City Of Davis: City Installs Bike And Pedestrian Wayfinding Signs

Press release from the City Of Davis:

May 19, 2021 9:25 am

May is Bike Month, and there’s no better way to celebrate than riding your bike around Davis. To help you find your way around, the City has recently installed new bicycle and pedestrian wayfinding signage in south and east Davis. In addition, there are new wayfinding markers along the 12-mile Davis Bike Loop in both the City and UC Davis.  

The new wayfinding is part of a citywide bicycle and pedestrian project that was first approved by City Council in 2014 as part of the City of Davis Bicycle Action Plan. The goal of this project is to improve the navigation and experience of the pathways (off-street bike and pedestrian paths) and bikeways (on-street bike lanes and routes) for Davis residents and visitors.  

In 2016, the City collaborated with UC Davis Professor of Design Tim McNeil, who specializes in urban signage to help design the signs. With the help of Professor McNeil, the City held two community workshops and conducted online surveys asking residents what information they would like on the bicycle and pedestrian wayfinding signs.  

The design team learned that people wanted to know the travel time required to reach their destination and the travel distance. They also learned which destinations to include on the signage. With this input, Professor McNeil designed the wayfinding signs while City Bike and Pedestrian Program staff hit the streets and paths to begin laying out the system. They started in south and east Davis with the goal of providing wayfinding throughout Davis in the next couple of years.  

In September 2020, after several iterations of design, the City Manager awarded a construction contract to Capital City Signs to install bike and pedestrian wayfinding signs in south and east Davis.  Staff began the project in south and east Davis because these signs tie up to existing bike and pedestrian wayfinding signs at the UC Davis Arboretum.  

In addition to the wayfinding signs in south and east Davis, the City updated the wayfinding along the 12-mile Davis Bike Loop. Since 2007, the City and UC Davis have maintained over 300 painted Davis Bike Loop markers. The new markers eliminate the need to repaint and last longer, saving staff time and money. The new markers are made from a vinyl, outdoor-tested material and stick to the pavement in seconds. The material is intended to last five years. 

Mayor Gloria Partida thanked City and UC Davis staff for making the Davis Bike Loop markers a priority and ensuring that the bike loop was ready for Loopalooza, stating, “I understand that our community is eager to go outside and what better way than enjoying our easy-to-navigate Davis Bike Loop. We are looking forward to the wayfinding signs being installed throughout Davis.”

Councilmember Josh Chapman said, "The new markers are so helpful in navigating the Davis Bike Loop! For the first time, our kids led the way around the whole loop! This is another great example of the City of Davis and UC Davis working together to make our community better."

The City of Davis Bike and Pedestrian Program encourages citizens to explore south and east Davis. Make your trip count and participate in “May is Bike Month” by signing-up at MayisBikeMonth.com and logging your trip to win prizes.  

For more information, contact:

Jennifer Donofrio, City of Davis Bike and Pedestrian Coordinator, jdonofrio@cityofdavis.org

This press release was produced by the City Of Davis. The views expressed here are the author’s own.