Greenway Plan Program

What is the Greenway Plan?  The Greenway Plan Program is the installation of shared lane markings and guide signs along mostly residential or other low-speed or low-volume roads.  This has been in the City plans since 1998 to provide an extensive citywide network for bicyclists. 

Purpose:  Markings and guide signs are intended to improve visibility and safety of motorists and bicyclists by communicating to drivers that the roads are a shared environment. 

Benefits to the Greenway Plan Program:

• Encourages bicyclists to position themselves safely in lanes too narrow for a motor vehicle and a bicycle to comfortably travel side by side within the same traffic lane.
• Alerts motor vehicle drivers to the potential presence of bicyclists.
• Alerts road users of the lateral position bicyclists are expected to occupy within the travel lane.
• Advertises the presence of bikeway routes to all users.
• Provides a wayfinding element along bike routes.
• Is demonstrated to increase the distance between bicyclists and parked cars, keeping bicyclists out of the “door zone.”
• Encourages safe passing by motorists.
• Requires no additional street space.
• Reduces the incidence of sidewalk riding.
• Costs significantly less than dedicated or protected bicycle facilities/infrastructure.

How is this funded?  This project has been funded by a fuel tax (Motor Vehicle Excise Tax).  These funds can only be used on street improvements.

What defines the markings?  All markings and signs are installed within the public Right of Way (ROW) and according to the Washington State Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) which dictates dimensions and appearance. 

Where are the bicycle lanes in Federal Way?  A map of all the existing Greenway and Other City Bicycle Facilities is available at the following link:  Greenway and Other City Bicycle Facilities (cityoffederalway.com)