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 . . . ?