Raincloud Publishing/Dan Allison
3100 Imperial Way, Apt 10
Carson City NV 89706-0809
rain @ raincloudpub.com
775-997-4937
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Carson City Bicycle Resources by Raincloud Publishing/Dan Allison is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
This page is a work in progress. Some of the existing information as not been updated or formatted consistently. Many routes are not yet present here, but will be gradually added as time permits. The color bars indicate the designation shown for the route on the Carson City Bicycle Route Map.
This bike route in the northwest part of town departs Route 395 at Combs Canyon Rd and Murphy Dr, goes down Combs Canyon which changes names to Ormsby Blvd where it turns south, continues along Ormsby to Winnie Ln, and then goes east on Winnie to Roop St. It has a bike lane only from Mountain St to Carson St, but the section between the second Ormsby Blvd and Mountain has a wide side/parking lane. The portion of Winnie Ln west of Ormsby Blvd, and the southern section of Ormsby Blvd are treated separately in the Winnie - Ash Canyon - Ormsby description. Updated 2009-12-04.
Condition: This segment is a semi-rural road with mostly narrow shoulders defined by a fog line.
Recommendation: This segment would better be labeled as alternate (yellow) because the shoulders are narrow.
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Condition: The section from Winnie Ln north to College Parkway does not have bike lanes or signing, but is wide enough to have bike lanes.
Recommendation: Paint bike lanes and install signs, and retain principal (green) designation.
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Condition: From Ormsby Blvd (the extension to the north) to Mountain St, the roadway has a wide parking lane on the north side, which can be used as a bicycle lane, though it is not marked as such. On the south side, there is a narrow to non-existant shoulder beyond the fog line for about half the distance to Victoria, then a wide parking lane the rest of the way to Mountian. From Mountain St to Carson St, bicycle lanes were added 2009-10.
Recommendation: Bicycle lanes should be added to this segment. This will require changing parking lane and travel lane widths, and shifting lanes to the north where the south shoulder is too narrow.
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Condition: From Carson St to Roop St, the roadway does not have any side lane markings or signing, but it is wide enough to be safely shared by bicyclists. However, Roop St is not safe to the north or the south for many bicyclists, so at present this is not a connection.
Recommendation: Once the Roop Street pathway project is complete (from Winnie to Northridge), this segment should be striped and signed with bicycle lanes. Carson City has received a grant to construct a bicycle path along the east side of Roop St northbound from Winnie Ln to Northridge Dr, which should be complete sometime in 2010. Roop southbound was mis-designed and does not have a safe width for bicyclists. When Roop is eventually widened from Long St to the south, share the road signs may be placed on Roop, but a safer route for bicyclists would require reconstruction.
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Ormsby Blvd runs from College Pkwy in the north to Winnie Ln in the south, and in a discontinuous section, from Winnie Ln south to King St. Winnie Ln and Ash Canyon Rd connect together these two sections. Updated 2009-12-04.
Condition: Winnie Ln curves to the south and connects to Ash Canyon Rd eastbound. The roadway has a narrow shoulder on the east side and no shoulder on the west. An adjacent wide sidewalk (is this a multi-use path?) is available from Ormsby to a bit before Foothill Rd, but there is no easy entry/exit at the west end of the sidewalk. Bollards on the wide sidewalk at Ormsby Blvd do not have reflective markers.
Recommendation: Add reflective markers or tape to wide sidewalk bollards.
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Condition: Ash Canyon Rd from Winnie Ln east to Ormsby Blvd (the name changes at the bend), shoulders are narrow. From the bend to Calaveras Dr, Ormsby Blvd has narrow shoulders. From Calaveras to King St, the roadway widens and provides sufficient wide should lanes, which are not designated as bicycle lanes.
Recommendation: None.
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This route extends from Western Nevada College on the west to Hwy 50 (William St) on the east, including College Blvd, Lompa Ln, and Nye Ln. This bikeway is a signficant east-west route, and should be signed as such with an assigned route number. Flickr photos. Updated 2009-11-30.
Condition: This segment has a fog line at 4 feet (1.2m) from the college property boundary to Ormsby Blvd. There is no bicycle marking or signing. The travel lane is 16 feet. This is an urban collector.
Recommendation: This section should be restriped to provide a 5 or 6 foot (1.5 or 1.8m) bike lane, and bicycle lane signing added. The section on college property should be striped from the point where the road turns south into the campus to the city right of way to the east. The route should be extended through the campus of Western Nevada College so that it connects with Route 395.
Map: On the Carson City Bicycle Route Map (2007), this segment is shown as alternate (yellow) from Western Nevada College to Ormsby Blvd. The map shows the segment extending too far to the west, but it actually ends at Western Nevada College to the east of the student union/library. The Unified Pathways Master Plan Bike Lane Map shows this as a "striped bicycle lane" (green). This street is a minor collector.
Condition: This segment has marked bicycle lanes, varying from 3.5 feet (1m) to 5 feet (1.5m). The markings disappear approaching Carson St eastbound and westbound, making it hazardous for bicycles. The Hwy 395 on-ramps and off-ramps are hazardous for bicylists (and pedestrians) because they were mis-designed by NDOT. From Ormsby to Carson, this is an urban collector, and from Carson to Lompa a minor arterial.
Recommendation for Carson St: College Blvd westbound approaching Carson St should be re-striped to indicate the bicycle lane continuing, with the right hand turn lane to the right of the bicycle lane, per the AASHTO BikeBook. More information is available on the Hazard page.
Recommendation for Hwy 395: The Hwy 395 on-ramps should be re-striped to indicate the bicycle lane continuing, with the right hand turn to the right of the bicycle lane, per the AASHTO BikeBook. The off-ramps should be reconstructed so that they provide a close to 90 degree angle with College, discouraging high-speed merges. More information is available on the Hazard page.
Recommendation for Lompa Ln: The sign approaching Lompa says "bike lane ends" (similar to R3-17 plus R3-17b). Instead it should direct people onto Lompa Ln, with an R3-17 and M5-1R white.
Map: On the Carson City Bicycle Route Map (2007), this segment is shown as primary (green) from Ormsby Blvd to Lompa Ln, which is appropriate. The Unified Pathways Master Plan Bike Lane Map shows this as a "striped bicycle lane" (green). This street is a minor arterial.
Condition: This segment has a faded bike lane with no signing. There is no indication at College or at Nye Ln that there is a bicycle route on Lompa Ln. There is a signal at the intersection of College Pkwy and Lompa Ln.
Recommendation: The bike lane and symbol should be refreshed, and bike lane signs added to both sides. Signs should be added indicating that the route southbound goes east on Nye Ln, with a [D11-1 plus M5-1L] (or M1-8 if the route is numbered). Signs should be added indicating that the lane northbound goes west on College Pkwy, with a [R3-17 plus M5-1L].
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Condition: This segment has no bike lane or fog line, but is of sufficient width to make an acceptable bikeway. The width of Nye Ln varies considerably over this length, and becomes semi-rural east of Airport, but as a low traffice road, designation as a bicycle route without pavement markings is appropriate.
Recommendation: Signs should be added indicating that the route westbound goes north on Lompa Ln, with a [D11-1 plus M5-1R] (or M1-8 if the route is numbered). At the termination of the bikeway at Hwy 50 (William St), a sign should indicate the intersection with Route 50, with a [M1-8-50 plus M7-5], and if this Nye Ln route is numbered, a [M-1-8 plus M4-12].
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Emerson St extends from Arrowhead Dr in the north to College Pkwy, where it becomes Roop St and extends to Northridge Dr. Flickr photos. Updated 2009-12-05.
Description: This segment from Arrowhead Dr to College Pkwy is a narrow semi-rural road with heavy traffic at commuter times. There is a fog line which defines a shoulder that is reasonably safe for bicyclists. Just to the south of the Hwy 395 underpass, the Route 1 multi-use path crosses this route.
Recommendation: A bike lane should be completed and correctly signed from the freeway underpass to College Pkwy since this also provides a connection to Route 1. Until this lane is completed, however, the bike lane sign northbound just past College Pkwy should be removed. At the crossing of Route 1, signs should be installed to indicate Route 1 [M1-8-1 plus M7-5], and on Route 1 to indicate this bike lane and route. The route itself should be signed.
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Description: This segment from College Pkwy to Northridge Dr has striped and signed bicycle lanes. At the south end, signs indicate the end of the lane. At the north, it connects to the Emerson Dr bicycle route, and at the south end to the Northridge Dr route which has bicycle lanes. In the section between College Pkwy and Hot Springs Rd, the lanes end prematurely. An enhancement project, probably to be complete in 2010, will provide a connection to the south along Roop with a pathway.
Recommendation: At south end of this segment, signing should indicate continuation of the bicycle lane onto Northridge Dr with a [R3-17 plus M5-1L] sign. The section between College Pkwy and Hot Springs Rd should have the lane configuration changed so that the bicycle lanes carry through this section.
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Mountain St is a north-south street extending from Nye Ln in the north to King St in the south. It provides connections to Winnie Ln, Long St, Washington St, Robinson St, King St (which is Bicycle Route 395), and Fritsch Elementary, Bordewich Bray Elementary, and Carson Middle schools. The section from Winnie Ln to King St is shown as Principal (green) on the map.
Condition: The street is wide enough for bicycle use, though it is not wide enough for bicycle lanes unless parking is removed on one side or the other. Though the crossing of Carson St at Nye Ln is very hazardous, this section of Mountain does give access via passthroughs from Wagner Dr to Oak Ridge Dr and from Jeanell Dr to Shadowbrook Ct (and will from Nye Ln to Oak Ridge Dr in the future), and thence to College Pkwy and Ormsby Blvd.
Solution: Remove parking from either the west or east side, and then add bicycle lanes to both sides. There is a very low rate of on-street parking in this segment, and removal of parking on one side should not significantly impact residents. The Wagner Dr to Oak Ridge Dr passthrough can be signed for connection to College Pkwy.
The street is wide enough for bicycle use, though it is not wide enough for bicycle lanes unless parking is removed on one side or the other. It narrows slightly from Caroline to King St.
Solution: If Mountain is to retain the primary designation (green), it should either have painted bicycle lanes or share the road signs and pavement markings.
Northridge Dr and Carmine St are an west-east route that connects Roop St to Lompa Ln and Airport Rd, and intersects the north-south Route 1. Flickr photos. Updated 2009-12-05.
Condition: Northridge Blvd has 6 foot (1.9m) bicycle lanes on both sides for the entire section from Roop St to just east of Eastridge Ln, and 4.5 foot (1.4m) lanes from there to Lompa Ln. Three roundabouts pinch down the bicycle lanes, without any indication to motorists or bicyclists about how to safely navigate the roundabouts. There is an adjacent wide sidewalk (is this a multi-use path?) on the north side of Northridge from just before Roop St to just past Eastridge Ln. The bicycle lane is not marked as such westbound from Lompa Ln or from Route 1. There are no signs to note the crossing of Route 1. Westbound, existing signs indicate the end of the bicycle lane approaching Roop St, but this is incorrect since there is a lane on Roop St northbound.
Recommendation: Each of the three roundabouts should have signs added to indicate that vehicles and bicyclists should share the road through the roundabout. The [R4-11] sign is probably the most appropriate. It would be useful but not as important to have R3-17 bicycle lane signs after the roundabouts to signify a return to the travel lane and bicycle lane pattern. Bicycle lane signs should be added to Northridge westbound at Lompa Ln and just past Route 1. Route 1 signs [M1-8-1 plus M7-5] should be added in both directions. A end bicycle lane sign approaching Roop St should be replaced with a sign to indicate the lane on Roop [R3-17 plus M5-1R].
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Description: This segment runs from Lompa Ln (where the street name changes from Northridge Dr to Carmine St) to Airport Rd. It is mostly a wide road with plenty of room for bicyles, though no lanes or signs, but is quite a bit narrower in a few spots.
Recommendation: The street should be widened to a consistent width so that bicycle lanes can be added to carry the Northridge bicycle lanes all the way to Airport Rd with also has bicycle lanes to the south.
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Curry St extends from Bath St in the north (except for a one block section between Park St and Fleischmann St) to Clearview Dr in the south. Flickr photos. Updated: 2009-12-05.
Condition: This segment has a marked and signed bicycle lanes in good condition along both sides of Curry St. The Clearview Dr to Koontz section was added in 2007 and the Koontz to Rhodes Dr section was added in 2009. The climb southbound to the hill crest next to the Galaxy Theater is moderately steep.
Condition: This segment has shoulders varying from wide to nonexistent, with deteriorated pavement in many locations.
Hazard: The curve of the roadway west of the Nevada State Railroad Museum is very narrow, with limited visibility, and a high traffic volume, and is not safe for most bicyclists.
Solution: This segment is slated for a major reconstruction project which will add bicycle lanes, but the project has been delayed indefinitely.
Condition: This segment is has no bicycle lane and has parking, but is wide enough for safe bicycling.
Saliman Rd is a north-south street extending from Long Ave in the north to Koontz Ln in the south. It has a painted bicycle lane along its entire length, and is shown on the Carson City Bicycle Route Map as a principal route (green). As a major north-south bikeway, Saliman Rd should receive a route number, and the route number should be shown on the map and on bike signs. Flickr photos. Updated 2009-12-05.
Condition: Bicycle lanes (5.5 feet / 1.7m) are painted and have standard pavement symbols. There are no bicycle signs.
Recommendation: Install bicycle signs:
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Condition: Bicycle lanes (5.5 feet / 1.7m) are painted and have standard pavement symbols. There are no bicycle signs. The pavement is in good condition and there are no hazards.
Recommendation: Install bicycle signs:
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Condition: The bicycle lanes are narrow, less than four feet, have a pavement dropoff in many areas, have pavement defects including parallel cracks, and have uneven utility covers.
Recommendation: Pavement markings need to be repainted so that travel lanes are only 10 feet wide, leaving enough pavement width for 5 foot / 1.5m wide bicycle lanes without using gutters, meeting the current AASHTO guidelines. Utility access covers should be brought back to surface level. Narrowing of this segment of Saliman from four lanes to two lanes may be appropriate as the four lane capacity is not needed and encourages excessive speed.
Install bicycle signs:
Map: This segment is "principal" (green) on the Carson City Bicycle Route Map, which is appropriate. It is designated "striped bicycle lane" (green) on the Unified Pathways Master Plan Bike Lane Map. It is designated a urban collector (yellow) on the Roadway Functional Classification Map.
Condition: The lanes are narrow but acceptable. There are pavement markings but no signs. From Sonoma St to Kingsley Ln, there is a parallel multi-use path (not official) on the west side of the street. Saliman Rd changes to Hillview Dr at Kingsley Ln. At Koontz Ln, there is no indication about how to continue.
Recommendation: At Koontz Ln, there should be a wayfinding sign indicating the unpaved recreation trail that connects to the rest of Hillview Ln southward. The short recreation trail segment should be paved to create a through route to the other segment of Hillview Ln.
Install bicycle signs:
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Conditions: This route heads south on Hillview Dr from Koontz Ln and then west on Appion Way, ending where it connects to Route 395 at Silver Sage Dr. From Koontz Ln to Valley View Dr, there is an unpaved gap. From Valley View Dr to Silver Sage Dr, the segment is a semi-rural narrow road with low traffic volumes.
Recommendations: The gap should be filled by an official multi-use path, which would make Saliman Rd - Hillview Dr a through route all the way from Long St to Route 395. This would also serve walking and bicycling students who attend Seeliger Elemenatary School, and community members accessing the school and Sonoma Park. This segment should be signed, particularly where it meets Route 395 westbound [M1-8-395 plus M], and departs eastbound [D11-1].
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Fairview Dr extends from Carson St (Hwy 395) on the west to William St (Hwy 50) on the north. Until recently the northern portion was named Edmonds Dr. Updated 2009-12-05.
Condition: This new section of street has narrow travel lanes with high traffic volume, and no bicycle facilities. It should be avoided by all but experienced bicyclists. Carson St in this area is labeled as a "Dangerous Route" on the bicycle map, while Roop St is a designated route.
Recommendation: Label this segment as "dangerous route" (red) on the Carson City Bicycle Route Map. However, when/if the freeway Phase 2B is completed, traffic volumes should drop sufficiently to remove one of the three left turn lanes and install bicycle lanes.
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Condition: This section has bicycle lanes. Westbound, just west of Saliman Rd, there is a "bicycle lane ends" sign (MUTCD R3-17 & R3-17b), for no apparent reason since the bicycle lane clearly continues along Fairview. Westbound, about 100 meters before Roop St, the lane pinches out due to left turn lane and roadway narrowing at Roop St. Eastbound, the lane is continuous from Roop Rd to Saliman Rd, but is does not have pavement marking or signs.
Recommendation: Add pavement markings in both directions, add bicycle lane signs in both directions, move "bicycle lane ends" from near Saliman to the pinch-out before Roop. Sign the final stretch to Roop with "bicycles may use full lane" sign [R4-11]. Add directional signs for westbound bicycles, just east of Roop St, that end the Fairview Dr route [M1-8 plus M4-12] and note the crossing Roop St route [M1-8-395 plus M7-5], all on one post. Once these improvements are in place, add the route to the Carson City Bicycle Route Map.
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Condition: This segment has bicycle lanes from Saliman Rd nearly to Edmonds Dr which were recently completed as part of the Hwy 395 Phase 2A project. The design includes an extremely hazardous double lane on-ramp from Fairview eastbound to the freeway northbound. The design assumes that bicyclists will follow the lane to the crosswalk and then dismount, but pedestrians are just as endangered as bicyclists by this design. Bicyclists must occupy the lane straight and right turn lane well ahead of the on-ramp.
Recommenation: The double lane on-ramp design must be fixed before someone dies here.
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Condition: This segment has wide shoulder on both sides, but does not have bicycle lane markings or signing. Traffic speed along this roadway is quite high, always exceeding the posted speed limit.
Recommendations: none.
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Condition: This segment has the official multi-use path Route 6 on the west side, and then an informal paved path from Route 6 to Butti Way, and an informal paved path on the east side from Route 6 to the sidewalk on Fairview between Butti Way and Desatoya Dr. From Butti Way north to Willam St (Hwy 50), this roadway has high traffic volumes with a significant percentage overspeed, and it is not safe for any but experience bicyclists.
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Koontz Ln extends from Curry St on the west to and just beyond Edmonds Dr on the east. Koontz is designated a minor collector. Updated 2009-12-04.
Condition: This segment has newly striped bicycle lanes and signing.
Recommendation: None
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Condition: This segment has marked but unsigned bicycle lanes on both sides of the street. The intersection of Koontz and Carson St is busy and bicyclists should use caution. Curry to the south is a route with bicycle lane, but not to the north, and Silver Sage is a route with bicycle lanes north and south.
Recommendation: Bicycle lanes signs should be added.
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Condition: The bicycle lanes end at Center Dr. The street east of here has shoulders, but is narrow for the amount of traffic. There are no bicycle markings or signs. At the terminus of Koontz St east of Edmonds Dr, connections can be made to recreational trails in the Prison Hill area. The overpass of Koontz Ln over the Hwy 395 Phase 2B freeway is under construction but it is not known what sort of bicycle facilities this overpass will have.
Recommendation: none
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