The City of Dallas met Tuesday to discuss a proposed two-way, barrier-separated bike lane along Jackson Street that would connect Harwood Park with the AT&T Discovery District.
The Bike Plan Update, proposed by the Dallas Department of Transportation, would update the City’s 2011 Dallas Bike Plan. The plan was created alongside professional bicycle planning consultants to implement new strategies to better support Dallas’ cyclists. The 2011 Plan was adopted to update the original 1985 Greater Dallas Bike Plan.
“A lot has happened since 2011,” Jessica Scott, project manager of the Bike Plan Update, told The Dallas Express. “There’s been rapid development and densification in [Dallas]. That all leads to increased competition for the curb space, the road space, and basically all of the shared public right away.”
“The project process is designed to update the Dallas Bike Plan in a way that is uniquely Texan – one that will result in a safe, accessible, and comfortable bicycle network that fits the City of Dallas – and also provides the avenue for Dallas to become world class for bicycling,” stated the City of Dallas in the Bike Plan Update.
The current proposal would implement a phased plan to connect bicycle routes throughout the City to help residents commute safely. Dallas plans to create a new bicycle master plan by Summer 2023, per the plan update.
One significant improvement would be updating the Bicycle Network Map, which recommends the desired location and type of improvements throughout the City.
“We wanted to update the bike network to reflect existing conditions, priority destinations, connections, and the desired facility type that will be comfortable for a wide range of ages and availabilities,” said Scott. “So we’re looking for this network to be approachable by a lot of users.”
Scott added that the plan update would make roadways safer for all users, not just bikers. Bike lanes also give motorized scooter users a place to ride other than sidewalks and the road.
Discussions about the plan update began in January 2022, and the final plan was adopted in October 2023.
The City of Dallas is calling on residents to give their input on the plan.
