Designing Transportation Facilities for Bicycles and Pedestrians - Complete Streets

Contents

• About Designing Facilities for Bicycles and Pedestrians
• Policy Guides for Designing Facilities for Bicycles and Pedestrians
  • Designing Complete Streets
  • Designing for Bicycles and Pedestrians
  • Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Design
• Policies and Plans for Bicycles and Pedestrians
  • Complete Streets Plans and Policies
  • Bicycle and Pedestrian Plans
• Examples of Plans and Policies from Other States
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety
• Related MRSC Pages
  • Pedestrian Facilities - Sidewalks and Crosswalks
  • Bicycle Related Topics
  • Building Healthy Communities
  • Park Planning, Design and Open Space

About Designing Facilities for Bicycles and Pedestrians

Pedestrian and bicycle facilities are integral to a balanced transportation system and play a key role in developing healthy communities that support physical activity. Complete street policies integrate the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, riders of public transportation into transportation planning. Laws of 2011, ch. 257 provides for a complete street grants program. The legislation states:

Urban main streets should be designed to provide safe access to all users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, motorists, and public transportation users. Context sensitive design and engineering principles allow for flexible solutions depending on a community's needs, and result in many positive outcomes for cities and towns, including improving the health and safety of a community. It is the intent of the legislature to encourage street designs that safely meet the needs of all users and also protect and preserve a community's environment and character.

This page provides information on planning and designing safe facilities for walking and biking programs. Companion pages include information on developing a sidewalk program, information about crosswalks, bicycle-related topics include bicycle safety, helmet requirements, and bike rack programs. For information on Active Community Programs see MRSC's pages on Healthy Communities.

Policy Guides for Designing Facilities for Bicycles and Pedestrians

• Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation: Regulations and Recommendations, U.S. Department of Transportation, signed on March 11, 2010 and announced March 15, 2010
• Main Street Highways & Complete Streets, Washington State Department of Transportation
  • Laws of 2011, ch. 257 () - Complete Streets Grant Program
• Active Transportation for America: A Case for Increased Federal Investment in Bicycling and Walking, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 10/2008 - Report to Congress
• Bicycling and Walking in the United States 2010, Benchmarking Report, Alliance for Bicycling and Walking
• Context Sensitive Solutions.org - A resource for state and local transportation agencies and practitioners, community stakeholders (elected officials, regional and local agencies). The clearinghouse contains built examples of CSS projects, case studies, cutting-edge research, information, and policy documents. It addresses a broad range of issues, including design standards, liability, stakeholder involvement and new techniques in transportation problem-solving; funded by the Federal Highway Administration.
• National Complete Streets Coalition - A coalition providing information and advocacy for complete streets
  

Designing Complete Streets

• America Needs Complete Streets (), by Dan Burden and Todd Litman, ITE Journal, 04/2011 via Victoria Policy Institute
• Complete Streets: Best Policy and Implementation Practices, edited by Barbara McCann and Suzanne Rynne, Planning Advisory Service Report No. 559, American Planning Association, 2010 (Available through MRSC Library Loan)
• Complete Streets, Context Sensitive Solutions.org, Federal Highway Administration
• Complete Streets for Smart Growth, by Barbara McCann, National Association of Realtors, On Common Ground, Summer 2007 via ICMA Knowledge Network
• Complete Streets Resource List, American Planning Association
• Complete Streets Resource Toolkit, Sacramento Area Council of Governments - Developed by SACOG, in coordination with the local Complete Streets Coalition
• Street Design: Part 1 - Complete Streets, by Robin Smith, Sharlene Reed, and Shana Baker, Public Roads, July/August 2010
• Street Design: Part 2 - Sustainable Streets, by David J. Carlson, Ellen Greenberg, and Morgan Kanninen, Public Roads, March/April 2011

Designing for Bicycles and Pedestrians

• Accessible Public Rights-of-Way Planning and Design for Alterations, U.S. Access Board - This report and its recommendations are the work of a subcommittee of the Public Rights-of-Way Access Advisory Committee (PROWAAC)
• The Bicycle Compatibility Index: A Level of Service Concept, Implementation Manual, University of North Carolina Safety Research Center, FHWA-RD-98-095 - This document demonstrates the application of the Bicycle Compatibility Index (BCI) to evaluate the capability of urban and suburban roadway sections to accommodate both motorists and bicyclists; posted on National Transportation Library Web.
• Design Guidance: Accommodating Bicycle and Pedestrian Travel: A Recommended Approach, Federal Highway Administration - A U.S. Department of Transportation policy statement integrating bicycling and walking into transportation infrastructure
• Designing for Bicycles, Washington State Department of Transportation
• Designing for Pedestrians, Washington State Department of Transportation
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center - A national clearinghouse for information about health and safety, engineering, advocacy, education, enforcement, access, and mobility for pedestrians (including transit users) and bicyclists funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration
  • Benefit-Cost Analysis of Bicycle Facilities
  • Engineering Resources and Research
  • Engineer Bicycle Facilities
  • Engineer Pedestrian Facilities
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Planning: A Guide to Best Practices (), by Todd Litman et al., Victoria Transport Policy Institute, 09/2011
• PedSheds (Walkable Catchment Calculations), Transportation Tech Sheet, Congress for the New Urbanism
• Public Rights-of-Way, U.S. Access Board - Includes sidewalks, crosswalks, and other elements of the public rights-of-ways
• Walking and Cycling, Victoria Transport Policy Institute

Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Design

• American Trails
  
  • Resources and Library: Trail Design and Construction
• Manuals and Guides for Trail Design, Construction, Maintenance, and Operation, and for Signs, Federal Highway Administration
• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
• Shared Use Paths, Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center

Policies and Plans for Bicycles and Pedestrians

Complete Streets Policies and Plans

• Kirkland
  • Kirkland Nonmotorized Transportation Plan (), 09/2001
  • Kirkland Municipal Code Sec. 19.08.055 - Bicycle and Pedestrian Ways Along Transportation Facilities (Complete Streets)
• Issaquah Complete Streets Program
  • Issaquah Ordinance No. 2514 () - Complete Streets, passed 02/04/2008
• Renton Ordinance No. 5517 () - Updates minimum street design standards with complete streets principles to enable safe and convenient access and travel for all users, and to foster a sense of place in the public realm with attractive design amenities, passed 12/18/2009
• Seattle
  • Seattle's Complete Streets Program, by Barbara Gray, APWA Reporter, 07/2010 (See page 46 of file)
  • Legislative Advisory: Nickels Proposes ‘Complete Streets’ for Pedestrian Safety, Bikes and Busses, Seattle Mayor News Release, 03/27/2007
  • Council Bill No. 115861 - Complete streets policy, stating guiding principles and practices so that transportation improvements are planned, designed and constructed to encourage walking, bicycling and transit use while promoting safe operations for all users, 05/2007
  • Seattle Bicycle Program, Seattle Department of Transportation
    • Seattle Bicycle Master Plan
    • Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board
  • Seattle Pedestrian Program, Seattle Department of Transportation
    • Seattle Resolution No. 30951 - Developing a Pedestrian Master Plan, 02/2007
• Tacoma Complete Streets Guidelines Project
• Tukwila Walk & Roll Program - The purpose of Walk and Roll is to come up with projects to improve streets and trails for pedestrians and bicyclists, and to plan for how and when these improvements should be constructed. Includes link to Tukwila Non Motorized Plan, adopted January 2009, which provides a "complete street perspective."

Bicycle and Pedestrian Plans

• Bainbridge Island Non-Motorized Transportation Plan (), 2003
  • Non-Motorized Transportation Advisory Committee
• Burien Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Plan (), 06/2004
• Ellensburg
  • Nonmotorized Transportation Plan, Nonmotorized Transportation Plan Committee and Draft Policies
  • City of Ellensburg Nonmotorized Transportation Plan 2008 ()
• Everett Bike Planning Study - Draft Master Bicycle Plan, 01/2011
• Kitsap County Bicycle Facilities Plan (), Kitsap County Public Works, 05/2001
• Olympia
  • Olympia Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee
  • Olympia Master Bicycle Plan (), 2009
• Pierce County Nonmotorized Transportation (Biking and Walking)
• Puget Sound Regional Council Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning
  • Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Implementation Strategy for the Central Puget Sound Region (), 2008
  • Bicycle Planning, Best Practices, and Count Methodology Report (), 2011
• Redmond
  • Redmond Transportation Master Plan 2005
  • Redmond Transportation Plan, Update - The first update to the TMP began in 2010 and is continuing through 2011. A final document resulting from this update process is expected in early 2012.
  • Pedestrian Program Plan (, Transportation Modes 5A of Redmond Transportation Master Plan 2005
  • Bicycle System Plan (), Transportation Modes 5B of Redmond Transportation Master Plan 2005
  • Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee
• Spokane Pedestrian Plan Update Phase I
• Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan for Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla Counties and the Tri-Cities Urban Area (), Prepared by the Benton‐Franklin Council of Governments, adopted 10/2010
• Whatcom County Bicycle Plan (), revised and updated 08/2009
  • Whatcom County Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee
• Yakima
  • Yakima Urban Area Transportation Plan Update 2025, 05/2006
    • Chapter 3, Pedestrians and the Walking Environment ()
    • Chapter 4, Wheeled Access – Bicycles and Other People Powered Vehicles ()
  • Yakima Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee

Examples of Plans and Policies from Other States

• Boston's Complete Streets
• Chicago Bike 2015 Plan
• Louisville, KY Complete Streets - Includes Complete Streets Manual
• Missouri Livable Streets Design Guidelines (), Missouri Livable Streets, University of Missouri Extension, 08/2011
• New Haven, CT Complete Street Design Manual ( 10 MB), draft, 05/2010
• Portland, OR
  • Pedestrian Master Plan, adopted 1998
  • Bicycle Plan for 2030, adopted 2010
• San Francisco Better Streets Plan - Received Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) design award in 2011

Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety

• Bikeability Checklist, Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center
• Design and Safety of Pedestrian Facilities: An ITE Recommended Practice, Institute of Transportation Engineers, 1998 via Walkinginfo.Org - Note file size is 39MB
• Kids Walk to School Program, Centers for Disease Prevention and Control
• Kirkland's Experience with In-Pavement Flashing Lights at Crosswalks FAQs, Kirkland Public Works
• Kirkland & Redmond Pilot Roadway Markers that Make "Sense" for Cyclists (), News Release, 08/21/2009
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety, Federal Highway Administration
• Pedestrian and Bicycles, Washington State Traffic Safety Commission
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Research, Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
• Pedestrians, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
• Traffic Safety Research, Center for Research and Safety Education (Canada private)
• Walkable America Checklist: How Walkable Is Your Community? (), National Safety Council