fundamental methods for building more walkable communities mark fenton pedestrian and bicycle...
TRANSCRIPT
Fundamental Methods for Building More Walkable
Communities
Mark Fenton
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center
University of North Carolina
Pedestrian conditions in America lead to less and less walking . . .
US Walking Trips 1977-1995National Personal Transportation Survey, USDOT
US Auto Trips 1977-1995National Personal Transportation Survey, USDOT
But not everyone can drive
everywhere.
We must build the simplified elements of walkable communities.
• Networks of pedestrian pathways.
• Land use to provide ample destinations.
• Safety from traffic and crime.
• Site designs that welcome pedestrians.
• Civic commitment to more walking, from private citizens to elected officials.
So what are the remedies to all of this?
A network remedy: Build sidewalks.
Sidewalks on every street.
5 ft. min. up to 12 ft.+ in urban, high use areas.Separate
from roads.
A network remedy: Multi-use trails.
Certainly long distance,
recreational trails (e.g., Erie
Canal Towpath).But especially local, utilitarian
trails.
Erie Canal Towpath Trail: Stimulating local
development across upstate NY.
Way-finding
bytime.
Concentric circles are 5, 10, and 20 minute
walks.
No car trip required for this
ride on a local trail.
The hole in the fence shows latent demand for a local
pedestrian pathway!
A network remedy:Bike-lanes.
5 ft., wider if along a
hard barrier or
parked cars.
A network remedy:Improved crossings.
Shortening the distance, breaking up the task (crossing islands),
improving signal timing, removing right-on-red, placing
special controls.
Curb extensions.
Median, or crossing islands.
Note pedestrian countdown timer . . .
A land use remedy: smart zoning.
• Mixed use: retail,
residential, commercial,
schools together.
• Maximum setbacks.
Even fast food can fit into a
walkable setting.
People want to shop here . . .
And they want to visit here . . .
A Safety Remedy:Traffic Calming
Vertical.
Horizontal.
Width.
Controls.
Traffic calming (cont’d)
Vertical engineering:
speed bumps,
humps, and tables.
Traffic calming (cont’d)
Horizontal engineering: curvature,
chicanes, bulb-outs, medians, circles.
Neighborhood mini-circles
(round-abouts) replace 4-way
stops.
Slow traffic, maintain flow on residential
streets.
The ultimate chicanes; San Francisco, CA.
Narrower corridors, real and perceived,
slow traffic.
(frictional effect)
Traffic calming (cont’d)
Road Diets: Reduce 4 lanes . . .
. . . to 2 lanes plus a median or turning lane, leaving room for bike lanes and wider sidewalks.
Site design fundamentals:
Where would you sit and eat
outdoors?
Site design fundamentals:
Where would you likely shop
on foot?
Site solutions:Buildings near the street (maximum
setbacks).
Preclude storefront parking; put it on street or behind
buildings.
Site solution: diagonal parking.
Best Practice Knowledge:
Pedestrian Facilities Users Guide
www.walkinginfo.orgBicycle Lane Design Guide
www.bicyclinginfo.org
Are you ready to . . . ?