Active Transportation: Walking and Cycling

Urban Planning and Development October 25, 2025
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Introduction

This course focuses on planning, designing, and advocating for walking and cycling networks as essential components of sustainable urban mobility. It examines the health, environmental, and economic benefits of active transportation and addresses best practices for facility design, policy development, and safety. Participants will learn how to conduct infrastructure assessments, develop complete streets policies, and implement programs that encourage non-motorized travel. The curriculum emphasizes an equitable approach to creating safe, convenient, and appealing routes for all ages and abilities.

Objectives

The objective of this course is to provide participants with the comprehensive knowledge and skills needed to plan and implement effective active transportation systems. Upon completion, participants will be able to:

Target Audience

  • Urban and Transportation Planners
  • Traffic Engineers and Landscape Architects
  • Public Health Professionals and Educators
  • Community Advocates and Non-profit Leaders
  • Municipal Staff focused on Parks and Recreation
  • Students in Planning or Civil Engineering
  • Policy Analysts focused on climate and mobility

Methodology

  • Field-based Walkability and Bikeability Audits
  • Group Activities: Designing a complete street cross-section for a local road
  • Case Studies of successful bicycle network implementation
  • Individual Exercises: Analyzing crash data and prioritizing safety improvements
  • Discussions on the politics and equity of street space reallocation
  • Software demonstrations for bike/pedestrian modeling and routing

Personal Impact

  • Gain specialized technical knowledge in pedestrian and bicycle facility design
  • Improve ability to assess and audit existing street infrastructure for safety
  • Become a more effective advocate for active transportation policies
  • Understand the complex relationship between design and user behavior
  • Enhance skills in securing grants and funding for active projects
  • Develop a public health perspective on transportation planning

Organizational Impact

  • Improve public health outcomes by encouraging physical activity
  • Reduce traffic congestion and reliance on single-occupancy vehicles
  • Increase accessibility and mobility for non-drivers and vulnerable populations
  • Enhance the economic vitality and property values of walkable districts
  • Reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries for pedestrians and cyclists
  • Improve community quality of life and sense of place

Course Outline

Unit 1: The Rationale for Active Transportation

Benefits and Policy Context
  • Health, environmental, and economic benefits of walking and cycling
  • Understanding the "missing link" in transportation networks
  • Vision Zero principles and the safety imperative for vulnerable users
  • Policy frameworks: Complete Streets, Safe Routes to School, and national guidelines
  • The role of equity in planning: ensuring access for low-income and minority groups
  • Measuring the demand and latent demand for non-motorized travel

Unit 2: Pedestrian Planning and Design

Pedestrian Facilities
  • Principles of walkable street design and the pedestrian realm
  • Design standards for sidewalks, shared paths, and multi-use trails
  • Intersection treatments: raised crossings, curb extensions, and signal timing
  • Addressing pedestrian safety: lighting, visibility, and conflict points
  • Designing for diverse users: accessibility (ADA compliance) and children
The Pedestrian Environment
  • Walkability audits and performance metrics (LOS for pedestrians)
  • The importance of urban design, building fronts, and street furniture
  • Planning for public spaces, plazas, and pedestrian-only zones
  • Strategies for reducing vehicle speed and volume on neighborhood streets

Unit 3: Bicycle Planning and Design

Bicycle Facilities
  • The continuum of bicycle facilities (lanes, protected paths, cycle tracks)
  • Geometric design standards for various types of bike infrastructure
  • Principles for designing safe and intuitive bicycle intersection treatments
  • Planning for secure and convenient bicycle parking and end-of-trip facilities
  • Trail network planning and design for recreational and commuting use
Bicycle Planning Tools
  • Bicycle level of stress (LOS) analysis and network connectivity assessment
  • Identifying and prioritizing gaps in the existing bike network
  • Developing a comprehensive Bicycle Master Plan (goals, network, implementation)
  • The role of shared micro-mobility (e-scooters, bike-share) in the network

Unit 4: Implementation and Safety Programs

Policy and Programs
  • Developing and implementing Complete Streets policy at the municipal level
  • Traffic calming techniques and their effectiveness (e.g., chicanes, speed humps)
  • Education and encouragement programs for walking and cycling behavior change
  • Integration of active transportation with public transit and schools
Safety Assessment
  • Conducting road safety audits focused on vulnerable road users
  • Analyzing crash data and identifying high-risk locations for interventions
  • Engineering, Education, Enforcement, and Encouragement (the 4 E's) framework
  • Strategies for securing funding for active transportation projects

Unit 5: Contemporary Issues and Case Studies

Equity and Best Practices
  • Case studies of innovative bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure (e.g., The Netherlands)
  • Addressing public engagement and political opposition to facility installation
  • Planning for active transportation in suburban and rural contexts
  • Measuring the economic impact of bike lanes and improved walkability

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