Smart Growth America has released a report that summarizes surveys of the more than 350 complete streets policies that have been approved by communities across the United States. Also available is the latest edition of the Complete Streets Local Policy Workbook, which is intended to assist transportation experts and local leaders with developing complete streets policies.
walking
Highway congestion highest on Friday afternoon
Car commuters in most large metro areas face the highest level of highway congestion on Friday afternoon, according to Inrix data provided to Governing magazine. However many metro areas have relatively minor changes in commuting times. And one quarter of commuters in metro areas with the highest Friday congestion times opt out of traffic by walking, biking, using transit, or working at home.
“War on cars” (or bicycles) isn’t new
A recent NPR story asked if there was really a “war on cars.” This idea seems to appear in newspaper comments, on radio talk shows, and as opinion pieces. But this question is not new, nor are complaints about rude bicyclists or clueless pedestrians. We have been arguing about access and safety in the public right of way for over a century.
Land Use Impacts on Transport: How Land Use Factors Affect Travel Behavior (Victoria Transportation Policy Institute, 2012)
This paper examines how various land use factors such as density, regional accessibility, mix and roadway connectivity affect travel behavior, including per capita vehicle travel, mode split and nonmotorized travel. This information is useful for …
Walk/Transit/Bike Score now an important number for real estate
Walk Score, and now its associated Transit Score and Bike Score have become increasingly important metrics for both brokers selling and renting homes and those searching for a place to live. Access to transportation options is important to those frustrated with congestion and rising gas prices as well as those who simply want a walkable neighborhood.
Non-motorized pilot program reports show small investment can mean big changes
The final reports for the NTPP demonstrate that a small investment in infrastructure, education, and encouragement can make big change in the percentage of people that move about by walking or biking, The four pilot communities had dramtic results over the course of the five-year pilot program.
Non-motorized pilot program reports show small investment can mean big changes
The final reports for the NTPP demonstrate that a small investment in infrastructure, education, and encouragement can make big change in the percentage of people that move about by walking or biking, The four pilot communities had dramtic results over the course of the five-year pilot program.
Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (Rails to Trails Conservancy, 2012)
Rails to Trails Conservancy issued a short synopsis of the results of the four-year Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program conducted in four communities across the U.S. It includes useful statistics such as change in bicycle and walking mode, number of miles of trails built, and number of pounds of CO2 saved.
Getting Results: Safe Routes to School Programs That Increase Walking and Bicycling to School (National Center for Safe Routes to School, 2012)
This guide offers brief summaries of eight programs that measured their walking and bicycling numbers and found an increase. The resource aims to assist and inspire Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs to measure student travel patterns to look for possible changes over time and measure the progress of their activities.
Poor suffer more crash injuries; greater exposure to traffic, roadway geometry partly to blame
Many studies have shown the poor suffer more injuries and deaths from crashes than do wealthier residents of a city. A new study suggests that the major reason is that poor people are simply exposed to more traffic and more complex intersections in their neighborhoods.