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Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations

Report
This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information
Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-05-133
Date: July 2006

Federal Highway Administration University Course on Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation

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Research, Development, and Technology
Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
6300 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22101-2296

FOREWORD

The transportation, urban planning, and public health professions are placing an increased emphasis on walking and bicycling as part of the solution to problems such as traffic congestion, suburban sprawl, and childhood obesity. An interdisciplinary approach from educated professionals is needed to create healthy, sustainable, and livable communities. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) University Course on Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation is one of several resources that can be used to prepare the next generation of professionals for the challenges ahead.

The University Course contains modular resource material that is intended for use in university courses on bicycle and pedestrian transportation. The Student Workbook (this document) contains 24 lessons that span a wide range of topics including an introduction to bicycling and walking issues, planning and designing for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and supporting elements and programs. Scripted slideshows for all 24 lessons are available to facilitate course development and delivery. An overview lecture and scripted slideshow also is provided when a one- or two-lecture overview is needed for existing undergraduate or graduate courses.

Instructors are encouraged to use any or all of this material to form a curriculum that meets their needs. Most of the lessons are stand-alone in nature, with lessons of similar topics grouped into modules. A majority of the instructors using the first edition of these course materials have personalized the lessons for their courses by removing some lessons, adding supplemental material, reorganizing the lessons, and adding exercises and local activities that encourage student participation.

Michael Trentacoste, Director
Director, Office of Safety
Research and Development

Notice

This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document.

The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers' names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.

Quality Assurance Statement

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.

 

TECHNICAL REPORT PAGE DOCUMENTATION

1. Report No.

FHWA-HRT-05-133

2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No.
4. Title and Subtitle

FHWA UNIVERSITY COURSE ON BICYCLE AND
PEDESTRIAN TRANSPORTATION: STUDENT WORKBOOK

5. Report Date

July 2006

6. Performing Organization Code
7.Author(s)

Shawn Turner, Laura Sandt, Jennifer Toole, Robert Benz, and Robert Patten

8. Performing Organization Report No. 

9. Performing Organization Name and Address

Texas Transportation Institute
The Texas A&M University System
College Station, TX 77843-3135
 Toole Design Group, LLC
535 Main Street, Suite 211 
Laurel, MD 20707
10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)
11. Contract or Grant No.

DTFH61-01-C-00049

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

Office of Safety Research and Development
Federal Highway Administration
6300 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22101-2296

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

Final Report March 2003–July 2005

14. Sponsoring Agency’s Code
15. Supplementary Notes

Research performed under subcontract to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute
(UMTRI).Task Order Manager: Ann Do, HRDS-06
Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR): Gabe Rousseau, HRDS-07

16. Abstract

This Student Workbook contains 24 lessons of resource material that is intended for use in university courses on bicycle and pedestrian transportation. The lessons span a wide range of topics including an introduction to bicycling and walking issues, planning and designing for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and supporting elements and programs. This is the second edition of the Student Workbook; the first edition was published as Report No. FHWA-RD-99-198.

Lesson-based slideshows (scripted slideshows for all 24 lessons) and an overview lecture (a scripted slideshow for a one- or two-lecture overview in existing undergraduate or graduate transportation courses) are also available to assist in course development and delivery. The key learning outcomes in the course material are as follows:

  • Students should recognize the legitimacy of the bicycle and pedestrian modes in a balanced transportation system.
  • Students should understand how policy, planning, and engineering practices can be improved to create a more balanced transportation system.
  • Students should be familiar with basic policies, practices, tools, and design principles and know how to use them to create bicycle and pedestrian-friendly communities.
17. Key Words

Bicycling, walking, cyclists, pedestrians, bicycle facilities, pedestrian areas, planning and design, traffic calming

18. Distribution Statement

No restrictions. This document is available to the public through the

National Technical
Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161.
19. Security Classif. (of this report)

Unclassified

20. Security Classif. (of this page)

Unclassified

21. No. of Pages

452

22. Price
Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized

 


SI* (Modern Metric) Conversion Factors


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LESSON 1: THE NEED FOR BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN MOBILITY

LESSON 2: BICYCLING AND WALKING IN THE UNITED STATES TODAY

LESSON 3: PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLIST SAFETY

LESSON 4: BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PLANNING

LESSON 5: LAND USE REGULATIONS TO ENCOURAGE NONMOTORIZED TRAVEL

LESSON 6: TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN

LESSON 7: ADAPTING SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES FOR BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN TRAVEL

LESSON 8: PEDESTRIAN CHARACTERISTICS

LESSON 9: WALKWAYS, SIDEWALKS, AND PUBLIC SPACES

LESSON 10: PEDESTRIAN FACILITY SIGNING AND PAVEMENT MARKINGS

LESSON 11: PEDESTRIAN DESIGN AT INTERSECTIONS

LESSON 12: MIDBLOCK CROSSINGS

LESSON 13: SELECTING BICYCLE FACILITY TYPES AND EVALUATING ROADWAYS

LESSON 14: SHARED ROADWAYS

LESSON 15: BICYCLE LANES

LESSON 16: BICYCLE FACILITY MAINTENANCE

LESSON 17: BICYCLE PARKING AND STORAGE

LESSON 18: BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIONS TO TRANSIT

LESSON 19: GREENWAYS AND SHARED-USE PATHS

LESSON 20: TRAFFIC CALMING

LESSON 21: BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCOMMODATION IN WORK ZONES

LESSON 22: TORT LIABILITY AND RISK MANAGEMENT

LESSON 23: INTERNATIONAL APPROACHES TO BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN FACILITY DESIGN

LESSON 24: A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH: ENGINEERING, EDUCATION, ENCOURAGEMENT, ENFORCEMENT, AND EVALUATION

 


LIST OF FIGURES

 


LIST OF TABLES

 

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Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000
Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center | 6300 Georgetown Pike | McLean, VA | 22101