How Can Communities Effectively Integrate Pedestrians and Bicycles to Promote More Non-Motorized Travel? The Mineta Transportation Institute (transweb.sjsu.edu) has published a free report that identifies best practices and program characteristics in communities where many people walk, bicycle, or use other non-motorized means of travel. Integration of Bicycling and Walking Facilities into the Infrastructure of Urban Communities focuses on case studies in Davis, Palo Alto, and San Luis Obispo, Calif. Principal investigators were Cornelius Nuworsoo, Ph.D., Erin Cooper, Katherine Cushing, Ph.D., with assistance from Eugene Jud, PE. The report is available for PDF download from transweb.sjsu.edu/project/2906.html
“Several manuals, handbooks and web resources already provide varied guidance on planning and designing bicycle and pedestrian facilities,” said Dr Nuworsoo. “However, these resources offer no specific indications about which of these varied treatments work well in a practical sense. Our research went deeper to investigate what compels people to give up their cars and start walking or biking.”
The case studies illustrate how urban communities have integrated non-motorized transportation into the physical infrastructure and how they educated local residents and employees. The most salient themes emerging from this study are linked to several user preferences, including distance to desired destinations and activities; route directness; route connectivity; separation of motorized and non-motorized transportation; safety; convenience; and education and outreach.
These themes are integrated into key guiding principles that correspond to the process of making a trip, from the decision to engage in an activity, through the choice of route, to arrival at the destination.
The case studies illustrate how urban communities can better integrate non-motorized transportation into the physical infrastructure and how they can educate and reach out to community residents and employees.
The report includes 29 tables, such as the survey respondents’ age distribution across the cities in the study; income distribution; employment; types of vehicles available to them; weekly frequency of commute mode choice; perceptions of environmental friendliness; average time they are willing to ride a bicycle; and many other factors.
Nearly 60 photos also are included, such as those illustrating bicycle parking facilities, highway underpasses, pedestrian and bicycle overpasses, crosswalk demarcations, and more.
“This research found that some of the main issues involved with creating a cyclist- and pedestrian-friendly community include safety, weather, distance, parking, lifestyle, and education,” said Dr. Nuworsoo. “These issues point to an idea that is well understood in Europe. Rather than providing alternative mode infrastructure after development has taken place, plan for development to occur around alternative modes. Continuing to build roadways and large parking lots that serve medium density development steers funding away from alternative modes, and it entrenches lifestyles best served by driving a car.”
The complete report, including methodologies, models, and other findings, is available for free download at transweb.sjsu.edu/project/2906.html