Projects

Uptown CycleLink - 5th/6th Street protected bicycle lane

A project recommendation from the Uptown Connects! Study and part of the Uptown CycleLink

Project phase

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Photo by Grant Baldwin Photography, courtesy of Sustain Charlotte

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.

Map of Uptown CycleLink alignment

To CONNECT the Irwin/Stewart Greenways (on the west side) to the Little Sugar Creek Greenway (on the east) and through uptown
To help Charlotte reach its vision of becoming a true CITY OF BIKES
To BALANCE NEEDS of all modes of transportation and curb space users
To INCREASE SAFETY and comfort for cyclists and pedestrians
To INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY for cyclists of all ages and abilities

The project team has hosted or participated in the following public meetings:

October 23, 2019 - Phase 2 informational session at ImaginON.
April 26, 2019 - Ribbon-cutting for Phase 1 (as part of BIKE! Charlotte)

$7.15 million

Please note this is the funding amount and includes all costs associated with the project such as planning and design, acquiring the right of way, utility relocation, consultant fees, construction, signalization, permits and landscaping.

Phase 1 Uptown Cycle Track Ribbon-Cutting - April 26, 2019

More than 100 cyclists celebrated the opening of Phase 1 of the 5th/6th Street Cycle Track. Phase 2 is in the works, along with other bikeway projects as part of Uptown Connects, a plan to create a network of safe and comfortable bicycle facilities in center city.

Attention motorists and cyclists! Watch the video to learn how to drive and cycle safely along the Uptown Cycle Track.

A simulated flyover of the Uptown Cycle Track on 6th Street from Brevard Street to North Tryon Street. The City is pursuing a pilot project to install a portion of the cycle track alignment, from Little Sugar Creek Greenway to the Rail Trail, in late April 2019. The full alignment is expected to be complete in 2021. For illustrative purposes only.

Proposed Cycle Track Corridor Alignment

Cycle Track Corridor Map

5th-6th Street - Cycle Track Demonstration Project

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.