Riding with kids: a GIS approach to designing safe bicycle routes

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Emory Robinson
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1 Riding with kids: a GIS approach to designing safe bicycle routes Sid Tyler Heath Brackett David Amiton Photo courtesy of Pedestrian & Bicycle Information Center SR2S: Background A community-based program established to encourage walking and biking to schools Response to concerns over bicycle safety (2001 Citizen Survey) and youth health (CDC) 1

Background A community-based program established to encourage walking and biking to

2 SR2S: Background Facilitated by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) BTA staff teach bike safety classes at schools then lead students on group rides around the neighborhood Groups number students, in addition to a ride leader, teacher, and several BTA volunteers SR2S: Problems Ride leaders are not always familiar with school neighborhoods Unfamiliarity may result in disorganized rides with increased or unnecessary risk or difficulty Rides may require backtracking to avoid risk, reduce difficulty, or improve overall ride enjoyment 2

volunteers SR2S: Problems Ride leaders are not always familiar with school neighborhoods Unfamiliarity may result in disorganized rides

3 Project Objectives Develop bike routes that improve Ride organization Safety Overall enjoyment Provide ride leaders with several route options to choose from - site unseen - without fear of danger or impediment Study Area: Chapman Elementary School 1445 NW 26th Avenue 1-mile circular buffer around school Neighborhood characteristics Steep slopes to the west and southwest Industrial areas to the north Major arterials include Burnside, 21 st /23 rd Ave, and freeways 3

Elementary School 1445 NW 26th Avenue 1-mile circular buffer around school Neighborhood characteristics Steep slopes

4 Study Area: Vestal Elementary School 161 NE 82nd Avenue 1-mile circular buffer around the elementary school Neighborhood considerations Steep slopes to the south Bounded by major arterials in Glisan Street and 82nd Avenue Methods PDOT data Metro data RLIS data Data Collection Clip, Buffer, etc. Calculate BLOS Calculate slope Normalize fields Rasterize layers Data Prep Raster Calculator CWD analysis Least Cost Route analysis Network analysis Data Analysis 4

Methods PDOT data Metro data RLIS data Data Collection Clip, Buffer, etc.

5 Methods: Data Collection PDOT Volume counts Speed records Crash data Metro Interpolated traffic data RLIS layers Lots Methods: Data Preparation Calculate Bicycle Level of Service.507 * ln(vol 15 /L n ) Volume & Lanes * SP t ( HV) * (1/PR 5 ) * (W e ) Speed & Heavy vehicles Road conditions Lane width A model used to identify the quality of service for bicyclists within an existing roadway environment 5

507 * ln(vol 15 /L n ) Volume & Lanes +.199 * SP t (1+10.38HV) 2 + 7.066 * (1/PR 5 ) 2 + -.005 * (W e ) 2 +.

6 Methods: Data Preparation BLOS Continued Determine for Metro road segments: Peak to Daily Factors Peak Hour Factors Posted Speed Limits Effective Lane Widths % Heavy Vehicles PkVol/ADT PkHrVol/(4*PkVol_15) Methods: Data Preparation Determine Absolute Slope for each road segment Normalize Absolute Slope Normalize BLOS Rasterize Slope RasterizeBLOS Slope Raster BLOS Raster 6

PkVol/ADT PkHrVol/(4*PkVol_15) Methods: Data Preparation Determine Absolute Slope for each

7 Methods: Data Preparation Buffer Crash points to 30 feet Union Crash Buffer and School Buffer Rasterize Union Crash layer Reclassify Union so that crash points receive a 1 and all other points receive a 0 Union Union Raster Methods: Data Analysis Raster Calculator using the weights: Crash * BLOS *.02 + Slope *.01 Perform a Cost Weighted Distance analysis for each origin point Perform a Least Cost Route analysis for each leg of proposed route Perform a Network Analysis for the same routes and compare results 7

Raster Calculator using the weights: Crash * 1000 + BLOS *.02 + Slope *.

8 Results: Chapman Routes Route 1 Chapman Ice Cream Hillside Park Route 2 Chapman Montgomery Park Library Route 3 Chapman MLC Fire Station Results: Vestal Routes Route 1 Vestal Rosemont Bluff Rose City Park Route 2 Vestal Mt. Tabor Berrydale Comm. Gardens Bridger Elem. 8

Station Results: Vestal Routes Route 1 Vestal Rosemont Bluff Rose

9 Results: Chapman Comparison of Network Analyst and LCP Results: Vestal Comparison of Network Analyst and LCP 9

10 Conclusions Network Analyst more appropriate method for developing bike routes Quality of data will influence results tremendously Quantifying safety may be done more efficiently using knowledge of place BLOS requires an extensive quantity of data for effective implementation Final Maps 10

safety may be done more efficiently using knowledge of place BLOS

11 Problems & Limitations PDOT Primary, but not comprehensive Metro Comprehensive, but not accurate BLOS Service rather than Safety index Constants not necessarily appropriate weightings for children and/or safety Raster LCR may not travel road segments Directionality not addressed through LCR Further Study Greater primary traffic data Develop a true safety index for children Combine with Intersection Level of Service Incorporate traffic lights, stop signs, and MAX/Light Rail/Streetcar Continue with Network Analyst to incorporate directionality Develop a model using Model Builder 11

Further Study Greater primary traffic data Develop a true safety index for children Combine with Intersection Level of Service Incorporate traffic

12 References PDOT Crash data Mark Yelton PDOT verbal communication Greg Raisman PDOT verbal communication Laura Wintergreen Metro Mark Bosworth RLIS Bicycle Level of Service. City of Rockville, MD. Q s? Sweet flag! I feel so safe! 12

Laura Wintergreen Metro Mark Bosworth RLIS Bicycle Level

Protected Bicycle Lanes in NYC

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