Montgomery County Adopts New Bicycle Plan

NORRISTOWN, PA — The Montgomery County Planning Commission has officially approved its new cycling plan, "Bike Montco."

The " plan aims to improve roadway and trail use for cyclists across Montgomery County. Officials hope to both encourage cycling and recreation use while making it safer and more enjoyable.

The plan revolves around three key principles: connecting communities, improving overall sustainability, and maintaining a vibrant economy. Officials point to important benefits of increased cycling including better public health, reduced traffic congestion, less pollution, and more money saved on driving that can instead be funneled into the local economy.

According to the county:

"The plan, which envisions a network of on-road bicycling paths, represents a new approach to bicycle planning in the Philadelphia region. It can be used as a tool to make communities safer and more attractive to bicyclists. The plan focuses on physical improvements on strategically selected roadway segments to make it easier for those who bicycle for transportation as well as recreation. While it addresses issues of encouragement, education, and enforcement and acknowledges the critical role of the county’s trails in a comprehensive bicycle network, the plan is primarily driven by the need to expand on-road bicycling amenities. Bike Montco is a county-level plan with a broad multi-municipal perspective. Its planned bicycle improvements, based upon countywide mobility needs, can serve as a framework for additional planning by local municipalities."

The project will include multiple efforts across different townships and boroughs around Montgomery County. Plans have been laid out for town access via cycling in Souderton and Telford, trail access in Upper Merion, transit access in Ambler, and school access at Montgomery County Community College in Whitpain.

To review the fully adopted plan, see here.

Image via Montgomery County Planning Commission