Programs / Environmental Prevention and Policy / Healthy, Active Lifestyles / Bicycle and Pedestrian Friendly Communities

Integrating biking and walking into one's everyday life can help community members to get recommended daily minimums for physical activity while going about their everyday business. Yet many of our streets and intersections are anything but pedestrian-friendly. Improving the visibility of cross-walks, employing traffic calming measures, and developing networks of safe bicycle infrastructure are all steps that can make short trips by foot and/or bicycle a safe, viable and healthy alternative. And there are a lot of ways cities can create environments that support "active" transportation, including:

Complete Streets Policies

Complete Streets policies seek to ensure that transportation planners and engineers design and operate roadways with all road users in mind, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transit users and vehicles. Although the State of California became one of the first in the nation to adopt a policy in 2008 (AB 1358 - the Complete Streets Act), local municipalities can adopt policies as well to institutionalize  implementation at a local level. The state law which went into effect 1/1/2011 requires cities and counties to accommodate the needs of all road users when updating the part of a local general plan that addresses roadways and traffic flows.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans   

The development of pedestrian and bicycle master plans is an excellent way for communities to identify routes and areas suitable for walking and biking, and ultimately creating pedestrian- and bike-friendly neighborhoods. In addition, the development of a Caltrans-approved bicycle master plan qualifies communities in the state of California for infrastructure funding they would not otherwise be privy to via the CalTrans Bicycle Transportation Account.

Safe Routes to School

Over the past three decades the number of students who walk or bike to school has plummeted, and rates of childhood obesity and overweight-related disease have skyrocketed. A significant factor in this decline is the perceived and actual safety of young pedestrians and bicyclists. In particular, many parents do not consider walking or bicycling in neighborhoods and streets designed solely with automobiles in mind as a safe and viable alternative for their children. Communities can begin addressing this issue by identifying problem areas and planning "Safe Routes to School." Improvements can be funded in a number of ways, including dedicated funding streams available to build infrastructure that improves the walk and bike-ability of streets and neighborhoods adjacent to schools. 

Bicycle Parking Ordinances

Just like drivers, bicyclists need safe and secure places to lock their vehicles. Yet most communities lack sufficient bicycle parking, an additional community condition to discourages cycling from being viewed a genuine mode of transportation.  Particularly in business districts and other places residents frequent for everyday errands and short trips, the presence of adequate bicycle parking has been correlated with increase ridership. 

Communities can begin to address this problem by adopting a local bicycle parking ordinance, which requires new and/or existing developments to provide safe and accessible parking for bicycles.  For more information about bicycle parking, or to view model ordinances can be viewed online here. 

Bike-Friendly Workplaces and Businesses

Private businesses can also take steps to encourage employees and customers to integrate physical activity into their everyday lives. Examples of low/no costs steps include: 

• providing secure bicycle parking or allowing staff/patrons to bring bikes inside buildings
• keeping bikes tools/pump on site
• encouraging/rewarding employees/customers who cycle with certificates, discounts, or other incentives
  
• providing a shared "office bike" for staff to use for short trips, deliveries, or to grab lunch!

Bicycle Parking in Pasadena

Bike-friendly workplaces: Shared "office bike" @ Day One

Additional Resources

Statewide Legislation
CA Complete Streets Act (AB 1358)

Local, State and Nationwide Organizations Working on Pedestrian/Bicycle Access
Bike San Gabriel Valley (BikeSGV)
Los Angeles Walks
Rails to Trails Conservancy
Safe Routes to School National Partnership
National Complete Streets Coalition
LA County Bike Coalition