Developing Bikeways on Angelo State University Campus and Connections to the City by Christopher Bartlett Knappe, B.S. A Thesis In Landscape Architecture Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Texas Tech University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Approved Dr. Alon Kvashny Chair of Committee Charles Klein E’lisa Smetana Peggy Gordon Miller Dean of the Graduate School May, 2011 Copyright 2011, Christopher Knappe Texas Tech University, Christopher Bartlett Knappe, May 2011 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The past three months have been a real challenge, but through a lot of hard work and perseverance, I am thankful to be closing the door on this chapter of my life. I would not have been able to complete this journey without the guidance and patience of several people. I would like start by thanking Dr. Alon Kvashny. He took Tara, Chris, and I under his wing when we first started graduate school, and I am grateful for his friendship, teaching ability, and the laughs we have shared. Thank you also for helping me climb this mountain of a task called a thesis. I am also very grateful to have known Professor Klein the last three years. Whether it was touring around the Yucatan Peninsula, and watching me climb everything in sight, or letting me barge into his office when his door was open to help me figure out which way was up. Thank you, Professor Klein for all of your guidance and assistance throughout my graduate career at Texas Tech. Special thanks go out to E’lisa Smetana and her staff at the San Angelo Metropolitan Planning Organization. I really appreciate your willingness to help, and all of the data and maps your office provided me during my study. I think that this project could be the beginning of something great for San Angelo. I am very grateful to have had the love and support from my family along this journey. I want to thank them for putting up with me while I moped around the house in my house shoes and lumberjack hat, otherwise known as the thesis “look”. Thanks Mom, for all of the meals you fixed for me and the treats you made me to help give me strength ii Texas Tech University, Christopher Bartlett Knappe, May 2011 to finish my thesis. Dad, I know you had several projects for me that you wanted done, but thank you for understanding that I needed to focus all of my attention on getting through with school. Guess I don’t have an excuse now! Ha! Thank you both for your love and guidance throughout my life. I would not be the person I am today without the values you have instilled in me. Tara and Chris, I have really enjoyed getting to know you both the past three years. Both of you are like family to me now. Tara, the sister I never had, and Chris, my mom away from home. Through the ups and downs, I would not have wanted to share this time with anyone else. I wish you both the best in your future endeavors. It is still really weird not seeing you two every day. Love y’all! Scott, you’re my boy Blue! Thanks for all of the climbing, wakeboarding, work, and other craziness that kept me sane during grad school. I am glad that we have become such good friends. They are hard to come by these days. Kori Adele Dunn, I might still be trying to edit and format this thing it weren’t for you. You have no idea how much help you have been to me the last three months. Thank you for keeping me on track and being patient with me during this process. You are an amazing woman, and I am excited for our future. I Love You! iii Texas Tech University, Christopher Bartlett Knappe, May 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................ ii ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES……………………………………………………………………....ix I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1 Purpose of Study .......................................................................................................... 3 Problem Statement ....................................................................................................... 3 Objectives .................................................................................................................... 4 Limitations ................................................................................................................... 5 Definition of Terms ..................................................................................................... 5 Significance of the Problem ........................................................................................ 6 II. LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................... 9 History of Bicycles ...................................................................................................... 9 Users .......................................................................................................................... 12 Benefits of bicycling .................................................................................................. 13 Economic Benefits ........................................................................................ 14 Functional benefits ........................................................................................ 21 Health benefits .............................................................................................. 24 Bicycle safety ............................................................................................................ 29 Case Studies ............................................................................................................... 32 The University of Arizona ............................................................................. 33 The University of Georgia ............................................................................. 35 III. RESULTS ................................................................................................................... 39 Research Intent .......................................................................................................... 39 Questions ................................................................................................................... 39 Goal ........................................................................................................................... 39 iv Texas Tech University, Christopher Bartlett Knappe, May 2011 Conceptual Framework.............................................................................................. 40 Survey Method .......................................................................................................... 40 Student Survey ........................................................................................................... 41 Survey Design............................................................................................................ 41 Question Format ........................................................................................................ 42 Survey Results ........................................................................................................... 43 Age............................................................................................................................. 43 Academic Status ........................................................................................................ 44 Bicycle as a Method of Transportation ...................................................................... 45 How far did Respondents Live From Campus .......................................................... 46 Purpose for Bicycle Use ............................................................................................ 47 Number of Hours Spent Biking per Week ................................................................. 48 Origin of Ride ............................................................................................................ 49 Difficulty of Biking on Campus ................................................................................ 53 Which Streets Respondents Prefer While Riding to Campus.................................... 54 Perceived Safety While Riding to Campus ............................................................... 58 Bicycle System on Angelo State Campus ................................................................. 59 Shared or Multi-use Paths.......................................................................................... 59 IV. SITE INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS ..................................................................... 61 Inventory .................................................................................................................... 61 Location ................................................................................................................. 61 Climate……………………………………………………………........................63 Angelo State University............................................................................................. 63 Traffic and Circulation .............................................................................................. 66 Site Analysis .............................................................................................................