Low Traffic Stress Bicycling Networks Peter G. Furth, Northeastern University

What Is the “Bicycle Network” to an Individual? Legal Inventory The set of streets and paths that don’t exceed his / her level of tolerance for traffic stress

Most of the Population has a Low Tolerance for Traffic Stress

Classifying the Population by Tolerance for Traffic Stress Interested but Concerned (60%) No Way, No How (33%) Strong & Fearless < 1% Enthused & Confident (7%) Source: Roger Geller, City of Portland Classifying Network Elements by Level of Traffic Stress (LTS) LTS 1: for children LTS 2: for traffic intolerant adult LTS 3: for “Enthused & Confident” LTS 4: highest stress

San Jose Street Network, All Levels of Stress

Distribution of Segment Miles by Level of Traffic Stress Miles (percent) Lowest 1 2131 64% Low 2 115 3% Medium 3 276 8% High 4 678 20% Prohibited 5 134 4% Total 3334 100%

Stress Level 3 or Less

Stress Level 2 or Less

Stress Level 1

Level of Traffic Stress 1 (LTS 1) Islands

Level of Traffic Stress 2 (LTS 2) Islands

Slate of Possible Improvements

Resulting Network for LTS < 2

Home-Work Trip Connectivity Trip Length < 4 mi < 6 mi < 8 mi All LTS 1 0.7% 0.4% 0.3% 0.2% LTS 2 7.7% 4.7% 3.4% 2.2% LTS 3 22.6% 16.4% 13.2% 8.9% LTS 4 100.0% Total trips 78,673 136,652 189,439 292,396 Before After Trip Length < 4 mi < 6 mi < 8 mi All LTS 1 1.7% 1.0% 0.8% 0.5% LTS 2 14.9% 12.7% 11.1% 7.9% LTS 3 27.4% 22.7% 20.0% 14.6% LTS 4 100.0% Total trips 78,673 136,652 189,439 292,396

Criteria for Level of Traffic Stress and Data Needs to Support the Analysis Segments Intersection Approaches Unsignalized Crossings

Segments Segment Type Level of Traffic Stress Stand-alone paths LTS = 1 Segregated paths (sidepaths, cycle tracks) Bike lanes LTS can vary from 1 to 4 Mixed traffic LTS can vary from 1 to 4

Criteria for Bike Lanes Alongside a Parking Lane LTS > 1 LTS > 2 LTS > 3 LTS > 4 Street width (thru lanes per direction) 1 (n.a.) 2 or more Sum of bike lane and parking lane width 15 ft or more 14 or 14.5 fta 13.5 ft or less Speed limit or prevailing speed 25 mph or less 30 mph 35 mph 40 mph or more Bike lane blockage rare frequent Dimensions aggregate using Weakest Link logic

Criteria for Mixed Traffic Street Width   Speed Limit 2-3 lanes 4-5 lanes 6+ lanes Up to 25 mph LTS 1 a or 2 a LTS 3 LTS 4 30 mph LTS 2 a or 3 a 35+ mph a. Use lower value for streets without marked centerlines or classified as residential and with fewer than 3 lanes; use higher value otherwise.

Dutch Criteria (CROW 2007) Lane configuration Daily traffic (vehicles/day) Street type and speed limit Urban local street Urban through street Rural local road Fast traffic road 30 km/h (19 mph) 50 km/h (31 mph) 60 km/h (37 mph) 70+ km/h (44+ mph) Two-way traffic with no centerline <2500 Mixed traffica Bike laneb or cycletrackc Advisory bike laned Cycle track or low-speed service road 2000–3000 bike laneb or cycle tracke 3000–5000 >4000 Bike lane or cycle track Bike lane or cycle trackc Two lanes (1+1) any Four lanes (2 + 2) or more (Does not exist) aFor designated bike routes, a bike lane or advisory bike lane is optional. bMay be an advisory bike lane on road sections with no centerline. cCycle track is preferred if there is parking; cycle track is recommended for designated bike routes. dAlthough CROW (2007) gives “mixed traffic” for this cell, the default layout for roads in this category is to mark advisory bike lanes. eCycle track is preferred for designated bike routes.

Traffic Stress on Intersection Approaches – “Pocket Bike Lanes”

Criteria for Pocket Bike Lanes Configuration Level of Traffic Stress Single RT lane up to 150 ft long, starting abruptly while the bike lane continues straight; intersection angle such that turning speed is < 15 mph. LTS > 2 Single RT lane longer than 150 ft ,starting abruptly while the bike lane continues straight; intersection angle such that turning speed is < 20 mph. LTS > 3 Single RT lane in which the bike lane shifts to the left, but intersection angle and curb radius are such that turning speed is < 15 mph. Single RT lane with any other configuration; dual RT lanes; or RT lane plus option (through-right) lane LTS = 4

Stress at Crossings – Apparent Safe Routes Crossing Winchester Avenue

Crossing Winchester at Rosemary

Criteria for Crossings NO MEDIAN REFUGE Width of Street Being Crossed Speed Limit Up to 3 lanes 4 - 5 lanes 6+ lanes Up to 25 mph LTS 1 LTS 2 LTS 4 30 mph 35 mph LTS 3 40+ WITH MEDIAN REFUGE Width of street being crossed Speed Limit Up to 3 lanes 4 - 5 lanes 6+ lanes Up to 25 mph LTS 1 LTS 2 30 mph LTS 3 35 mph LTS 4 40+

For an arterial to not be a barrier, it needs a low-stress crossing COMBINED WITH a low-stress approach ADEC CalGIS 2012 Sacramento, CA

What are the Barriers?

A Measure of Connectivity Percent Trips Connected, by Level of Traffic Stress Trip Table for Home-to-Work Trips Number of people traveling from zone i to zone j Which zone pairs are connected at a given LTS? TAZ (traffic analysis zone) = standard geographic unit

San Jose (south central), Stress Level 1 Connectivity : Can You Get from A to B without exceeding a specified level of traffic stress? without undue detour? San Jose (south central), Stress Level 1

Detour Criterion 25% longer than the shortest route Low-stress route should not be more than 25% longer than the shortest route OR (for short trips) 0.33 mi longer than the shortest route

Level of Traffic Stress 2 (LTS 2) Islands

Slate of Possible Improvements

Resulting Network for LTS < 2

Home-Work Trip Connectivity Trip Length < 4 mi < 6 mi < 8 mi All LTS 1 0.7% 0.4% 0.3% 0.2% LTS 2 7.7% 4.7% 3.4% 2.2% LTS 3 22.6% 16.4% 13.2% 8.9% LTS 4 100.0% Total trips 78,673 136,652 189,439 292,396 Before After Trip Length < 4 mi < 6 mi < 8 mi All LTS 1 1.7% 1.0% 0.8% 0.5% LTS 2 14.9% 12.7% 11.1% 7.9% LTS 3 27.4% 22.7% 20.0% 14.6% LTS 4 100.0% Total trips 78,673 136,652 189,439 292,396

0.7% of home-work pairs connected MinutemanBikeway Charles River Paths HarborWalk Charles River Paths Muddy River Path SW Corridor Path MinutemanBikeway Neponset River Greenway 0.7% of home-work pairs connected

71% of population within 1 km 51% of home-work pairs connected

Acknowledgement Co-researcher Maaza Mekuria, PhD, Axum Engineering & Design Support from the Mineta Transportation Institute Inspiration from Rails to Trails Conservancy

Criteria for Bike Lanes Not Alongside a Parking Lane LTS > 1 LTS > 2 LTS > 3 LTS > 4  Street width (thru lanes per direction) 1 2, if directions are separated by a raised median more than 2, or 2 without a separating median (n.a.) Bike lane width 6 ft or more 5.5 ft or less Speed limit or prevailing speed 30 mph or less 35 mph 40 mph or more Bike lane blockage rare frequent