaces along the outside on which bicycles may be walked.
7. Off-site Improvements. Developments shall not be required to provide public easements for accessways off-site to meet this requirement. If a public easement or public right-of-way is otherwise available off-site, the developer may be required to construct an accessway off-site up to one hundred and fifty (150) feet long to mitigate the impact of development.
(Amended: Ord. 2019-11-05. Formerly 40.350.010; Ord. 2020-12-02)