Using traffic calming measures on local residential streets to facilitate an alternative designated bicycle route

The cyclists of the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) are asking for the implementation of a comprehensive bicycle network. The residents of certain neighbourhoods are asking for a means to reduce and slow traffic on their streets. The goal of this thesis was to determine if a designated bicycle route and a traffic calmed street could be implemented together. Determining this was accomplished in four steps: a review of international issues and concerns relative to bicycle route selection and traffic calming, interviews with municipal staff of four selected Canadian mid-sized cities, an HRM general bicycle survey and a local case study which involved bicycle test runs.; The Canadian cities interviews indicated that one city is already taking this approach. The general bicycle survey indicated that safety, directness, motorized traffic volume and speed are the main criteria cyclists use when choosing a route for commuting. In addition, cyclists in HRM, like those in the selected cities, prefer a variety of bicycle route facilities within the bicycle network including bike lanes, wide curb lanes, residential streets, and off-road bicycle paths.; There are limited bicycle-friendly traffic calming measures. As a result of the bicycle test runs, these preferred measures include: the speed hump, the diagonal diverter, the center median and the traffic circle. In order for traffic calmed streets to attract cyclists, it is essential that cyclist actuated lights are also installed at main road intersections.; Currently there is no traffic calming policy within HRM and a very limited designated bicycle route. The combination of both on certain streets provides HRM an opportunity to integrate traffic calmed streets, including cyclist actuated lights, into an effective and safe bicycle network...