Projects

Uptown Cycle Track - 5th/6th Street protected bicycle lane

A project recommendation from the Uptown Connects! Study

Project phase

Uptown Connects! Events

5th-6th Street - Cycle Track Demonstration Project

Proposed Cycle Track Corridor Alignment

Cycle Track Corridor Map

Project updates

This project originated from the Uptown Connects Study and includes implementation of a two-way separated cycle track in Uptown Charlotte along portions of 5th and 6th streets. Supported by a broad community engagement process, the Uptown Cycle Track will provide an important east-west bicycle connection between Little Sugar Creek Greenway and Irwin Creek Greenway.

Construct a premier bicycling facility through Uptown Charlotte
Improve bicyclist safety and mobility
Provide transportation choices
Provide a connection from Little Sugar Creek Greenway to Irwin Creek Greenway through Uptown Charlotte

Community and stakeholder engagement will be conducted throughout the planning and design phases.

This project is currently funded through the design phase. The construction phase is unfunded at this time.

Typical design for a two-way cycle track. Image Source: National Association of City Transportation Officials

General Information

Will this take away some space that is currently used to move and park cars?

In a word, yes. There is no space available in Uptown to create a high-quality east-west bike route without some impacts on traffic. The Uptown Connects Study revealed that there are currently 34 continuous lanes for cars running east-west through Uptown. There are currently zero (0) continuous facilities for bicyclists to navigate safely and comfortably east-west through Uptown. This project helps to address that imbalance by converting some space that is currently used for cars. The 6th Street alignment was chosen because it has the least impact on traffic. The pilot project demonstrated that the impact on car travel on 6th Street is minimal – about a 5-minute increase to traverse Uptown. In addition, two-way cycle tracks have been shown to benefit business, improve safety, promote health and wellness, and encourage more people to ride a bicycle.