Benefits of Walking: Transportation Benefits
 

Many of the trips that Americans make every day are short enough to be accomplished on a bicycle, on foot or via wheelchair. The 1995 National Personal Transportation Survey (NPTS) found that approximately 40% of all trips are less than 2 miles in length – which represents a 10-minute bike ride or a 30-minute walk. In fact, a 1995 Rodale Press survey found that Americans want the opportunity to walk or bike instead of drive: 40% of U.S. adults say they would commute by bike if safe facilities were available.



Bicycling and walking can help to reduce roadway congestion. Many streets and highways carry more traffic than they were designed to handle, resulting in gridlock, wasted time and energy, pollution, and driver frustration. Bicycling and walking require less space per traveler than automobiles. Roadway improvements to accommodate pedestrians and bicycles can also enhance safety for motorists. For example, adding paved shoulders on two-lane roads has been shown to reduce the frequency of run-off-road, head-on, and sideswipe motor vehicle crashes.
 

At the regional level, bicycle and pedestrian planning is usually carried out by Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO's) or similar regional agencies. The main objectives of these planning projects are usually to coordinate between jurisdictions, develop planning and design guidance for local governments, establish regional priorities for funding, and to develop a unified regional approach to land use and transportation issues.

The rising awareness of bicycle and pedestrian issues in transportation planning has brought with it a new era of planning for these modes. Planning strategies range from small scale (such as a study to improve bicycle and pedestrian access to a neighborhood bus stop) to large scale (such as a statewide master plan for bicycling and walking).

While there are some common elements (such as public participation) that nearly all bicycle and pedestrian planning projects should include, they otherwise can vary greatly depending upon the particular situation. An effective, interconnected system of bicycle and pedestrian facilities requires planning at a variety of levels. This section describes different types of bicycle and pedestrian plans and includes a list of example plans following each description. The example plans include a description of the plan and contact information.

For more information:
Stephanie Yanovitz, syanovitz@baltometro.org  or 410-732-0500 x1055.