Vehicles have been counted for transportation improvements since the 1950s. Learn about two pilot programs using innovative data sets to count people walking, biking and rolling – and why it matters.
Pedestrian
Sub Categories: Pedestrian
Nighttime Economy Infrastructure Planning Guide and Checklist
A checklist of priorities a BID should have in mind at various stages of the development of a nighttime economy.
Downtown Mobility Planning: Connect Downtown
The Greater Des Moines Partnership collaborated with the Iowa Chapter of the Urban Land Institute and the City of Des Moines to seek transportation improvements that could help increase downtown vibrancy. Collectively, the organizations analyzed existing conditions by measuring a multitude of metrics such as traffic counts, bicycle usage, pedestrian traffic, ease of crossing at intersections, sidewalk connectivity, bicycle facilities, connections to trails, lane widths, and number of accidents.
Downtown Tulsa Walkability Study
The team conducted a street-by-street analysis (20 miles total) of existing conditions including lane width, sidewalk width, on-street parking, traffic speeds, pedestrian traffic, and ground floor vacancy to gauge how existing conditions impact the efficiency and economic functionality of downtown. With fieldwork completed, the team engaged with city planning and traffic engineering staff to better understand the thought and efforts going into street reconstruction and striping efforts.
John Bela Master Talk
John Bela is an urbanist and public space designer with Gehl Studio San Francisco. He combines a background in art, science and environmental design to create vibrant, dynamic and resilient urban human habitats. A pioneer in user-generated urbanism, John has successfully completed many projects that involve radical new formulations of social space. John is a senior lecturer at the California College of Arts in San Francisco and a distinguished lecturer at U.C. Berkeley.
Top Issues Council: Urban Mobility
Urban place management organizations can have a positive impact on urban mobility in their communities in a variety of different ways, from direct involvement to policy advocacy. The Council looks at public transportation, the growing demand for bike infrastructure, and the emergence of technology-driven changes to how people traverse urban places in the 21st century. This report provides suggestions and case studies meant to demonstrate the role UPMOs can play in the context of urban mobility.
Top Issues Council: Prioritizing Pedestrian Improvements
In many ways, urban place management organizations such as business improvement districts (BIDs) continue to lay the foundation for pedestrian improvements by creating a clean, enjoyable environment for pedestrians. However, more effort is now needed to develop the infrastructure necessary to further capitalize on the trend of living, working, and playing in downtown areas. As global populations shift toward urban centers, the opportunity is ripe for downtown areas to improve walkability.
The Underline – Building a 10 Mile Greenway
Meg Daly, Founder of Friends of the Underline, shares her story of turning a crazy idea for a 10 mile greenway project into a reality. She walks through the community engagement process and gives her advice for demonstrating the project’s importance to the community and government partners.
The Essential Art of Street Design
The secret to great cities and towns is in their street design. The presentation walks through what makes a well-designed streetscape and points out the do’s and don’ts of their design.
Unlocking the Power of Actors in Pedestrian Zones
New residential and retail development is remaking downtowns into 24/7 neighborhoods. The changes have made a 70s-era pedestrian zone and several other previously unnoticed corners into more important public spaces, but planners face challenges as they try to cater to new pedestrian needs. See how local planners used low-cost experiments, sensor technology, social media, and new ways to communicate the value of public space to make change happen.