Planning for Pedestrians (and Bicycles)

Some Things Learned at the Railvolution Conference - by Beverly Conerton, Longfellow Community Council

A. Making street crossings more pedestrian friendly.

1. Clearly mark crosswalks (e.g. bricked or colored crossings).
2. Add pedestrian "refuge islands" if the street is too wide to cross in a single light.
3. Install signs clearly marking areas as pedestrian crossings.
4. Eliminate curb cuts where pedestrians have to watch out for (and be in conflict with) traffic.

B. Making sidewalks and development along streets more inviting.

1. Put storefronts on the street to give pedestrians a destination.
2. Put parking in the rear of buildings rather than on the street.
3. Place a buffer between the sidewalk and street (e.g. trees) to separate pedestrians from traffic; wider sidewalks.
4. Design buildings with a more human scale, even if the building is taller – use of awnings; architectural details to reduce the height of the building.
5. Have windows on street level for pedestrians to look into.
6. Create a mix of uses in development.
7. Provide public spaces on the street (sidewalk cafes, pocket parks, public art) to encourage pedestrian use.
8. Install good street lighting so that pedestrians feel safe.

C. Making streets more pedestrian friendly – traffic calming.

1. Redesign the street to make it narrower (e.g. put parking along the street; stripe the street to give the illusion that it is narrower).
2. Use two-way streets (which slows down traffic) rather than one-way streets.

D. Funding pedestrian and bicycle projects.

1. Highway funding: Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) – continues integration of bicycling and walking into transportation mainstream by enhancing the ability of communities to invest in projects that can improve the safety and practicality of bicycling and walking for everyday travel. Provides funding, planning and policy tools to create more walkable & bicycle friendly communities.

2. Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) – recognized the important role of bicycling and walking in creating a balanced intermodal transportation system. The predecessor of TEA-21.

3. Web site: www.fhwa.dot.gov (then click on FHWA web sites/Planning & Environment/bicycle, pedestrians and trails).

4. FTA’s Livable Communities Initiative – funding initiatives to combine land use planning with transit planning. (e.g. 27th & Lake Area planning grant)