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Transportation Research and Education Center TREC Friday Seminar Series (TREC)

5-2-2014 Highlights from the Green : A Comprehensive Evaluation of Protected Cycling Facilities

Christopher Monsere Portland State University, [email protected]

Jennifer Dill Portland State University, [email protected]

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Recommended Citation Monsere, Christopher and Dill, Jennifer, "Highlights from the Green Lane: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Protected Cycling Facilities" (2014). TREC Friday Seminar Series. 38. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/trec_seminar/38

This Book is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in TREC Friday Seminar Series by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible: [email protected]. Highlights from the Green Lane: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Protected Cycling Facilities

Christopher M. Monsere, Jennifer Dill Kelly Clion, Nathan McNeil, Nick Foster, Tara Goddard Portland State University PSU Friday Transportation Seminar

May 2, 2014 1 Photo credit: Nathan McNeil, PSU Research Objectives • A field-based evaluation of protected bikeways in five U.S. cities to study: – Safety of users (both perceived and actual) – Effectiveness of the design – Perceptions of residents and other users – Attractiveness to more casual cyclists – Change in economic activity

2 Dearborn - Milwaukee One-way protected lane on both sides on a two- Two-way protected lane on one-way street Chicago, IL - Chicago, IL way street

L Street – Multnomah Street One-way protected lane on both sides on a two- One-way protected lane on a one-way street Washington, DC – Portland, OR way street Rio Grande Street - Oak/Fell – Couplet of one-way protected on one-way Two-way protected lane on one-way street Ausn, TX San Francisco, CA streets

Barton Springs One-way protected lane on the south side of the Bluebonnet Lane – Two-way protected lane on a two-way street Road – Ausn, TX road (other direcon is shared use path) Ausn, TX Data Collected • Resident Surveys – 9,617 surveys mailed – 2,283 returned (34% used online option) – 24% response rate • Bicyclist Surveys – 3,409 bicyclists intercepted – 1,111 surveys completed – 33% response rate • Video Recorded at Intersections – 16 locations in 4 cities – 204 hours analyzed – 21,728 bicyclists and 23,347 turning vehicles observed

5 Resident Bicyclist

Four year degree + Four year degree83% + 89% Income >$100k 41% Income >$100k 48% Work From Home 15% Work From Home 7% Work Outside Home Work Outside66% Home 93% Asian 6% Asian 7% Hispanic or Latino/a 5% Hispanic or Latino/a 5% Black 5% Black 1% White 81%White 89% 55 + years 34% 55 + years 6% 35 to 54 years 40% 35 to 54 years 37% <35 years of age 26% <35 years of age 56% Female 53% Female 32% Own working bicycle Own working67% bicycle Own/Lease a car Own/Lease81% a car 73% Car Share Membership 18% Car Share Membership 28% Transit Pass 50% Transit Pass 72% Driver's License Driver's License96% 97% Children in HH 15% Children in HH 25% 2+ Adults in HH 2+64% Adults in HH 78% Home Owners 55%Home Owners 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 6 Source: Resident and Bicyclist surveys, Green Lane evaluation Residents by Primary Commute Mode

Non-commuter

Mix

Transit

Bicycle

Foot

Car / Truck

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000

7 Source: Resident surveys, Green Lane evaluation Today… 1. Did the number of people bicycling change? 2. How well do the designs work? 3. Do the lane improve people’s perceptions of safety? 4. What do residents think about the lanes? 5. How attractive are the lanes for less comfortable cyclists?

8 1. Did the number of people bicycling change?

9 Change in Observed Bicycle Volumes

180% 171%

160%

140% 126% 120%

100%

80% 68% 65%

Percent Increase 60% 46% 46% 40% 36% 21% 20%

0% Rio Grande Multnomah Bluebonnet Fell Milwaukee Dearborn L Street Barton Springs Bike Lanes Prior No Bike Lanes Prior

10 Source: City-provided before and after counts, PSU video counts, ACS Survey Before the new facility was built, how would you have made this trip?

90% Would not have taken trip 80%

70% 21% By other mode

60% By bicycle, using another route 50%

40% 7% 10% 10% 6% 30% 60%

20% 38% 6% 34% 32% 29% 7% 10% 10% 18% 11% 6% 0% Dearborn Rio Grande Multnomah L Street Barton Oak Street Fell Street Milwaukee Springs

11 Source: Cyclist intercept surveys, Green Lane evaluation 2. How well do the designs work?

12 Design Elements Evaluated • Intersections – Mixing zones – Fully signalized • Providing access – Loading zone – Transit stops • Other design elements – Width – Green pavement marking – Minor driveways

13 Mixing Zone Designs

NACTO-Style Yield Shark Tooth Flexpost Delimited Mixing Zone Mixing Zone with Advisory Bike Lane Mixing Zone with Advisory Bike Lane (ABL) (ABL) Photo from survey (shown): Multnomah and Photo from survey (shown): L Street Photo from survey (shown): Oak St. and Divisadero St. NE 9th, Video Locaon(s): Multnomah and NE Video Locaon(s): L Street/ 15th Street, L Street/ Video Locaon(s): Oak St. and Divisadero St. 9th Conneccut

Mixing zone w/ green-back Mixing Zone with Full Green Skip Mixing Zone with Advisory Bike Lane sharrow mixing zone Marking (ABL) Photo from survey (shown): Oak St. and Photo from survey (shown): Fell St. and Broderick Photo from survey (shown): Fell St. and Divisadero St. Broderick St. Video Locaon(s): Oak St. and St. Video Locaon(s): No video Broderick St Video Locaon(s): Fell St. and Baker 14 Total Video Observations

Connecticut Avenue 15th Street Turning/Merging Motor DC Vehicles Btwn 19th St / 18th St (Hotel) Bicyclists Divisadero Street SF Broderick Street Baker Street 11th Street (Transit Stop) PDX 11th Street () 9th Street 7th Street Grand Avenue Elston Avenue CHI Desplaines Street Randolph Street Madison Street Congress

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 Number Observed (6 hours) 15 Survey Video Survey Video

Correctly Identified Location Correct Lane Use Percent Percent Mixing Zone Design Strongly Calculated Agreeing Strongly Conflict Bicycle Agreeing Bicyclists Thorough Turning Turning Through Agreeing Rates Turning They Feel “Understand” Bicycles Motorist Motorist Bicyclist Vehicles Right Safe Yield

Flexpost Delimited Mixing Zone with Advisory Bike 85% - - - 87% 91% 17% 64% 0.16 Lane (ABL): L Street

NACTO-Style Yield Shark Tooth Mixing Zone: 63% 51% 98% 79% 93% 63% 14% 73% 0.37 Multnomah/ 9th

Mixing Zone with Advisory Bike Lane (ABL): Oak/ 75% 94% 73% 92% 66% 81% 19% 74% 0.12 Divisadero

Mixing Zone with Advisory Bike Lane (ABL): Fell/ 81% 93% 74% 97% - - 15% 72% - Divisadero

Mixing zone w/ green- back sharrow mixing 71% 79% 97% 95% 48% 30% 15% 79% 0.44 zone: Oak/Broderick

Mixing Zone with Full Green Skip Marking: Fell/ 74% 73% 96% 95% 49% - 22% 84% 0.13 Broderick or Fell/Baker

16 Dearborn and Madison, Chicago, IL Photo: C. Monsere 17 Bicycle Signals on Dearborn • Using the small bicycle in the bicycle signal lens is a good way to communicate the signal is only for bicycles – 87% agree • I like that bicyclists and turning cars each have their own signal – 74% agree • At these intersections, it is always clear to me which signal I should use as a motorist – 66% agree

18 People on Bicycles

Waited for green/legal right-turn on red Proceeded illegally on red

Dearborn/ Randolph 92% 8%

Dearborn/ Madison 77% 23%

Dearborn/ Congress 93% 7%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% People in Motor Vehicles

Legal Turn on Green Illegal Turn on Red Arrow Jumped into crosswalk

Dearborn/ Randolph 92% 6% 2%

Dearborn/ Madison 90% 5% 6%

Dearborn/ Congress 84% 10% 6%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

19 3. Do the lanes improve users’ perception of safety?

20 Because of the protected bike lanes, the safety of _____ on the street has . .

37% Walking Portland, Multnomah 45% 74% Driving 21% San Francisco, Oak 38% 80% Bicycling

52% Austin, Bluebonnet 38% 85%

44% Austin, Barton Springs 43% 82%

19% Chicago, Milwaukee 28% 74%

15% Chicago, Dearborn 23% 76%

27% Washington DC - L St. 30% 80%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Percent of Residents Stating “Safety Increased" 21 Source: Resident Surveys, Green Lane evaluation I feel the safety of bicycling on ______has . .

Increased Somewhat Increased a Lot

Austin Rio Grande 27% 66%

SF Oak / Fell 18% 81%

Portland Multnomah 33% 59%

Chicago Milwuakie 31% 65%

DC L Street 29% 66%

Chicago Dearborn 18% 82%

Austin Barton Springs 33% 56%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

22 Source: Cyclist intercept surveys, Green Lane evaluation Buffer type affects safety and comfort Types of buffers used include:

Flexposts and painted buffer Parked vehicles and Semi-permanent planter with (Fell Street, San Francisco) flexposts colored pavement (Milwaukee Avenue, (Multnomah St., Portland) Chicago) 23 The buffer section with ______between the lanes and the bikeway makes me feel safe.

Paint, One-way Two-way Paint, One-way One-way Flexposts, One-way Flexposts, One-way Flexposts, One-way Flexposts, One-way Flexposts, Two-way Planters, One-way Flexposts, Two-way Parked Cars, One-way Flexposts, One-way Parked Cars, Two-way Curb, Grass (Path), Seperated Path 1 2 3 4 Mean Score

24 Source: Cyclist intercept surveys, Green Lane evaluation …buffer makes me feel safe

3.80 (shared-use path) 3.70 3.60 3.50 3.40 3.30 Mean Score 3.20 3.10 3.00 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 Tot al Widt h (ft) Far Edge of Bicycle Facility to Near Edge of Motor Vehicle Lane

25 Buffer comfort

Very Uncomfortable (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Very Comfortable (6)

With planters separating the bikeway

With a 2-3 foot buffer and plastic flexposts

With a raised curb

With a painted buffer and parked cars

With a painted 2-3 foot buffer

With a solid painted buffer

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 26 Source: Cyclist intercept surveys, Green Lane evaluation 4. What do residents think about the lanes?

27 83% Support for All Residents 75% Protected 43% 79% Car/Truck 69% Lanes 39% 80% Non-commuters 75% Facilities that encourage 36% bicycling for transportation are a good way to improve 84% public health. Mix 76% 47% I would support building more protected bike lanes at other 82% locations. Transit 78% 43%

Because of the protected bike 88% lanes, the desirability of living Foot 79% in my neighborhood has 45% increased 97% Bicycle 95% 66%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

28 Source: Resident surveys, Green Lane evaluation Because of the protected bike lanes,

...my satisfaction with the walking ...my sense of safety when crossing environment on this street this street has

Increased No Change Increased No Change

L Street 36% 53% L Street 27% 53%

Oak/Fell 33% 49% Oak/Fell 24% 55%

Multnomah 37% 56% Multnomah 35% 57%

Milwaukee 19% 56% Milwaukee 17% 46%

Dearborn 17% 54% Dearborn 18% 38%

Bluebonnet 49% 41% Bluebonnet 34% 57%

Barton Springs 58% 37% Barton Springs 43% 51%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

29 Source: Resident Surveys, 78% of respondents have walked on street, Green Lane evaluation Perceptions of residents driving on street

Percent responding increased

27% L Street 52% Since the protected Fell 20% bike lanes were built, Oak 22% the amount of time it 54% takes me to drive on 32% this street has . . . Multnomah 48% Since the protected 63% Milwaukee 44% bike lanes were built, how safe and 54% Dearborn 53% predictable bicyclists 15% are acting has . . . Bluebonnet 59% 18% Barton Springs 58%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 30 Perceptions about Parking

Oak/Fell (-50 spots) 55%

Milwaukee (-some) 49%

L Street (-150 spots) 46%

Bluebonnet (-some) 44%

Dearborn (-minimal) 41%

Multnomah (+20 spots) 30%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% % indicating negative impact on...

ability to find a parking spot on the street how stressful it is to park on the street

31 5. How attractive are the lanes for less comfortable cyclists?

32 By the “Four

Strong and Enthused and Interested but No Way No Types” Fearless, 5% Confident, 27% Concerned, 43% How, 25%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Share of Residents

I would be more likely to ride a bicycle if motor vehicles and bicycles were physically separated by a barrier.

85%

62%

43% 37%

Strong and Fearless Enthused and Interested but No Way No How Confident Concerned

33 Because of the protected bike lanes, the safety of _____ on the street has . .

Walking 17% No Way No How 21% Driving 59% Bicycling 37% Interested But Concerned 41% 88%

42% Enthused and Confident 46% 87%

37% Strong and Fearless 36% 76%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Percent of Residents Stating "safety increased"

34 Source: Resident Surveys, Green Lane evaluation Because of the ____ Street separated bikeway, how often I ride a bicycle overall has . . .

60%

Increased Somewhat 50% Increased a lot 40%

30%

20%

10%

0% Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women San Francisco Washington DC Chicago Austin Portland Overall

35 Source: Cyclist intercept surveys, Green Lane evaluation Summary • Analysis of data show increased bicycle volumes with some evidence of “attraction” • Strong improved perception of safety for people riding on the facilities • Generally positive perceptions for other road users • Support for the protected lane concept • Design choices affect safety and comfort • ….more to come!

36 Quesons?

Thanks to students: Chase Ballew, Dan Stumpf, Dan Mercer, Lisa Okimoto, Alison Duncan, Belinada Judelman

Thanks to City partners: Mike Amsden (CDOT), David Smith (CDOT), Jim Sebastian (DDOT), Mike Goodno (DDOT), Roger Geller (PBOT), Rob Burchfield (PBOT), Ross Swanson (PBOT), Seleta Reynolds (SFMTA), Miriam Sorell (SFMTA), Annick Beaudet (Austin), Nathan Wilkes (Austin)

Christopher M. Monsere Jennifer Dill Kelly Clion Portland State University Portland State University Portland State University [email protected] [email protected] kcli[email protected] 37

Resident Survey

Resident Survey Paper Response City Route Distributed Returns Web Returns Returned Rate Washington, DC L Street 1800 148 88 236 13% Bluebonnet 1300 304 135 439 34% Lane Barton Springs 300 55 36 91 30% Austin, TX Road* Rio Grande - - - Street San Francisco, Oak /Fell 1967 318 199 517 26% CA N/S Dearborn 1200 121 76 197 16% Street Chicago, IL N Milwaukee 1500 185 126 311 21% Avenue NE Multnomah Portland, OR 1550 368 124 492 32% Street Overall 9617 1499 784 2283 24% 38 Bicyclist Survey

Bicyclist Survey City Route Distributed Returned Response Rate Washington, DC L Street 763 300 39% Bluebonnet Lane - - - Austin, TX Barton Springs Road* 73 18 25% Rio Grande Street 98 43 44% San Francisco, CA Oak /Fell 900 278 31% N/S Dearborn Street 600 124 21% Chicago, IL N Milwaukee Avenue 775 236 30% Portland, OR NE Multnomah Street 200 112 56% Overall 3409 1111 33%

39 Facility Cross Street Type Descripon Congress Parkway Intersecon Two-way facility, MV le-turn signalized

N/S Dearborn Madison Street Intersecon Two-way facility, MV le-turn signalized Street

Randolph Street Intersecon Two-way facility, MV le-turn signalized

Chicago MVs and Bicyclists weave to make le- Desplaines Street Intersecon turns N Milwaukee Avenue Elston Avenue Intersecon Bicycle signal, right-turn over facility Grand Avenue Intersecon Right-turn lane on right side of facility Right turn over facility, skip crossing

7th Street Intersecon markings NE Multnomah 9th Street Intersecon Mixing zone w/ right-turning MVs Street Portland Right turn over facility, skip crossing 11th Street Transit markings

Mixing zone w/ le-turning MVs, green Fell Street Baker Street Intersecon bars across mixing zone Mixing zone w/ right-turning MVs and Broderick Street Intersecon green backed sharrows Oak Street

San Francisco Mixing zone w/ right-turning MVs and Divisadero Street Intersecon advisory bike lane (ABL) Btwn 19th St and 18th Hotel Zone Loading zone with MV entrance and exit

St L Street NW D.C. 15th Street Intersecon Mixing zone w/ le-turning traffic and ABL

Conneccut Avenue Intersecon Mixing zone w/ le-turning traffic and ABL

40 Residents Typed to Geller’s Typology

Strong and Fearless Enthused and Confident Interested but Concerned No Way No How

All 27% 43% 25%

Washington, DC 26% 40% 28%

San Francisco 31% 40% 22%

Portland 32% 36% 27%

Chicago 25% 40% 30%

Austin 22% 56% 18%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

41 Source: Resident surveys, Green Lane evaluation Buffer design affects comfort How comfortable would you feel bicycling on a commercial street with two lanes of traffic in each direction, with traffic speeds of 35 miles per hour, but with the following types of separation from traffic?

6 Portland - Multnomah DC - L Street Chi - Milw Street Chi - Dearborn SF - Oak Austin - Barton Austin - Rio Grande

5

4

3 Comfort Mean Score 2

1 With a solid painted With a painted 2-3 With a painted buffer With a raised With a 2-3 foot buffer With planters buffer foot buffer and parked cars concrete curb and plastic flexposts separating the bikeway

42 Source: Cyclist intercept surveys, Green Lane evaluation Since the ______was built, do you travel on this route?

100%

90% This is my first time on 80% this route More frequently 70% 60% 50% 86% 40% 79% 66% 30% 51% 20% 44% 39% 31% 28% 10% 0% Dearborn Rio Grande L Street Multnomah Oak Street Barton Milwaukee Fell Street Springs

43 Source: Cyclist intercept surveys, Green Lane evaluation