Measuring Biking and Walking –

A State Perspective

Paula Reeves, AICP CTP

Manager, Community Design - WSDOT

ProWalk ProBike ProPlace

September 2014

Community Design Balancing the regional need for moving automobile traffic

with the community need for a vibrant, connected and safe

pedestrian environment

Overview

• Our general requirements for measuring biking and walking

• What trends and data are we tracking?

• Summary of performance measures – Main Street Highways and Complete Streets – Statewide Miles Traveled (“PMT” & “BMT”)

Why do we measure bicyclists & pedestrians?

• Governor’s Performance Measurement Program - ResultsWA

• Washington State’s long range goal: “Reduce fatal and serious crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians, while doubling biking and walking.”

• State Highway Safety Plan – Target Zero

Are we meeting our goals? In 2012 there were 560 fatal and serious injury

pedestrian or bicyclist collisions, accounting for 20% of

all fatal and serious injury traffic collisions that year.

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2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Pedestrian and Bicyclist fatalities

Pedestrian fatalities

Bicyclist fatalities

Number of traffic fatalities involving bicyclists and pedestrians 2007-2012, Washington only

The young & aging - “At Risk” groups

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0-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65+

Number of pedestrian collisions and fatalities compared to population by age group 2001-2012, Washington only

Percent of all pedestrian collisions Percent of pedestrian fatalities Percent of total population

• 769 bicycle and pedestrian traffic crashes

involving children in 2012.

• Adults 65+ are 13% of the population, but

25% of pedestrian fatalities.

Project Related Impacts

– Cost just under $1 M, will allow

the School District to change the

school boundary lines which

reduced the need for an estimated

8-10 school bus routes by

connecting a large family housing

area with schools on the other side

of a watershed.

Example: Bonney Lake’s Fennel Creek Trail Connection

Pedestrian and Bicyclist Mobility Trends • In Washington approximately

– 13% of all trips,

– 5% of commute trips, and

– 10% of all miles traveled were on foot or by bicycle.

• 10% increase in biking and walking statewide over the past 5 years.

Source: NHTS, ACS, Regional Surveys, and WSDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project

Counting Biking and Walking in WA Since 2008

42 cities & 250 count sites in 2013

Reasons we count bicyclists and pedestrians statewide:

• Current national & state travel behavior surveys are inadequate

• Regional household surveys vary greatly

• Biking and walking is increasing – especially in urban areas

American Community Survey Question:

How did this person usually get to work LAST WEEK?

If this person usually used more than one method of transportation during the trip, mark the box of the one usually used.

(most of the distance or most of the time)

Beyond the main reason – We track all users of the transportation system…

What have we learned so far?

In addition to capturing large amounts of data from across WA in a short period of time at very low cost…

• Improving local, regional and state planning

• Strengthening partnerships

• Raising awareness about the need for better data

• Building a solid protocol for estimating miles traveled by bike and on foot.

Washington’s 2014 Student Travel Survey

WSDOT, Dept. of Health, Office of Public Instruction Partnership

– It is a random representative telephone survey of parents who have children in grades K-8.

– It asks how students travel to and from school and about barriers to walking, biking and taking the school bus.

Main Street Highways

Research identified approximately 500 miles of “Main Street” highways bisecting 180+ cities based on criteria applied consistently across the state.

Pedestrian and Bicyclist Collisions and Fatalities on Main Street Highways 2010 through 2012

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Percent of Fatalities

Percent of Collisions

Percent of Highway Miles

State Highways that also serve as City Streets in core commercial areas or “Main Street Highways” – serve as both thoroughfares and community access routes.

Main Street Highways

Other important trends…

Millennials are driving less – from 2001 to 2009 down 23 percent

K-8 children walking to school increasing – from 2007 to 2012 up 27 percent increase

Commute trips make up less than 20% of all vehicle trips during peak hour - from 1969 to 2009, down from 45%

Changes in “utilitarian” biking and walking are uncertain.

Resources… WSDOT’s Websites…

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Bike/count.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Walk http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/LocalPrograms/Planning

WSDOT Contacts…

Paula Reeves Manager, Community Design Reevesp@WSDOT.WA.GOV 360-705-7258

Charlotte Claybrooke Safe Routes to Schools Coordinator ClaybrC@WSDOT.WA.GOV 360-705-7302

Ed Spilker Community Planning and GIS Spilker@WSDOT.WA.GOV 360-705-7387