1. Reasonably Direct. A route that does not deviate unnecessarily from a straight line or a route that does not involve a significant amount of out-of-direction travel for likely users.

2. Safe and Convenient. Bicycle and pedestrian routes that are reasonably free from hazards and provide a reasonably direct route of travel between destinations.

3. For commercial, industrial, mixed use, as well as public and institutional buildings, the primary entrance is the main public entrance to the building. In the case where no public entrance exists, street connections shall be provided to the main employee entrance.

4. For residential buildings, the primary entrance is the front door (i.e., facing the street). For multifamily buildings in which each unit does not have its own exterior entrance, the primary entrance may be a lobby, courtyard, or breezeway that serves as a common entrance for more than one dwelling.

1. All pathways shall be located within not less than 10 feet and not more than a 20-foot-wide right-of-way or easement that allows access for emergency vehicles;

2. Pathways within subdivisions shall be lighted;

3. Stairs or switchback paths using a narrower right-of-way/easement may be required in lieu of a multi-use pathway where grades are steep;

4. The city may require landscaping and/or fencing within the pathway easement/right-of-way for screening and the privacy of adjoining properties;

5. The planning commission may determine, based upon facts in the record, that a pathway is impracticable due to: physical or topographic conditions (e.g., freeways, railroads, extremely steep slopes, sensitive lands, and similar physical constraints); buildings or other existing development on adjacent properties that physically prevent a connection now or in the future, considering the potential for redevelopment; and sites where the provisions of recorded leases, easements, covenants, restrictions, or other agreements recorded prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter prohibit the pathway connection.

1. Vehicle/Pathway Separation. Where pathways are parallel and adjacent to a driveway or street (public or private), they shall be raised six inches and curbed, or separated from the driveway/street by a five-foot-minimum strip with bollards, a landscape berm, or other physical barrier. If a raised path is used, the ends of the raised portions must be equipped with curb ramps that comply with the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

2. Housing/Pathway Separation. Pedestrian pathways for public use shall be separated a minimum of five feet from all residential living areas on the ground floor, except at building entrances. Separation is measured from the pathway edge to the closest dwelling unit. The separation area shall be landscaped in conformance with the provisions of Chapter 18.105 TMC. No pathway/building separation is required for commercial, industrial, public, or institutional uses, except as required for mixed uses when a residential use is on the ground floor.

3. Crosswalks. Where pathways cross a parking area, driveway, or street (“crosswalk”), they shall be clearly marked with contrasting paving materials, humps/raised crossings, or painted striping. An example of contrasting paving material is the use of a concrete crosswalk through an asphalt driveway. If painted striping is used, it shall consist of thermoplastic striping or similar type of durable application. Striping, because of ongoing maintenance costs, is not the city’s preferred alternative.

4. Pathway Surface. Pathway surfaces shall be concrete, asphalt, brick/masonry pavers, or other surface as approved by the city, at least six feet wide or as approved by the city, and shall conform to ADA requirements. Multi-use paths (i.e., for bicycles and pedestrians) shall be the same materials, at least 12 feet wide. (See also TMC 17.10.050, Transportation facility standards, for public, multi-use pathway standard.) Pathway right-of-way shall be no less than 15 feet to provide emergency vehicle access. Right-of-way of less than 15 feet may be used where a path could not otherwise be provided, but in no case may a right-of-way less than 12 feet be approved for a public path.

5. Accessible Routes. Pathways shall comply with the ADA, which requires accessible routes of travel. [Ord. 818 § 2 (Exh. A (§ 8-2.230)); Ord. 692 § 4.]