We're demonstrating buffered and protected bike lanes on Spear Street! These temporary bike lanes give the community the opportunity to test and give feedback on what kind of bike infrastructure should be here in the future! Join us for a launch party at Fisher Brothers Farm, September 1st from 4 - 7 PM with live music and food by Making the Cutx BBQ!
Project Motivation
Spear Street in Shelburne is a commonly used route for people riding bikes and walking, despite its level of traffic stress (LTS) rating of 3 which is understood to be accessible to only the most confident bicyclists (e.g., 10% of the riding public). This rating is applied to Spear Street between Caspian Lane and the South Burlington line (1.35 miles) because of its speed limit (35 mph) and use of paved shoulders as bike lanes. Traffic volume on Spear Street is relatively high at nearly 6,000 vehicles per day and speeding is a problem, with the 85th percentile speed at 45 mph. Thus, there is a need to improve the safety and comfort for people currently or aspiring to walk and bike along this segment. This segment is listed in the second-highest priority group of projects in the Chittenden County Regional Active Transportation Plan (2022) (p. 32).
Project Purpose and Scope
The purpose of this demonstration project is to introduce the concept of buffered and protected bike lanes to residents and visitors of Shelburne, solicit public feedback and inform the design of a quick-build or permanent treatment. The demonstration project will give the riding public the opportunity to test three bike lane designs on Spear Street: buffered and delineator-protected (closely-spaced and wide-spaced flex posts). These temporary facilities will be installed along a 2022’ stretch of road between Caspian Lane and the Fisher Brothers Farm (Sisters of Anarchy Ice Cream).
Project Design
The road will be re-striped to approximately 10.5’ wide car travel lanes and 4.5-5’ bike lanes. Three bike lanes will be demonstrated: (1) 1.5-2’ painted white buffer; (2) vertical delineator posts placed in the painted buffer every 20 '; and (3) vertical delineator posts placed in the painted buffer every 100 '. The latter design is based on a treatment commonly used on rural and suburban roads in Quebec. Segment lengths will be 300' for the painted buffer segment and closely-spaced delineator post segment, each, and 1422' for the extended delineator post spacing. The temporary infrastructure will be constructed on both sides of the road.
Share Your Feedback!
Please share your thoughts about the demonstration project and your preferences for buffered or vertical bike lane protection along Spear Street in Shelburne by completing this survey!
Attend the Spear Street Bike Lane Demonstration Launch Party! Sept 1 from 4-7 pm
Join the Shelburne Bicycle and Pedestrian Paths Committee and Local Motion for a Launch Party of the demonstration bike lanes on Spear Street that will connect the shared use path bike path near Kwiniaska with Fisher Brothers Farm (home of Sisters of Anarchy Ice Cream). The launch party will take place on Friday, September 1 from 4-7 pm with live music and dinner available for purchase from food truck Making the Cutx BBQ! So, get your friends and family, hop on your bikes and ride down Spear Street for an early evening of fun, biking, food and music.
For More Information
This demonstration project is a joint effort led by the Town of Shelburne, Shelburne Bike and Pedestrian Paths Committee (SBPPC) and Local Motion. For questions, please contact SBPPC member Barb Johnson at [email protected] or Susan Grasso at [email protected].