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Planning, Development, and Zoning, Transportation and Mobility

Bikeway Master Plan

Long Term
Three people ride bicycles in a designated bike lane separated from the road by a curb, with a building and cars visible in the background.

The Bikeway Master Plan is a component of the Rockville 2040 Comprehensive Plan and provides a vision for a safe and efficient bicycle network in Rockville. The plan is intended to be used by city staff, elected officials, and residents as a guide for improving bicycle infrastructure and programs across the city.

While the plan articulates a vision for the city’s bikeway network, it is not an exhaustive list of possibilities and new bikeway infrastructure will be considered as opportunities arise.

Some recommendations in this plan are aspirational and may face constraints, such as existing rights-of-way and on-street parking. As part of implementing the plan, the City of Rockville evaluates the feasibility of implementing projects as part of its ongoing work program.

View the Bikeway Master Plan

Objectives

Improve the safety of bicycling in Rockville for everyone. Many people cite safety concerns as the reason why they do not ride bicycles. Directly addressing these concerns through infrastructure, outreach, and enforcement can help people climb over the safety hurdle.

Enhance the mobility of cyclists by improving the bicycle facility network. The recommendations within this plan are intended to help create a more comprehensive bicycle network. It is also helpful to be knowledgeable about Rockville’s bicycle ridership – statistics allow us to better plan for the future by comparing current ridership numbers to past and future ridership data.

Provide bicycle facilities during site development, redevelopment, and roadway construction to improve the continuity of the bikeway network. It is important to add these amenities early in a development or redevelopment process because it is difficult to retrofit existing development to adequately accommodate bicycling. Rockville’s Complete Streets Policy is a guiding document to ensure that bicycling is included in all projects across the city.

Protect the environment. Rockville’s Mayor and Council signed the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement in 2006. Maryland’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act of 2009 requires greenhouse gas emissions statewide to be reduced 25% by 2020. Roughly 40% of Rockville’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation, according to a 2006 study. Bicycling is a non-polluting form of transportation, and its use is a statement by an individual to reduce their carbon emissions and help Rockville meet these goals. The city can help promote the environmental benefits of bicycling by encouraging its use and developing bicycle amenities in environmentally sound ways.

Encourage bicycling as a means of transportation and recreation. Many people fondly remember bicycling as a child, and a little encouragement can help them understand its potential role in their lives as adults.

Bicycle Routes Map

A group of people wearing helmets ride and walk their bicycles along a paved path next to a road lined with trees and greenery.

Help Improve Bicycling in Rockville

Join the Rockville Bicycle Advisory Committee (RBAC) and help provide recommendations to the Mayor and Council about how the city could improve biking options in Rockville.

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Contact

Bryan Barnett-Woods
Public Works Department
Traffic and Transportation Division
240-314-8527
bbwoods@rockvillemd.gov

Hours
Monday – Friday
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Address
Rockville City Hall
111 Maryland Ave.
Rockville, MD 20850