1. A Proposal for a Protected Bicycle Route in Tucson, Arizona, Feasibility and Implications for Public Health and Safety University of Arizona, College of Architecture Planning and Landscape Architecture, Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Built Environments Capstone by Carl Patterson-Markowitz Mentor: Jennifer Toothaker Mabry Intro By taking an introspective look at what factors increase ridership and safety in other US cities, a comparison is drawn between them and Tucson. One of the most significant findings is that cyclist safety is astonishingly low when compared to other praised cycling communities around the nation, in fact this is one of the main limiting factors for the City of Tucson achieving “Platinum” status from the League of American Bicyclists. A solution to this, is installing protected bicycle infrastructure such as barrier-protected bicycle lanes. Type of Street (Arterial, Collector, Residential) Collector, 3/3 Width of Street (Large, Medium, Small) Large, 3/3 Intersections (3+, 2, 1 or less) 11, 1/3 Cumulative ScoreScore: 7/9 (78%) Type of Street (Arterial, Collector, Residential) Arterial, 1/3 Width of Street (Large, Medium, Small) Small, 1/3 Intersections (3+, 2, 1 or less) 12, 1/3 Cumulative ScoreScore: 3/9 (33%) New York City Vernon Boulevard (46 th Ave to 38 th Ave) Chicago Dearborn St. (Polk St. to Wacker Dr.) Washington DC Pennsylvania Ave. (15 th St. to 3 rd St. ) Type of Street (Arterial, Collector, Residential) Collector, 3/3 Width of Street (Large, Medium, Small) Large, 3/3 Intersections (3+, 2, 1 or less) 1 or less, 3/3 Cumulative ScoreScore: 9/9 (100%) Type of Street (Arterial, Collector, Residential) Arterial, 2/3 Width of Street (Large, Medium, Small) Small, 1/3 Intersections (3+, 2, 1 or less) 9, 1/3 Cumulative ScoreScore: 4/9 (44%) Type of Street (Arterial, Collector, Residential) Collector, 3/3 Width of Street (Large, Medium, Small) Large, 3/3 Intersections (3+, 2, 1 or less) 14, 1/3 Cumulative ScoreScore: 7/9 (78%) Type of Street (Arterial, Collector, Residential) Residential, 1/3 Width of Street (Large, Medium, Small) Large, 3/3 Intersections (3+, 2, 1 or less) 13, 1/3 Cumulative ScoreScore: 5/9 (56%) Tucson 1 6 th St. (Campbell Ave. to Country Club Rd.) Tucson 2 Park Ave. (Helen St. to Water St.) Tucson 3 5 th St. (Euclid Ave. to Main Ave.) Protected Bike Lanes A protected bike lane is a travel lane for bicycles that runs along or parallel to a roadway. Some cities define protected lanes differently (some include buffered bicycle lanes as “protected”), but most reserve the title for a bicycle lane that is separated from traffic by any sort of vertical barrier. Protected bike lanes not only reduce the number and severity of accidents for cyclists, they can be effective at encouraging higher numbers of ridership and the creation of larger low-stress cycling networks. Methodology A rubric developed upon three factors that make installing protected bike lanes feasible, non- disruptive, and effective, was applied to six case studies (1-mile segments of protected bicycle lane) in New York, Chicago, Washington DC, and three locations in Tucson. The factors were: type of street, width of the street compared to the average, and number of intersections along the segment. Analysis/Discussion According to the rubric none of the selected segments in Tucson performed outstandingly well, but it seemed the main limitation to their performance was in the intersections category. That being said, there are methods to increase both comfort and safety of cyclists at intersections. Other major factors that limits the feasibility of installing infrastructure in Tucson are politics and funding. Conclusion In order to maximize bicyclist safety and increase ridership it would be wise for Tucson to consider creating a low-stress bicycle network that includes protected bicycle lanes. This would continue to express the city’s interest in being well known for its cycling culture and potentially earn “Platinum” status from the League of American Bicyclists. [Image: Protected bike lane, Washington D.C. via Flickr user Beyond DC] and nacto.orgBeyond DC