Bike and Pedestrian Primer
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Bicycle & Pedestrian Primer Handbook for Moving Forward: Local Communities The Ulster County Transportation Plan Prepared for The Ulster County Planning Board April 2003 PIN # 8808.28.121 Consultant Team Chuck Manning 518-446-0396 The Chuck Voss Ulster County 40 Long Alley, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Transportation Plan 518-587-8100 THE HUDSON GROUP Ron Miller 7 Sage Hill Lane, Menands, NY 12204 518-463-8144 Acknowledgements Special thanks to all the residents and local government officials who shared information and insights at the workshops and public meetings and commented on drafts. Transportation Plan Advisory Group The Ulster County Bicycle & Suzanne Cahill, Planner, City of Kingston Carol Roper, former Supervisor, Town of New Paltz Pedestrian Primer - Handbook fforr Locall Communiittiies was prepared Mircea Catona, Ulster County DPW Cynthia Ruiz, Manager Ulster County Rural Transit as part of the development of the Transportation Plan for Ulster Arthur Cross, Esopus Highway Charles Schaller, Ulster County Traffic Safety Board County. Bicycle and pedestrian recommendations for the County Chester Straub, President, UCDC Mark Sheedy, NYS Bridge Authority are included in the Plan. The Handbook was written under the Rick Fritschler, Chairman, Ulster EMC Peter M. Teliska, NYSDOT Ulster Resident Engineer direction of the Technical Advisory Group. Jim Garvey, Public Transportation Rider Rick Umble, Ulster County GIS Coordinator Michael Mills, Manager, Ellenville Paul Provost, Trailways Ulster County Planning Board Richard Praetorius, Chairman Russell Robbins, NYSDOT Marie Post, Councilwoman, Saugerties Herbert Hekler, Director Dennis Doyle, Principal Planner Ward Todd, Ulster County Legislature Robert Leibowitz, Senior Planner Virginia Craft, Planner Marianne Davis, Administrative Aide Ulster County Planning Board Ulster County Funded by: Box 1800 - Kingston, N.Y., 12402 Bicycle and Pedestrian Primer - Ulster County Handbook for Local Communities The New York State Department of Transportation Tele: 845-340-3340 November, 2002 Federal Highway Administration Fax: 845-340-3429 Revised March 2003 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.co.ulster.ny.us/planning Table of Contents Page Page Bicycle and Pedestrian Design Guidelines ……………………… 11 1.0 INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………. 1 Checklist for Making Your Community More Bicycle and Pedestrian Friendly …………………………………………. 14 The Importance of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation to Opportunities for Expanding Ulster County Bicycle and Ulster County ……………………………………………… 1 Pedestrian Facilities ………………………………………… 17 Purpose of the Primer ………………………………………….. 1 Special Designations or Areas of Emphasis 19 Public Participation Demonstrates the need for Improvements .. 1 Benefits of Walkable and Bikeable Communities …………….. 2 5.0 IMPLEMENTATION …………………………………………. 19 The Importance of Establishing Long-Term Bicycle / Pedestrian Plans …………………………………………….. 19 2.0 CURRENT BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES IN Prioritizing Projects ……………………………………………… 20 ULSTER COUNTY …………………………………………. 3 “Early win” Concepts ……………………………………………. 21 Pedestrian Facilities …………………………………………… 3 Recommendations for Local Government Actions ……………… 22 Bicycle Facilities ……………………………………………… 3 Safety ………………………………………………………….. 4 6.0 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ………………………………… 23 Significant Issues and Barriers ………………………………… 4 Sources of Funding for Projects …………………………………. 23 Grants for Large Projects ($50,000 or Greater Total Value) …….. 23 3.0 THE FOUR Es – ENGINEERING, EDUCATION, Grants Suited For Small as Well as Some Large Projects ……….. 25 ENCOURAGEMENT, ENFORCEMENT EVALUATION .. 6 Synopsis Integrating the Four E’s ……………………………… 6 APPENDIX A: RESOURCES AND REFERENCE Need for On-going Evaluation ………………………………….. 8 APPENDIX B: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION TIPS 4.0 PLANNING FOR BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES …………………………………. 9 Planning and Investment Principles …………………………….. 9 Context – The Relevance of Setting ……………………………. 9 Policies and Laws Supporting Bicycling and Walking …………. 10 Ulster County Bicycle and Pedestrian Primer Purpose of this Primer The Ulster County Bicycle and Pedestrian Primer (the Primer) provides information that municipalities and citizens can use to make their communities more bicycle and pedestrian friendly. It was prepared as a companion document to the Ulster County Transportation Plan (the Plan). While the Plan will present the findings and recommendations on a range of transportation issues including bicycle and pedestrian transportation, the Primer provides specific information on how to most effectively plan for bicycling and walking facilities. It offers some basic information on a vision, goals, bicycling and walking issues, approaches to improve the bicycle and pedestrian travel environments, means of funding these projects, and contacts for further information. Bicycle & Pedestrian Handbook 1 1.0 Introduction The Importance of Bicycle and Public Participation Demonstrates Pedestrian Transportation to the Need for Improvements Ulster County Walking and bicycling are means of During the public participation efforts for the transportation that are energy efficient, generate Ulster County Comprehensive Transportation no pollution, provide the health benefits of Plan, local officials and the public emphasized exercise, and are consistent with compact the need to improve bicycle and pedestrian quality communities. They are important facilities in Ulster County. Comments at four components of Ulster County's developing (4) public meetings and responses to a survey multi-modal transportation system because of municipal officials recorded 250 walking or biking instead of always driving for suggestions, of which 70 (28%) recommended short trips, reduces congestion, conserves pedestrian and bicycling facility and related energy, reduces air pollution, and improves safety improvements. Discontinuous or health. otherwise incomplete sidewalk systems, the It is worth bearing in mind that there is not a need to provide safe street crossing simple dichotomy between "those who drive" opportunities and the benefits of complete, and "those who cycle or walk". We all do both. wide and well-maintained road shoulders were Everyone is a pedestrian. Whatever the trip the most frequently raised items. purpose, commuting, traveling to see a friend or to the store, for transportation, recreation and/or exercise, everyone has a stake in the quality and safety of the bicycle and pedestrian travel environments 2 Bicycle & Pedestrian Handbook Benefits of Walkable and Bikeable Communities, Streets, and Developments people who look for homes where Bicycle and pedestrian friendly area, walking or cycling can be far more they and their children can bike and communities are more livable, have a sense engaging way to experience a community. walk safely and to older citizens of place, and are safe places to walk and looking for convenient retirement bike. Communities that are attractive and Ulster County’s noteworthy rail and canal communities. have made bicycle and pedestrian facility trails and scenic roads can be marketed as investments are places that have thriving well. The Wallkill Trail is designated as one of economic centers with lots of pedestrians. “Ten Terrific Rail Trails in New York” 1, and In addition to yielding important benefits the Kingston Urban Cultural Park offers an to transportation system efficiency, air attractive pedestrian atmosphere in an historic quality, and basic mobility, there are other context. As these bike routes and enhanced benefits to enhancing cycling and walking urban attractions are improved, more people including: will come to bike, stroll, and enjoy the attractions of Ulster County. · From an economic standpoint, walkable and bikeable business areas – whether · From a community development downtowns or suburbs – promote standpoint, walkable and rideable economic development and are social developments are attractive to potential centers of communities. To be homebuyers and renters. The bulk of successful requires not only providing people looking to purchase homes at the facilities for walking and biking but present grew up in urban or older also includes amenities such as suburban communities with sidewalks landscaping, street furniture, and where walking was a natural part of life. bicycle parking. Once in place the As for bicycling, lower levels of traffic historic character and pedestrian scale congestion and less sources of conflict downtowns and hamlets available in with motor vehicles can make cycling a Ulster County can provide a significant more leisurely, safe activity. New attraction to visitors, new businesses, developments whose designs facilitate and residents. Bicycle and pedestrian these activities are attractive to friendly areas open new avenues for tourism to these sites. Particularly for 1 “first-time visitors” unfamiliar with an New York Parks and Conservation Association, 2000 publication (www.nypca.org) Bicycle & Pedestrian Handbook 3 2. Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities in Ulster County Pedestrian Facilities Bicycle Facilities Significant Issues and Barriers The main pedestrian facilities in Ulster Bicycle facilities in Ulster County consist County are generally found in the City of mainly of shoulders on existing roads and During the public outreach efforts, a number of Kingston and the villages and hamlets. sharing the road. There is however an general comments were raised regarding Many parts of the pedestrian system are not emerging system of bicycle