SPARE THE AIR YOUTH
WALKING & BICYCLING AUDITS Field observations to identify barriers to students walking and bicycling for the school commute.
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WALKING AND BICYCLING AUDITS
MAY 2015
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INTRODUCTION Spare the Air Youth is a regional program that aims to educate, inspire and empower San Francisco Bay Area youth and their families to walk, bicycle, carpool, and take transit. A partnership between the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Spare the Air Youth promotes effective ways to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions by providing a regional resource for students, parents, teachers and program providers. SPARE THE AIR YOUTH IS PART OF MTC’S CLIMATE INITIATIVES PROGRAM. LEARN MORE AT www.sparetheairyouth.org
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WALKING AND BICYCLING AUDITS
INTRODUCTION
Walking and bicycling audits, also known as travel assessments, identify barriers to students walking or bicycling between home and school. Audits generally include a tour of the “school zone�, which includes the school campus as well as adjacent streets, sidewalks, trails, and crosswalks, within a quarter to half-mile of campus.
An audit that involves the both local community and technical stakeholders creates the opportunity to share different perspectives and exchange information.
During the audit, participants identify
the deficiencies in the transportation
issues related to traffic circulation. This
network, while transportation planners
is often followed by a debriefing and
and engineers learn about facility and
brainstorming session to rank high-priority
operational challenges. Experts can use
concerns and identify potential solutions.
the information collected during the
This process fosters communication between local traffic officials and school stakeholders by bringing them together in the field to gather data and discuss issues. Both groups benefit: community
audit to target areas where changes are needed, identify solutions to improve the walking and bicycling environment, and develop optimal walking and bicycling routes to school.
stakeholders get information to articulate
WALKING AND BICYCLING AUDITS
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PREPARING FOR THE AUDIT
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WALKING AND BICYCLING AUDITS
PREPARING FOR THE AUDIT IDENTIFYING KEY STAKEHOLDERS The most important element of a successful walk and bike audit is strong participation from school stakeholders and from local engineering and enforcement officials. If a school has a Safe Routes to School or Transportation Coordinator, Task Force or Safety Committee, these individuals are logical participants in the audit, and can recruit additional participants. The audit leaders should initially invite a targeted list of key stakeholders. If wider participation is desired, the audit leaders may invite the general public via a flier, press release, and/or the school news. Stakeholders to invite include: • City planners and public works staff School stakeholders include parents, children, school staff, and school district officials, while technical stakeholders include public works or traffic department staff, local engineers or planners, and law enforcement officials.
• School administration and principals • Police officers • Bicycle/pedestrian advocates • Crossing guards and volunteers • Parents • Students, particularly middle and high school students • Neighbors
WALKING AND BICYCLING AUDITS
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PREPARING FOR THE AUDIT SETTING UP THE AUDIT
BACKGROUND SURVEYS
EXISTING CONDITIONS MAPS
Audits should be scheduled during
Before the audit, background information
Maps enable audit participants to note
the morning arrival and/or afternoon
on student behaviors and parent opinions
specific locations of their comments and to
release periods to evaluate activities and
on the school commute should be
identify problem areas for detailed study
conditions during times of peak school
collected. Parent surveys and student
during the audit.
travel demand.
hand tallies are standard methods for
Generally, transportation engineers and planners with expertise in pedestrian and
collecting such data, which are critical for evaluating program impacts.
The map can be as simple as a printed GoogleMaps or from another Internet map provider. The map should include an aerial
bicycle issues lead the audit. Community
Parent surveys typically focus on school
with labeled streets and the school site
stakeholders help gather information and
commute distance and perceived problem
indicated. The area should show a quarter-
share their experience traveling to the
areas. Student hand tallies can provide
to half-mile radius around the school. One
school each day.
accurate information on student walking
map should be plotted at a large scale.
and bicycling frequency to and from
Smaller individual maps can be given to
Materials to bring to the audit
school. See the Spare the Air Youth
participants to take notes on during the
may include:
Evaluating School Commute Programs
observation.
• Large-scale aerial map of the school area (22” x 34” or larger) • Smaller maps for each audit team member • Sign-in sheet for follow-up • Checklists of information to gather (see next page) • Clipboards and pens • Camera • Water and other refreshments • Reflective vests • Interpreters as needed 6
WALKING AND BICYCLING AUDITS
Guidebook for more information.
If available, other information to show on
Interview the school’s Safe Routes to
the map could include rivers or creeks,
School task force and other key personnel
reported crash locations involving bicyclists
about where students live, what key routes
and pedestrians, motor vehicle volumes,
students take, and what policies the school
intersection controls, crosswalks, crossing
has on walking, bicycling, and busing.
guard locations, and school attendance boundaries.
PREPARING FOR THE AUDIT SAMPLE WALK AUDIT GUIDES • A Resident's Guide For Creating Safe and
A typical morning audit schedule
Walkalble Communities by the Federal
might include the following activities:
Highway Administration
• 40 mins before first bell: Gather
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center's Walkability/Bikeability checklists • Circulate San Diego's Walkability Checklist • Federal Highway Administration's Audit Resource Page • Walk Score
stakeholders, introductions and plan for observation • 20 mins before first bell: Observe student drop-off • At first bell: gather in front of the school, walk around campus to look at key issues together
Parents identifying potential issue areas and audit route.
• 30 mins after first bell: reconvene to mark-up maps, discuss potential programmatic activities, etc. • 60-90 mins after first bell: wrap-up discussion, identify next steps
WALKING AND BICYCLING AUDITS
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CONDUCTING THE AUDIT
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WALKING AND BICYCLING AUDITS
CONDUCTING THE AUDIT PRE-AUDIT BRIEFING
DURING THE OBSERVATION
Participants should gather at about
School stakeholders should highlight
40 minutes prior to first or last bell so
observed behaviors and challenges during
the audit leader can provide materials,
the audit. Technical stakeholders take
discuss the agenda, and review previously
notes, photos, and videos of the issues,
identified issues.
and note potential solutions. Inventorying
Direct participants to focus on existing barriers and challenges to walking and bicycling. Note issues related to driving in the context of how they affect walking School stakeholders should highlight barriers and challenges, while technical stakeholders should note potential solutions.
bicycle and pedestrian facilities, such as curb ramps and crosswalks, is usually better done via aerials or GoogleMaps before or after the audit.
and bicycling, e.g. drivers fail to yield
Participants should consider facilities
to pedestrians, parked cars block the
from a child’s perspective. For example,
crosswalk.
younger children may have difficulty with
If there are multiple locations to cover and/or a high number of participants, divide the group into separate teams for the observation. A bicycling-only audit should be conducted on bicycles, and participants should pause to note conditions and user behaviors.
the following: • Seeing and evaluating traffic conditions, due to their height • Processing information, because of limited peripheral vision and visual acuity • Correctly perceiving the direction and sound of traffic • Understanding the use of traffic control devices and crosswalks
WALKING AND BICYCLING AUDITS
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CONDUCTING THE AUDIT INFRASTRUCTURE CONDITIONS
STREET CROSSING CONDITIONS
School area observations of general
Street crossings are important focus areas
infrastructure conditions should include:
for audits. Interviews with crossing guards
Observations of student and parent
can identify ongoing or critical issues at
behavior, should include:
• Sidewalks – continuity, width, surface condition, cross-slopes and driveways, separation from the travel lane, and obstacles (utility/light poles, signs, and vegetation) • School area signs and pavement markings – presence, placement, and condition • Paths – formal or informal, surface material • Bike lanes – continuity, width, presence of on-street parking, speed and volume of traffic, pavement condition • Bicycle parking – presence, location, visibility, degree of security, and utilization • Drop-off / pick-up areas – designated areas, curb paint, and signs • Visibility - pedestrian lighting, line of sight obstacles (parked cars, vegetation, signs and poles) • Personal safety – areas with abandoned buildings, unleashed dogs, and known (or suspected) crime or gang activity
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WALKING AND BICYCLING AUDITS
crossing locations. Information to collect at street crossings should include: • Traffic signals – pedestrian signals, pushbutton location and reach distance, signing, countdown feature, accessible pedestrian signal feature, and sufficient crossing time • Marked crosswalks – condition, type, signs, visibility, and whether ramp is contained within crosswalk markings • Curb ramps – presence at corners, ADAcompliant design (tactile domes, ramp and flare slope, level landing area)
TRAFFIC CIRCULATION AND BEHAVIOR
• Walking – crossing locations, jaywalking, sidewalk crowding, and duration of peak activity • Bicycling – on-street and sidewalk riding, wrong-way riding, helmet use • General traffic – speeding, heavy turning movements, yielding to pedestrians and bicyclists, blocking the intersection • Vehicular drop-off / pick-up – vehicular progression, student exiting and entering behavior, illegal and double parking, illegal movements, and duration of peak activity
• Crossing guards – presence, condition of crossing guard equipment, and level of training
SAMPLE WALK FORMS AND STRATEGIES • Tips for Creating Walking and Bicycling Route Maps • Safe Routes to School Online Guide • Engineering Tip Sheets: Assessing Walking and Bicycling Routes
CONDUCTING THE AUDIT POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS After the field audit, technical leaders should work with local authorities to identify potential short-term and longer-term solutions. Solutions should include noninfrastructure (education, encouragement, and enforcement) strategies in addition to engineering projects. Non-infrastructure examples include the deployment of walking school buses, walking buddies, police or community enforcement, and student education on proper walking and bicycling behavior. Infrastructure improvements should be clearly noted on a map to indicate their specific location. A “toolbox� of improvements may be included in the audit report to illustrate the improvements. A list of action items or an Action Plan can be developed with timeframes and task leaders, which should be reported back to audit participants and other stakeholders.
WALKING AND BICYCLING AUDITS
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NEXT STEPS
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WALKING AND BICYCLING AUDITS
NEXT STEPS IMPLEMENTATION PLANS Some low-cost improvements, such as
MARTIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WALKING AND BICYCLING AUDIT
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Potential Safe Routes to School Improvements
signs, pavement markings, and ADA improvements may be able to be funded
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School Street and Maple Avenue
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10A Use Safety Patrol to encourage pedestrians to cross at Olive Street..
The City can put together a package of
10C Upgrade crosswalk across Maple Avenue to yellow high-visibility type.
School Street near Maple Avenue
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11A Replace the metal vault cover on the sidewalk with non-slip vault cover.
Consider managing drop off by instructing vehicles to pull forward and use Safety Patrol to assist students entering and exiting vehicles.
11B Discourage students from entering through the driveway.
10B Consider conducting a stop warrant.
Sp
Blvd
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School Street at main entrance
ide Hills
and implemented in the short-term. improvements from multiple schools to have sufficient work for a contractor to
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bid on.
St 13
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Funding for longer-term infrastructure
14 Consider installing speed-feedback signs on eastbound Spruce Avenue.
15
School Street and Olive Avenue
15A Use an adult crossing guard to meter pedestrian traffic across School Street during peak periods. With the instruction of a crossing guard, Safety Patrol monitors may meter pedestrian traffic.
ve ck A
enforcement and education programs
15B Upgrade crosswalks to yellow high-visibility type.
Maple Ave
may be available through the California Active Transportation Program (ATP),
16
ce Ave
managed by the California Department of
Spru
Transportation (Caltrans).
K
H
lo Hem
projects and encouragement,
School Street from Hillside Boulevard to Olive Avenue Consider reconstructing both sides of the street to provide raised sidewalks, curbs, and gutters. Consider widening the north sidewalk to provide clear passage around the utility poles.
A
15C Consider studying drainage issues. I
15D Consider constructing a raised intersection.
Spruce Avenue and Hemlock Avenue
16A Remove vegetation in median to create better sight lines.
L
16B Replace the obsolete Assembly D signs on Spruce Avenue.
F
16C Consider installing crosswalks and curb ramps at Spruce Avenue and Hemlock Avenue.
A
MARTIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WALKING AND BICYCLING AUDIT
FOCUS AREA 2
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X For samples of specific recommendations, see Toolbox on page 9.
LOCATION
Table 1 – Improvements Summary cont.
RECOMMENDATION
LEAD AGENCY
TIMEFRAME Near
Medium
PRIORITY Long
11A
School Street near Maple Avenue
Replace the metal vault cover on the north sidewalk with a non-slip vault cover.
City
x
High
11B
School Street near Maple Avenue
Discourage students from entering through the driveway.
School
x
High
12
School Street at main entrance
Consider managing drop off by instructing vehicles to pull forward and use Safety Patrol to assist students entering and exiting vehicles.
School
x
High
13
School Street / Hillside Boulevard - Olive Avenue
Consider reconstructing both sides of the street to provide raised sidewalks, curbs, and gutters. Consider widening the north sidewalk to provide clear passage around the utility poles.
City
14
Spruce Avenue
Consider installing speed feedback signs on eastbound Spruce Avenue.
City
15A
School Street / Olive Avenue
Use an adult crossing guard to meter pedestrian traffic across School Street during peak periods. With the instruction of a crossing guard, Safety Patrol monitors may meter pedestrian traffic.
City
x
Very High
15B
School Street / Olive Avenue
Upgrade both crosswalks to yellow high-visibility type.
City
x
Medium
x
x
Improvement developed from walk audits help communities prepareCityto apply x 15C Schoolplans Street / Olive Avenue Consider studying drainage issues. School Street / Olive Avenue Consider constructing a raised intersection. City for grant15Cfunding and to get projects onto local funding priority lists. 16A
Spruce Avenue / Hemlock Avenue
Remove or trim the vegetation in the median to create better sight lines.
City
x
16B
Spruce Avenue / Hemlock Avenue
Replace the obsolete Assembly D signs on Spruce Avenue
City
x
16C
Spruce Avenue / Hemlock Avenue
Consider striping crosswalks at Spruce Avenue and Hemlock Avenue. Option 1: Install curb ramps and crosswalk on west leg of Spruce. Install curb extension at northwest corner. Option 2: Install curb ramps and crosswalk on east leg. Reconstruct median to accommodate pedestrian refuge.
City
Low
Low
Low x
Low High High
x
Medium
WALKING AND BICYCLING AUDITS
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NEXT STEPS TOOLS FOR WALK AUDIT NEXT STEPS • Institute of Transportation Engineers Brief on School Area Traffic Control • Institute of Transportation Engineers Brief on Traffic Calming near Schools • Institute of Transportation Engineers Brief on Strategies to Improve Traffic Operations and Safety • California Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA-MUTCD) Chapter 7. Traffic Control for School Areas.
The audit team should work together after the audit to identify and prioritize potential solutions.
WALKING AND BICYCLING AUDITS
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THIS GUIDEBOOK WAS PRODUCED FOR THE SPARE THE AIR YOUTH PROGRAM, A PARTNERSHIP OF THE BAY AREA AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (BAAQMD) AND THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION (MTC). LEARN MORE AT WWW.SPARETHEAIRYOUTH.ORG.​
SPARE THE AIR YOUTH PROGRAM TEAM:
PRODUCED BY:
Yvonna Cazares, BAAQMD Kristina Chu, BAAQMD Leslie Lara-Enriquez, MTC Ursula Vogler, MTC
Alta Planning + Design Brett Hondorp Hannah Day-Kapell Cat Cheng Parisi Transportation Consulting David Parisi