How Montgomery County Will Implement its Ambitious Bicycle Master Plan

Montgomery County, Maryland planners were trying to raise the bar for bicycle infrastructure planning and design in North America.

1 minute read

December 5, 2018, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Capital Bikeshare

paul.wasneski / Flickr

David Cranor reports on the recently approved Bicycle Master Plan in Montgomery County, Maryland.

The plan, "calls for more than 1,000 miles of trails, paths, and separated bike lanes; expanded bicycle parking near transit and in commercial areas; and bicycle-supportive programs and policies," according to Cranor.

A couple key concepts drive the goals of the new bicycle plan. First is the idea that bike infrastructure can contribute to Vision Zero traffic safety goals. The second is a shift more toward biking as a form of transportation, not just recreation.

The article includes a lot more detail about how planners gathered the information and made the decisions to most effectively address those ideals.

It's been a big year for transportation planning in Montgomery County. Here's a rundown of transportation related coverage of Montgomery County in 2018:

Tuesday, December 4, 2018 in Greater Greater Washington

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Concrete Brutalism building with slanted walls and light visible through an atrium.

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities

How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

February 28, 2025 - Justin Hollander

Complete Street

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge

Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

February 27, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Downtown Los Angeles skyline at sunset with new 6th Street Viaduct arches in foreground.

Downtown Los Angeles on the Rise: A Promising 2025

Fueled by new developments, cultural investments, and a growing dining scene, downtown Los Angeles is poised for significant growth in 2025, despite challenges from recent wildfires and economic uncertainties.

February 21, 2025 - Los Angeles Downtown News

Electric Cars

Report: Transportation Equity Requires More Than Electrification

Lower-income households often lack the resources to buy electric cars, signaling a need for a more holistic approach to improving mobility and lowering transportation costs.

2 minutes ago - Smart Cities Dive

Informational plaque in front of paved walkway next to tall green trees in Black Hawk State Historic Site, Illinois.

Supporting Indigenous Land Reclamation Through Design

Harvard students collaborated with the Sac and Fox Nation to develop strategies for reclaiming and co-managing ancestral lands in Illinois, supporting Indigenous sovereignty through design, cultural storytelling, and economic planning.

1 hour ago - Harvard GSD

Lush Five Rivers Metropark in Dayton, Ohio with flowers and green trees on a sunny day.

A Plan to Expand Tree Canopy Across Dayton

Dayton is developing an urban forest master plan, using a $2 million grant to expand its tree canopy, address decades of tree loss, and enhance environmental equity across the city.

2 hours ago - Dayton Daily News

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.