STREETS, PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLES Sustainable Transportation 8 February 2013

Outlines Streets Pedestrians Bicycles Conceptualizing Principles of Street Design Pedestrians Pedestrian Planning Principles Pedestrian Planning Tools Pedestrian Design Tools Measuring Pedestrian Success Bicycles Bicycling Principles Bicycling Facility Design Measuring Bicycle Success

Streets Conceptualizing Support adjacent land uses. Priority for the movement of each mode. Relationship to other streets in the network. Available right-of-way.

Complete Streets A Complete Street is designed for safe comfortable, and convenient movement both along and across the right-of-way by people of all ages and abilities using multiple modes. Benefits of Complete Streets: Safety Health Children health and safety Mobility Climate change prevention

Complete Streets Elements of a Complete Street General travel lanes Parking lanes Bicycle lanes Sidewalks Off-street paths or trails Additional pedestrian and bicycle elements Loading zones Wheelchair ramps and other accommodations for disabilities Transit stops/stations & transit only-lane Traffic signal improvements

Complete Streets

Complete Streets What Complete Streets do? Reduce automobile speeds Encourage walking Encourage cycling Encourage meetings and chance encounters

Streets Street Typologies Land-use Context Arterial Collector Local Alley Downtown Downtown arterial Downtown collector Downtown street Service alley Neighborhood Main Street Neighborhood main street Commercial Commercial arterial Commercial collector Residential Residential arterial Residential collector Residential alley Industrial Industrial arterial Industrial collector Industrial alley

Principles of Street Design Reflect the landscape Sensitive area should be avoid. Aligned to accentuate topography. Preserve views by aligning streets toward them. Wind patterns. Sun patterns.

Principles of Street Design Integrate transportation with land-use planning Create small blocks. Better distribute traffic Mixed use neighborhood centers should be within walking distance. Primary schools should be located within walking distance of all residence. Dense land uses and major activity centers should be served by frequent transit. Transit lines should be on straight sections. Retailer should be visible from major road. Successful retail demands a busy street that is narrow enough for a pedestrian on one side to see storefronts on the other. Parks & elementary school should be located far from major streets.

Principles of Street Design Effects of Land Use Density As density increases, vehicle trips decrease. Significant reduction at 15 to 30 units/acre (compact, low rise development characteristics)

Pedestrians Pedestrian Planning Principles Pedestrian Planning Tools Pedestrian Design Tools Measuring Pedestrian Success

Pedestrian Planning Principles The best pedestrian plan is a good land-use plan. Make sure buildings relate to sidewalks rather than parking lots. Make sure buildings are pleasure to walk pass. Provide attractive, consistent lighting of the pedestrian realm. Make streets leafy. Design streets with pedestrian in mind. Calm traffic. Promote safe routes to schools.

Pedestrian Planning Principles Partner with organizations. Measure success. Create welcoming public realm that invites lingering. Establish and fund priorities. Make wayfinding intuitive. Make it feel safe.

Pedestrian Planning Principles Pedestrian-Friendly Environment Parking lots along the full length of the street front are not pedestrian-friendly. Parking lots located behind shops and offices are more preferred. “No parking shall be located between the building and the front property line. On corner lots, no parking shall be located between the building and either of the two front property lines.” The SeaTac Municipal Code, Section 17.24.120C

Pedestrian Planning Tools Walkability Audits http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/rsa/ http://www.activelivingresearch.org/ Tracking Survey Pedestrian Plans

Pedestrian Design Tools Sidewalk Overall width Source: San Francisco Better Street Plan Land-use Context Street Type Minimum Sidewalk Width (ft) Recommended Sidewalk Width (ft) Commercial Commercial throughway and neighborhood retail 12 15 Residential Urban residential Low-density residential 10 Other Industrial 8 Parkway 17 Alley 6 9

Pedestrian Design Tools Sidewalk U.S. Highway Capacity Manual provides “level of service” for sidewalks, using space in m2/person as a service measure.

Pedestrian Design Tools Sidewalk Zones Frontage Zone: The area adjacent to the property line where transitions between the public sidewalk and the space within buildings occur Throughway Zone: The portion of the sidewalk for pedestrian travel along the street Furnishing Zone: The portion of the sidewalk used for street trees, landscaping, transit stops, street lights, and site furnishings Edge Zone: The area used by people getting in and out of vehicles parked at the curbside Extension Zone: The area where pedestrian space may be extended into the parking lane.

Pedestrian Design Tools Special Sidewalk Zones Corners should be kept clear of obstructions. They should maintain drivers’ and pedestrians’ clear views of each other. Transit stops require special layout guidelines to accommodate passengers who are waiting, boarding or alighting, and the need for vehicles to deploy lifts. Driveways present special challenges to the pedestrian due to changes in cross-slope and the presence of vehicles crossing the sidewalk. Medians can add substantial greenery to the streetscape, decrease impermeable surface, offer opportunities for pedestrian refuges, and offer locations for lighting and some utilities.

Pedestrian Design Tools Streets Stop and Yield Lines Pedestrian signals Scrambles Head-start Actuated Countdown Flexible Use of the Parking Lane Shared Space

Measuring Pedestrian Success True Level of Service should consider: Distance to Crossings: the average distance between designated crossings. Crossing Delay: wait time at a signalized intersection. Comfort: varied upon area type. Crossing Exposure: no. of lanes to cross and presence of median. Conflict-free Crossing Time: the total percentage of crossing time when motored vehicles are not allowed.

Measuring Pedestrian Success Aggregate Pedestrian Level of Service for Street Design LOS Score Average Distance to Crossings (meters) Crossing Delay (seconds) Comfort index No. of Lanes to Cross Conflict Free Crossing Time A 5 30 or less 5 or less Greater than 5 1 lane 100% B 4 31-60 6-15 4-5 1+1 lanes 60-99% C 3 61-90 16-25 3-4 2+2 lanes with refuge 30-59% D 2 91-120 26-35 2-3 3 lanes 10-29% E 1 121-150 36-45 1-2 3+3 lanes with refuge 1-9% F >150 >45 Less than 1 Any crossing more than 10 meters without refuge 0%

Bicycles Bicycling Principles Bicycling Facility Design Measuring Bicycle Success

Bicycling Principles Safety in Numbers Increasing Cycling Numbers A motorist is less likely to collide with a person walking or bicycling when there are more people walking or bicycling. Increasing Cycling Numbers A bike for everyone – Bike shared program Bikeable distances – 3 miles A bikeway that feels safe A sociable bikeway A place to carry and store stuff A comfortable ride

Bicycle Facility Design Cycling Types Advanced or beginner Commuter or recreational Vehicular or non-vehicular *** Comprehensive Network Cohesive Direct Understandable Integrated Enforced Clear

Bicycle Facility Design Wayfinding A series of signs Road marking Colored bike lanes Facilities Off-street path and trails (share use) Cycle Track (Separated Bike Lanes) Bike Lane Narrow Lane

Bicycling Facility Design Intersections and Junctions Visibility Turning Speed Intersection-only bike lanes and advance stop lines Limiting right-turn-on-red Bicycle signals Separation http://youtu.be/FlApbxLz6pA

Bicycling Facility Design Bike Parking Location Observation Access Visibility, security, lighting and weather Parking types Racks Lockers Shelter/garage/indoor

Measuring Bicycle Success Level of Service (HCM) Off-street – no. of passing On-streets Signalized and non signalized intersection – delay Urban street – speed

Homework #4 Plan pedestrian and bicycle network in AIT and surrounding areas. Described types of facilities, functions and selection criteria.