5P Physical Projects Tactics

Build physical infrastructure such as sidewalks, bike lanes, and trails which encourage walking and bicycling.

To successfully integrate routine physical activity into daily lives, the proper physical infrastructure must be present to provide opportunities for routine physical activity.  In areas where adequate publicly owned land exists along a road, known as the right-of-way, state and local governments should construct facilities such as sidewalks, trails, and bike lanes to connect important destinations for pedestrians and bicyclists.  In some cases, the right-of-way may be too narrow to build these facilities.  In these situations, state and local transportation officials can adjust the road surface to provide adequate space for these facilities; another option is to purchase additional property for the right-of-way needed to accommodate sidewalks and bike facilities.    In the case where an entire lane cannot be taken away, officials can alter the width of lanes of their city's roads to provide adequate space for the installation of these important pedestrians and biking facilities.

Use traffic calming measures to make walking and bicycling safer and more comfortable.

Traffic calming measures are techniques aimed at reducing vehicular traffic speeds in pedestrian areas and neighborhoods. By reducing the volume and speed of traffic, pedestrian and bicycling can become safer and more popular modes of transportation. Ideally, traffic on local streets should be kept to 20 mph while speeds on arterials and collector roads within neighborhoods are kept to 35 mph.  There are many ways to reduce vehicle speeds. Possible road surface adjustments include removing one or two lanes from four-lane arterials, which are streets that serve primarily through traffic, and reallocating the extra pavement to bike lanes, sidewalks, parking strips, or center turn lanes to improve walking and biking conditions.   Walkable streets often include "bulb-out" curbs at intersections, readily identifiable crosswalks, speed bumps, rumble strips, and landscaped medians.  Another traffic calming technique is to institute "road diets," where extra lanes are removed and lane widths shortened to accommodate bike lanes.  For new development, designing narrower new streets with shorter blocks, mid-block alleys and paths can decrease speed and improve pedestrian connectivity.

Provide interconnected networks for pedestrians and bicyclists that are as functional and accessible as those for motorists.

In order to make walking and bicycling a viable mode of transportation, the physical design of the environment must be built to accommodate the special needs of these travel forms.  Currently, motorists enjoy a road network that provides access to destinations via highways, arterial roads, collectors, and neighborhood streets.  Pedestrians and bicyclists require similar functional networks consisting of sidewalks, bike paths, trails, and greenways that provide equal access to important destinations.  These types of facilities must be well integrated with one another and with the current roadway network to improve the connectivity of road and path network systems.  By improving connectivity, pedestrians and bicyclists will have a network of many short links, numerous intersections, and minimal dead-ends that will help decrease travel distances and increase route options.2 In instances where high volume streets exist, sidewalks and bike lanes should be built with alternative pathways to help pedestrians and bicyclists avoid dangerous situations.

Increase the availability of high quality transit service within walking distance of residential, work and shopping areas.

Decreasing automobile dependency in today's society is important in increasing alterative modes of transportation, including walking, bicycling, and public transit use.  Every transit trip begins and ends with either walking or bicycling. To decrease auto use and increase physical activity, public transit service must be designed to provide individuals with adequate accessibility to residential areas, employment, shopping, and other important destinations.  In order for public transportation to be a competitive alternative to the automobile, transit service must provide important features, such as frequent, comfortable, and reliable service, sheltered stops with benches adequate lighting, and bike racks, and helpful informational materials help riders best use the service.

Convert out-of-service rail corridors into trails.

Once railroad corridors are no longer in service, they can be excellent locations for trails.   The linear form and typically gentle grade of these corridors make them ideal for multiple uses, including walking, biking, horseback riding, in-line skating, wheelchair recreation, and other active forms of travel and recreation.  A common barrier to converting unused rail lines to trails is land acquisition.  In cases where the right-of-way cannot be purchased due to numerous adjacent property owners, railbanking may be a feasible strategy. Railbanking is a voluntary agreement between a railroad company and a trail organization or government entity to use an out-of-service rail corridor as a trail until a potential railroad might need the corridor again for rail service. Railbanked corridors are not considered abandoned and can be sold, leased or donated to a trail manager without reverting to adjacent landowners.

Incorporate areas for secure bicycle storage in building designs.

A key factor in deciding when to use bicycling as a mode of transportation is whether the destination has adequate facilities to secure bicycles.  A bicycle can be a considerable investment and it is important for bicyclists to feel that their personal property is secure.  Therefore, building designs should include areas for adequate bicycle storage.  Proper bike shelter areas can include bike racks, benches, adequate lighting, water fountains, and a covered shelter.  Pre-existing buildings that currently do not possess these amenities can be retrofitted to provide adequate facilities.

Develop places that integrate different activities and destinations that encourage physical activity.

Recent land uses trends have created an environment of segregated land uses that limit individuals' ability to walk or bike to important destinations.  Many homes are located in suburban areas well away from employment and shopping.  To provide opportunities for increased walking and bicycling, land uses must be better integrated to create compact, walkable communities.  City planners and elected officials should look for opportunities to combine residential, commercial, office, and civic uses, such as schools, universities, public parks, municipal buildings, hospitals, and public convention centers, to create communities where people can walk or bicycle for their daily activities.

Place higher density housing near commercial centers, transit lines, parks, schools, and work sites to encourage routine walking and bicycling.

In order for people to be able to walk, bike, or use public transit to key destinations, they must live close enough to their places of interest, including work, commercial areas, public recreation spaces, and transit lines.  Increasing the housing density near these locations will further increase the number of people that can use active modes of transportations since more individuals will live within walking distance to important routine destinations.

Create a sense of place in commercial centers or districts to encourage walking.

Many commercial developments are designed as strip malls that promote automobile use and severely limit walking and bicycling as a transportation option.  Strip malls generally consist of a row of stores, restaurants, other and businesses located along a busy road that typically open on a large parking lot adjacent to the roadway.  Due to the large space required to construct such commercial areas, they are often located in open areas away from most current development, thus making walking and biking difficult.  To correct this problem, officials should create unique commercial centers or districts located close to existing developments, thus allowing individuals to walk or bike to these destinations.  In a walkable commercial center, stores and businesses are located within a compact space, thus encouraging patrons to walk among stores.  Parking exists along streets thus allowing building fronts to exist along sidewalks and further improving walkability; additional parking lots can be located behind buildings to enhance the streetscape for pedestrians.

Revive community gathering places and add or renovate housing to help create a safe, walking environment.

An important sign of a growing and vibrant city is a well-developed, attractive downtown where community residents can live, work, and play in a safe and active environment.  Since many businesses and other important places of interest are located in downtowns, cities must work to revive their downtowns into community gathering places.  Adding new housing and renovating vacant, upper-story apartments will allow residents to have safe and easy access to work and entertainment areas via walking or biking.  Many downtowns become empty once employees leave work for their suburban homes.  By attracting entertainment opportunities such as theaters, restaurants, and other civic venues, downtown residents can have a safe walking environment that extends beyond business hours.

Design neighborhoods to be safe and aesthetically pleasing to bring people together, encourage physical activity and decrease crime.

Communities must be both physically attractive and safe to entice people to become more physically active within their neighborhood.  An aesthetically pleasing environment helps allure people out of their homes so that they may interact with neighbors and take advantage of the physical activity facilities present such as sidewalks, parks, and gardens.  Likewise, a neighborhood must also be physically safe for residents so that they may feel comfortable and secure being outside their homes.  A number of options exist to make communities both more beautiful and safe.  Neighborhood Watch programs may be created so that residents can help police their own space.  In addition, communities can be built with shared courtyards that will encourage neighbors to watch out for each other.  Street lights, front porches, and windows facing the street can help improve security and make residents feel safer while out at night.  To make walks and outdoor activity more attractive, street trees and shrubbery, public art, sidewalks with lamp posts and benches, and community gardens and parks must be included in the neighborhood design.

Develop parking lots that provide for a continuous and attractive streetscape, safe pedestrian and bicycle access to buildings, and opportunities for shared use.

Current trends in parking lot development have attributed to an environment with segregated land uses by consuming large lots of land and providing most automobile users with free parking wherever they should drive.  To build a compact environment where residents can walk or bike to destinations, parking lots must be limited in size and sited to allow a continuous and attractive streetscape.  Streetscape features can improve the visual appearance of a place, including building fronts, paving, public furniture, street side landscaping, lighting, and signage.  By reducing the size of parking lots and locating them behind buildings, store fronts can be located along the sidewalk, thus improving the personal feel of a street and improving its walkability.  In instances where parking lots already exist or must be built in front of building locations, designs should ensure that pedestrians and bicyclists have safe access to buildings , sidewalks, and public transit stops.  In addition, where available, adjacent land uses should share parking lots rather than building separate lots.

Design human-scale environments that make pedestrians feel comfortable.

To encourage individuals to be active in their community, they must first feel comfortable and safe in their surrounding environment.  Creating pedestrian-scale environments will accomplish these goals by designing communities with buildings, signs, lighting, and other street improvements that are geared towards improving the street experience for pedestrians.  Places that are built on the human-scale make people feel comfortable walking around.  Building fronts should face streets with display windows lining sidewalks, and contain pitched roofs to provide cover from weather.  Aesthetic designs, signs, and landscaping should also be a pedestrian eye level.

Install signage to highlight active transportation routes and places that support active living.

To successfully encourage active living, individuals must be aware of physical activity opportunities that exist within their communities.  Signage that highlights where active transportation routes exist can help overcome sedentary lifestyles by making it easier for individuals to be informed about local physical activity opportunities.  Signs can include trailheads and mile markers that indicate the beginning, end and each mile along a trail or greenway that will help people to set and reach personal fitness goals.  Signs can also incorporate information specifying destinations to where a trial or greenway connects.  Additional signage includes those that are located along roadways highlighting a nearby community park or recreation facility.

Link parks, trails, and greenways to local destinations of interest to ensure that walking and bicycling trips are as convenient as using a car.

An important feature of parks, trails, and greenways is that they can serve other functions besides providing a place for recreational physical activity.  If designed in the proper locations, trails and greenways can also function as corridors for active transportation to local destinations.  By building accessible parks, trails, greenways, and other recreational spaces that are connected to residential, commercial, office, and civic areas, individuals are provided with a direct path that allows them to travel by walking or biking.

Design parks, trails, and greenways to deter crime and enhance safety.

The design of a public space can have a profound influence on people's perception of safety thus affecting whether they will use that space.  To successfully encourage individuals to use parks, trails, and greenways for physical activity and transportation, these facilities must be designed in a manner to deter crime and enhance the safety of their users.  Parks, trails, and greenways should therefore be designed with the following characteristics:  adequate lighting, high visibility, signage with important safety information, a site and design that reduces feelings of isolation and takes advantage of surrounding land uses, and the presence of emergency phones.

Design parks, trails, and greenways with multiple users in mind and ensure that these facilities are constantly maintained.

The planning process for parks, trails, and greenways should include public input to determine the types of facilities that residents most desire.  Citizen input can be obtained through a number of options, such as public meetings and questionnaires of potential users.  Successful projects serve the community's needs and interests for recreational activity and alternative transportation.  Through community feedback, community leaders will learn that parks, trails, and greenways can have a multitude of users with varying needs.  Parks, trails, and greenways must therefore be designed to provide a safe, interesting, and comfortable place for users of all backgrounds, income levels, and locations.  Once they are built, government officials must ensure that parks, trails, and greenways continue to serve the public through maintenance and continuous improvements."