Washington State University Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan

Washington State University Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan

Working Paper #5: Existing Conditions Analysis

TO:BridgetteBrady,CAPP,DirectorofTransportationServices

FROM: AltaPlanning Design

DATE:November2013


Washington State Universitynnnnnn

Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan | 1nnnnn

Introduction

Project Overview Forover120years,WashingtonStateUniversity WSU hasheldastrongpresenceinthePullmancommunityprovidingqualityeducationandexperiences forpeople fromall over theworld.As the campushasexpandedover thepast century, thegrowthhasbeendrivenat timesbyopportunityratherthanstrategicvision,resultinginaprecariousmixtureofvehicles,bicyclists,andpedestriansalongimportantroadwayswithinthecampussetting.

WSU,incoordinationwiththeCityofPullman,seekstocompleteacomprehensivestudytoenhancebicycleandpedestriancirculationwithinthecampuswhilecreatingseamlesslinkswiththesurroundingPullmancommunity,withtheultimategoalofincreasingwalkingandbicyclingaseverydaytravelmodes.

This document is one step in completing that study of non‐motorized circulation and developing recommendations to enhance bicycle andpedestriantraveloncampusandthroughouttheCityofPullman.Thepurposeofthisdocumentistodocumenton‐the‐groundconditionsofthebicycleandpedestriannetworkatWashingtonStateUniversityandthecityofPullman.Functionalattributesofthesenetworksarecategorized,mappedandcatalogued,andpairedwithanassessmentandanalysisoftheimplicationsoftheseexistingconditions.

Deficienciesidentifiedherewillformthefoundationoffuturerecommendationsforbothfacilityimprovementsandpolicyoroperationalchanges.

Part I: Setting The setting of any community has a large impact on how people travel in and through that community, and ultimately affects the type ofrecommendationsthatwillbeeffective inimprovingthebicyclingandwalkingenvironment.Forthisstudy, thesetting isviewedthroughthefollowinglenses:

StudyAreaTopographyDevelopmentPatternsTripGeneratorsEnrollment/EmploymentCampusMasterPlanning




Setting: Study Area

The Palouse Pullman is located in theheartofthe agricultural region known asthe Palouse. It is the home ofWashington State UniversityWSU , a land grant institutionfoundedin1890.

Theestimated2011populationofPullman was 29,913. The 2011enrollmentofWSUwas19,211.

Severaltypesoflanduses,varyingin intensity from open space toindustrial, are found in Pullman.WSU owns or controls nearly 50percentofthelandinthecity.Theremainder of the city is occupiedprimarily by residential uses in arelatively compact developmentpattern.

ThePullmanareaclimateissemi‐arid, features dry and clearweatherformuchoftheyear,withhot, dry summers and cold, wetwinters.

Figure 1: WSU Campus and the City of Pullman in Relation to Moscow ID




Setting: Topography

The 4 Hills Pullman sits on four major hills thatdivide the city into nearly equalquarters.Thefourhillsare:

MilitaryHillPioneerHillSunnysideHill;andCollegeHill

TheWSUcampusislocatedonCollegeHill.

WSUPullmanhasbeendescribedasa“campus of stairs, bridges, stairsleadingtobridges,andbridgesleadingto stairs,” and this verticality is thecampus’ most striking aspect. A 10‐minutewalkcanentaila200‐footriseinelevation.Thistopographycreatesacampus that is both scenic andphysicallydemanding.

- WSU Master Plan , Chapter 2, Existing Conditions

Figure 2: The Terrain of Pullman (source: 2011 Pullman Campus Master Plan Update)




Setting: Development Patterns

WSU Campus Downtown Main Street Auto-Oriented Commercial

Residential Neighborhoods

Residential Apartment Neighborhoods

Thecampuscurrentlyisorganizedbylandassignmenttocollegesanddepartments.Historically,campusgrowthbeganinthewestadjacenttotheCityofPullmanbuthasmigratedalwayseastward.

ThehistoricdowntownoftheCityofPullmanoffersadense,walkablemainstreetfeel.

WhileEMainStandSEParadiseStareconfiguredasacouplettoencouragefastcirculation,signalizationoneveryblockdowntownhelpspedestrianscrossthestreeteasily.

Moderncommercialdevelopmentischaracterizedbywide,multi‐lanestreets,withdistantlyspacedlandusesandauto‐orientedbuildingdesigns.

Sidewalksareavailablealongtheseareas,butmarkedorenhancedpedestriancrossingsarerare.

Despitethepreferenceforautomobilecirculation,pedestriansarecommonlypresent.

Thecity’sresidentialareashavedevelopedinacompactdevelopmentpatternofsingle‐familyandmixeddensityareas.Pullmanhasagreaterpercentageofhighdensity,multi‐familyresidences,primarilyinresponsetothemarketdemandspresentedbystudents,faculty,andstaffatWSU.

DesignedtoserveWSUstudents,entireneighborhoodsofapartmentbuildingshavedevelopednorthoftheWSUcampus.

Theseareasarebuiltwith2‐3storybuildings,surroundedbyparkinglotsandsharedopenspace.

Streetsandpathwaysconnecttheseareastothecampusandmanystudentscanbeseenwalkingsouthtoclasseverymorningwhenschoolisinsession.




Setting: Development Patterns

Figure 3: Development Pattern Types




Setting: Enrollment/Employment Numbers

Stats and Demographics With nearly 20,000 students andover 4,000 staff and faculty,transportationtotheWSUcampusis important. And as the campusgrows and adds additionalstudents,howeveryone travels toand around campus becomes amoreimportantquestion.

Student Enrollment (Current & Projected) 2012 19,243

2020 21,150

2030 26,000

Source: Campus Master Plan Update 2011

Non-Student Workforce (2010) Administrative /

Professional 1,084

Classified Staff 1,477

Faculty 1,498

Total 4,059 Source: Office of Institutional Research

Students walking along Library Rd between classes

WSU Staff attended the Plan Open House events




Setting: Campus Master Planning

A Vision of the Future The 2012 Campus Master PlanUpdate establishes a vision forcampus growth to 2030 andbeyond.

One of the key recommendationstocomeoutofthecampusmasterplanningeffortwastheclosureofNEStadiumWaybetweenGrimesWayandNENorthFairwayRoadtothroughmotorvehicletraffic.

This Bicycle and Pedestrian Planwill recognize this vision forgrowth that was inspired by thecampus, its students, faculty andstaff and the result of months ofwork spanning June 2010 toOctober2011.

Following this Bicycle andPedestrian Plan, the Universitywill develop a comprehensivetransportation plan, focusing onvehicularandtransitcirculation.

Figure 4: WSU Campus Master Plan Map (Source: Pullman Campus Master Plan Update 2012)




Part II: Existing Conditions

The 5 Es of Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning TheLeagueofAmericanBicyclists LAB usesthe5E’s–Engineering,Education,Encouragement,Enforcement,andEvaluation–asanorganizingprincipleforassessingacommunity’sachievementsandforidentifyingaBicycleFriendlyCommunity BFC .SectionIIutilizesthesameorganizingprincipletoexaminetheexistingconditionsontheWashingtonStateUniversitycampusandcityofPullman.Table1belowexplainsthe5E’sinmoredetail.

Table 1. The 5E’s

Category Factor(s) Engineering What facilities exist?

Education What education programs/opportunities are there for bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists?

Encouragement How do WSU, Pullman, and other interested groups promote and encourage biking and walking?

Enforcement What connections exist between law enforcement (city and campus) and biking and walking groups?

Evaluation Do WSU and Pullman measure biking and walking rates and crash rates?

EachofthefollowingsectionshasbothanExistingConditions Whatis segmentandanAssessment whatitmeans segmentthatcomplementoneanother.




Engineering: Existing Bikeway Network

Existing Conditions TheBikewaynetworkofWSUandtheCityofPullmanislargelymadeupofanetworkofmulti‐usepaths.Some on‐street bike‐lanes areprovided.

Thegolfcourseinthenortheastofcampuscontainasystemofloops,designed for golf course use, butpotentially compatible andappropriateforbicycling.

Table 1. Existing Bikeways

Figure 5: Existing Bikeway Network of WSU Campus and the City of Pullman

Type1 Length Pullman Multi-Use Paths

10.3 mi

Regional Multi-Use Path (Chipman Trail)

7.0 mi

Bike Lane (both sides) 0.34 mi

Bike Lane (one side) 0.79 mi

Wide Sidewalks 0.54 mi

Pedestrian malls and paths throughcampusareusedbybicyclists,butarenot included here as designatedbikeways.




Engineering: Bikeway Network Assessment

Gap Analysis Spot gaps refer to point‐specificlocations lacking dedicatedfacilities or other treatments toaccommodate safe andcomfortablebicycletravel.

Linear gaps are missing linksegmentsonaclearlydefinedandotherwise well‐connectedbikeway. These gaps willsometimes encompass entirestreetcorridors.

Area gaps are larger geographicareas e.g., a neighborhood orbusinessdistrict wherefewornobikewaysexist.

Detailed comments from openhouse attendees identifyadditional issues not includedhere. PublicOutreachSummary

Figure 6: Gaps in the WSU and City of Pullman Bikeway Network




Engineering: Existing Bikeway Maintenance

Existing Conditions The Plant Services Divisionfunctions to offer services andessential infrastructure supportfor Washington State University.Among those duties are road andparking lot maintenance/repairsand snow removal. Currentguidelines and maps for snowremoval can be found online at:facops.wsu.edu/plantservices.

Gravel accumulation on NE Valley Rd forces this bicylist into the travel lane.

Deep Contruction Joints on the Stadium Way path may pose a risk to bicyclists.

Poor pavement quality makes for a bumpy ride.

Sidewalk style ramps on N Fairway Rd are inconvenient for bicyclists and increase conflicts with pedestrians.




Engineering: Bikeway Maintenance Best Practices

What Works Elsewhere?

Facility Design Oneof thebestways to facilitate theremoval of snow from bikeways isthoughtfulroadwaydesign.

PlanroadwayswithsufficientROWProvideawidebikelanebufferRestricton‐streetparkingProvideoff‐streetorparallelfacilitiesthataremaintainedProvideenoughwidthforsmalltrucksnowplowsExplore alternative options to gravelforprovidingtraction

Prioritization Prioritizationandscheduling isakeycomponent of a successful winterbikeway program. Primary bikewaysshouldbe cleared first, providing thebestaccesstothegreatestnumberofpeople possible following a heavystormevent.

Pullman currently uses small vehicles to plow snow off of sidewalks and paths.

Salt Lake City takes care to plow bikeways free of snow, including this parking-protected cycle track.




Engineering: Existing Pedestrian Network

Existing Conditions

Figure 1: Existing Pedestrian Network on WSU Campus and the City of Pullman

Type Length Pullman Multi-Use Paths

10.3 mi

Regional Multi-Use Path (Chipman Trail)

7.0 mi

Unimproved Trails1

2.0 mi

WSU campus Sidewalks1

30.2 mi

Pedestrian Malls 1.1 mi

1Unimprovedtrailswereidentifiedbycommunitymembers,fieldvisitsandobservationofaerialphotography.Unidentifiedexistingunimprovedtrailsarenotbeincludedinthissummary.1LengthofWSUCampussidewalkswasestimatedbydividinglengthsofedgelinedatasetbytwotocalculatelineardistance.




Engineering: Pedestrian Network Assessment

Gap Analysis Thepedestriangapanalysissharessome of the same results as thebikeway gap analysis, primarilyalongthemulti‐usepathnetwork.

Spot gaps refer to point‐specificlocations lacking dedicatedfacilities or other treatments toaccommodate safe andcomfortablewalking.

Linear gaps are missing linksegmentsonaclearlydefinedandotherwise well‐connectedwalkway. These gaps willsometimes encompass entirestreetcorridors.

Detailed comments from openhouse attendees identifyadditional issues not includedhere. PublicOutreachSummary

Figure 2: Gap Analysis of the WSU and City of Pullman Pedestrian Network




Engineering: Existing Pedestrian Crossings

Existing Conditions Markedorsignalizedcrossingsareshowntotheleft.

Therearefourgeneralizedtypesofimproved crossings in the City ofPullmanandontheWSUcampus.

Marked Crossings use crosswalkmarkings to identify common orpreferredcrossinglocations.

Traffic Signals control crossingtrafficthroughsignalsforvehiclesandforpedestrians.

Active Beacons are markedcrosswalks enhancedwith a useractivatedwarninglight.Theseareseenoncampus.

Crossing Flags are a low‐costenhancementtomarkedcrossings,designed to increase visibility ofpedestrians.

Figure 3: Marked or Signalized Crossings on WSU Campus and the City of Pullman




Engineering: Pedestrian Crossing Assessment Keyconcernsandareasforimprovementsidentifiedduringcommunitymeetingsandfieldvisitsinclude:

Automatic Pedestrian Phase Countdown Pedestrian Signals Active Beacon Improvements Missing Curb Ramps

Atmanysignals throughtheCityof Pullman and WSU Campus,trafficsignalsmustbeactuatedbypedestrians in order to activatethe WALK signal on thepedestrian signal head, or torecall the signalphasenecessarytocrossthestreet.

Inbusypedestrianareas suchason campus or downtown, thepedestrian signal indicationshould be built into each signalphase, eliminating therequirement for a pedestrian toactuate the signal by pushing abutton.

Older pedestrian signal headsofferonlytwomessages:WALKorDON’T WALK. Moderninstallations use a countdownfeature to display thenumber ofseconds remaining on the signalphase.

Countdown pedestrian signalsare particularly valuable forpedestrians, as they indicatewhetherapedestrianhastimetocrossthestreetbeforethesignalphase ends. Countdown signalsshould be used at all signalizedintersections.

While people like the activebeacons used at some crosswalklocations onWSU Campus, thereisroomforimprovement.

ModernactivebeacontechnologyusesbrighterLEDlightsandrapidflashingpatternstodrawincreaseattention to the crossing. WSUmaybeabletotakeadvantageofthesemodernimprovements

The city of Pullman and WSUcampus walkway network islargely complete, but full accessviaADAcompliantcurbrampsisstilllimited.

Some older sidewalks andwalkways lackcurb rampsatall,requiringusersinwheelchairstonavigate in the roadway or toutilize driveway curb cuts forsidewalkaccess.Neitherbehaviorisrecommended.




Engineering: Existing Pedestrian Lighting

Existing Conditions WSU campus offers a variety oflightingconditions.

Some streets, such as NorthFairway Rd, use tall, roadway‐style lightingtofill largeareasofroadandparkinglotswithlight.

Other Streets use smaller,pedestrian‐oriented lighting onbothsidesoftheroadway,suchasNEWilsonStnearStadiumWay.

Terrell Mall uses frequentlyspaced mid‐height lighting,designed to fill the pedestrianmallwithlight,withoutthesamefeeling of conventional roadwaylighting.




Engineering: Pedestrian Lighting Best Practices

Pedestrian Scale Lighting Light Spacing and Intensity Light Pollution Crosswalk Visibility

Many streets on WSU Campusapplypedestrianscalelightingtogood effect today. This can beseen on Wilson, and the TerrellPedestrianMall.

On key activity corridors,pedestrian scale lighting hasaestheticandsafetybenefits,andmay encourage more walkingacrosscampus.

Pedestrian scale light poles arelowerheight,from3to6meters,instead of the typical roadwaypole lighting heights of 10 to 15meters.

Because of the shorter height ofpedestrian scale lights, morefrequent spacing is required toachieve the same area ofillumination when compared totallerlights.

For most streets, spacing ofpedestrian oriented lights every50feetisadequate.

To serve all users, pedestrianscalelightingmaybeprovidedinadditiontoconventionalroadwaylighting.

Formanyreasons,lightingshouldbe oriented and designed toreduce the amount of light castupward.

Light hoods should be used toblock excess light, and new lightdesigns should be “Dark Sky”compliant.

Crosswalks, particularly mid‐block,requireextraconsiderationwhendesigningstreetlighting.

For mid‐block crossings, lightposts should be placed justbeyond the crosswalk on bothsidesofthestreet.Inmostcases,thiswillproducearelativelyhighluminance level. The luminancelevelattheselocationsshouldbeatleastashighastwointersectingstreets.




Education: Current Education Practices

Existing Conditions All new students transfer andfreshman arerequiredtoattendanorientation/registration program ‐Alive!‐inordertoenrollforthefallsemester.The Parking and TransportationServices offers a website withextensiveinformationonMobilityOptions at WSU, includinginformationonthefollowing:

PullmanTransitPark&RideoptionsEmergencyRideHomeZipcarActiveTransportationOptionsCampusTrailsandpathsmapGreenBikeWSUZimride

Green Bike Information Kiosk

Active Transportations Options Website

Pullman Transit

ZipCar




Education: Education Best Practices

What Works Elsewhere

Bike Safety Skills Course WorkwithGreenBiketopublicizeand encourage students to enrollin the bike skills safety course.Course should include how tocombinebicycletripwithtransit.

Alive! Bicycle/Pedestrian Orientation Identify opportunities to expandbicycle/pedestrian orientation atbothAlive!events.

Safety Media Campaigns A high‐profile marketingcampaign that highlightsbicyclistsafety is an important part ofhelpingall roadusers– includingboth motorists and bicyclists –understand their roles andresponsibilities on campus roads.Thistypeofhigh‐profilecampaignis an effective way to raise theprofile of bicycling and improvesafety for bicyclists, pedestrians,andmotorists

Bicycle/Pedestrian orientation events teach you tips and tricks to keep you moving.

Safety media campaigns can draw attention to safety strategies and considerations.




Encouragement: Current Encouragement Practices

Existing Conditions

WSU Cycling Club The WSU Cycling Club is organized toprovide competitive and non‐competitiveWSUcyclistswithachancetorideandracetogetherasateam.

WSU Bike Polo WSU Bike Polo is an organized groupthat gets together weekly to play andhostsinternationalcompetitions.

Biking Maps The Pullman WA and Moscow ID Chambers of Commerce produce a“PedalingthePalouse”bikingmap.

The Pullman Civic Trust has workedextensively on the Pullman Loop Trail,providing signage and creating trailmaps.

Transit, car‐sharing efforts, and theGreenBikeprogramarediscussedlaterinthissection.




Encouragement: Encouragement Best Practices

Celebrate Bike to Work Week/Month

Commuter Benefit Program

Information Clearinghouse

Bike Valet for Events Celebrate Unique Topography

A Bicycle CommuterCampaign encouragespeople to commute bybicycle and to make thegeneral public aware thatbicycling is a practicalmode of transportation.Events such as a freebreakfast or coffee canencouragenewridersandcelebrate existing riderscontinuingtocommutebybicycle.

A rewards program forcommuterswhoregularlycommute via alternativetransportation cancontribute to consistentcommutingbybikingandwalking. Commuters canlog their tripsyear‐roundto receive benefits forwalking or biking toschool/work, such as giftcertificates, cash payouts,orfreebikingandwalkingaccessories.

Manypeopledonotknowwhere to find informationaboutwalkingandcycling,including laws, events,maps, tips, and bikinggroups. An informationclearinghouse,a“onestopshopping” website aimedat bicyclists andpedestrians can beinvaluable.Thesiteshouldinclude maps, legalinformation, localresources, links to clubwebsites, an eventcalendar and otherrelevantinformation.

Providing convenient,secure bike parking atlarge events can makebicyclingtoaneventmoreattractive and highlightbicycling as a safe andconvenient transportationoption. Temporaryfacilities,suchascorralsormobile racks, can bebroughtonsitetomeetthedemand. This type ofservice can also preventdamage to non‐parkingfacilities,suchastreesandhand rails that bicyclistsuse when appropriatefacilitiesarelacking.

In San Francisco, CA, aone‐mile, zig‐zaggingbicycleroutefromMarketStreettoGoldenGateParkhas become popularlyknown as “The Wiggle.”The route minimizesclimbinggradeforbicycleriders; even among theregion’s famous hills, theWiggle inclines average3% and never exceeds6%. There are nowwayfinding signs andmapsthatshowtheroute,and it has become asourceofcitypridealongwith the city’s iconictopography.




Encouragement: Green Bike Program

Existing Conditions AtWSU, the GreenBike Program isdedicated to increasing theavailabilityofbikesforstudentsandto furtherencourageabike friendlyculture.

Green Bike offers the followingprograms:

Bikemaintenanceclinic–free1hour general maintenance class –hostabout12peryear. DIYSeries–smallfee,6sessionseriesof2hour in‐depthclassesondifferent aspects of bicycle repair,withtheideathataparticipantcoulddoacompletebuildbyendofseries.1serieseachsemester. Bikesafetyclinic–freeclassonhow to bike safely on and aroundcampus,includingwheretorideandrulesoftheroad–1eachyearduringtheweekofwelcome. GreenBikecampustour–afreeguided ride around campus usingourgreenbikes–1eachyearduringtheweekofwelcome.

Figure 4: Existing Green Bike Locations




Encouragement: Green Bike Program Assessment

Opportunities and Constraints Make sure you have a plan foremployeesandgrowth. Hireafull‐timemanagertoruntheprogramefficiently. Hire a half‐time maintenancemanager. Revisit the allowed check‐outtime. Currently, allow 24 hoursbecause had only two locationsand 32 bikes at the beginning.Now that more bikes and morestations are available, considerdecreasetheamountoftimebikescanbeouttoputmorebikes intocirculation.

Figure 5: Existing and New Station Opportunites for Green Bike Program




Encouragement: Existing End of Trip Facilities

Existing Conditions

Bike parking is provided in thewestern half of campus area.Utilization levels were calculatedthoughmanual counts conductedfrom10‐11eachdayforoneweekinApril.

One Bike SPA Secure ParkingArea isprovidedinanalleyoffofNE Linden St, another at theNorthsideResidenceHall.

Shower facilities are available intheStudentRecreationCenter.

Figure 6: Bicycle Parking Provision on WSU Campus




Encouragement: End-of-Trip Facilities Assessment

Missing Bike Parking

Covered Bike Parking Lack of Showers

Secure Parking Areas (SPAs)

Bicyclistsrequireparkingattheendoftheirbicycletrip.Whilesomepartsofcampusarewellservedbybikeparking,thecampusareatotheeastlacksconvenientsecureoptions.

Theuseofmorestandardstyle“Staple”rackispreferredoverpotentiallyawkwardcustomdesigns.

WSUhasmanyinstallationsofskinnyracks,whichmaynotbeimmediatelyrecognizedasbicycleparking.

Poorweatherisanimportantreasonwhypeopledon’tridetheirbicyclesmoreoften.

Coverdbikeparkinghelpsmakeatripmorecomfortablebyofferingadry,protectedspaceoutoftheelementstolockuporloadupabicycle.

Bicycleracksmaybecoveredbyastand‐alonestructure,orlocatedunderneathawningsoroverhangsofexistingbuildings.

Shower Facilities are animportant end of trip facility forpeople riding their bikes fromlongdistancesoruphills.Amorecentral option for students toclean up after bicycling, such asthe old bookstore location, mayhelpremoveabarriertobicycling.

.

Long‐term,securebikeparkingisimportantforbicycliststhatwanttolockuptheirbikesforthedaywhiletheywalkaroundcampus.OneBikeSPAcurrentlyexists,althoughmaynotbewellknownbythestudentpopulation.LocatingabikeSPAinacentral,securearea,suchastheLibraryparkinggarage.




Encouragement: Existing Wayfinding and Signs

Existing Conditions

Location Wayfinding signs are foundthroughout the campus and theCity of Pullman. However, thelocationschosenforthesignagedonot always allow for the bestdecision‐makingbysystemusers.

Variety There are a variety of signagestyles found throughout campusand the surrounding community.WSUtypicallyusescrimsonbladeswithgray lettering to indicate thedirection of major destinations.The city,meanwhile, hasbrandedvarioussectionsofthetrailsystem,asshowninthefigureintheupperright.Fortheon‐streetsystem,thecity follows state and federalguidelines with regard to color,size,anddesign.

Existing WSU Campus Wayfinding

Path Branding and Identification in Downtown Pullman

Signs direct users through a gap in the trail network

An older design of “Bike Lane Ends” sign




Encouragement: Wayfinding and Signs Assessment

Opportunities and Constraints

Non-standard designs Federally‐complianttrafficcontroldevices have a standard color,shapeandimagedesignedtomeanthesamethingtoallroadusers.

Varying from this standard mayleadtouserconfusionandlackofcompliance. This may be aparticularly important issue forpedestrian crossings, wherepredictability is important forsafety.

Inconsistent application BIKE ROUTE signs are usedthrough the cityofPullman inaninconsistent manner. Somelocations, such as along StadiumWay, the sign is used to indicatethe presence of a bike path. Inother locations, no path isavailable and the sign apparentlyindicatesanon‐street route.Lackof consistency leads to a lack ofclarityforallusers.

WSU Campus Active Warning Beacon and Crossing Sign Federal Standard Active Warning Beacon and Crossing Sign

BIKE ROUTE sign used to indicate use of the path.

BIKE ROUTE sign on a shared roadway




Encouragement: Existing Multimodal Connections

Existing Conditions

Pullman Transit PullmanTransitprovidesover1.4million rides per year. PullmanTransitoperatesMondaythroughSaturday during the academicyear.Fundedinpartbyastudent‐initiated transit fee, PullmanTransit offers Express Routes,transit access to and from theStudent Recreation Center, andotheron‐campusdestinations.

Park and Ride Commuter travel can beaccommodatedwithParkandRideoptions.Permitsarenotrequiredin Park and Ride lots during theday.

Zipcar Washington State Universitystudents,faculty,andstaffcanjoinZipcar. They also get $35 in freedriving to use the first month.Theyhave24/7access toZipcarsparkedoncampus.

Figure 7: Pullman Transit Routes and Stops




Encouragement: Multimodal Assessment

Pullman Transit

Improved Bus Stops

Zipcar

Pullman Transit provides convenient, high‐frequencytransitservicetousersaccessingorleaving the WSU campus. Even with thefrequentservice,vehiclescanreachmaximumoccupancyontheprimarycampusroutes.

Some Pullman bus stops are simple posts,withoutaconcretepad,shelterornearbyADAcompliantcurbramps.

With an ever increasing number of studentscoming to campus without a motor vehicle,access to a shared vehicle is an excellentopportunity.WSUshouldexploretheoptionsforsecuringadditionallocationsoncampustobetterservethecampuscommunity.




Enforcement: Current WSU Enforcement Practices

Current Practice The Mission of the Washington StateUniversity Police Department, inpartnership with the campuscommunity, is to cultivate anatmosphere which supports theeducational process and promotesacademic and personal achievement,andcommunityprosperity

The WSU Police Department patrolscampus24hoursaday,documentinganaverageof.500incidentspermonth.

WSU Police respond to crashes andenforcethespeedlimitonroadsthroughcampus,amongotherresponsibilities.




Enforcement: Best Practice Review

What Works Elsewhere

Bike Safety & Bike Citation Diversion Class Manycampuscommunitiesprovidetheopportunityformembersofthecampuscommunity to attend a class on bikesafetyinlieuofpayingafineforcertaincitations.

Bicycle / Pedestrian Safety Stations A bicycle/pedestrian safety station setup regularly weekly/monthly provides theopportunity for educationrelatedtosafeandlegalbiking,walking,anddrivingoncampus.

Enforcement Stings Particularly effective at the start of theschool year or after winter break,enforcement stings allow the campuspolice the opportunity to remindeveryone about the safe use of theroadwaysandcrossings.




Evaluation: Collision and Safety History

Collisions

Reported crashes occurring inPullman between 2006 and 2012were analyzed to understandpotentialsafetyimpacts.Bicycleandpedestrian crashes are typicallyunderreportedandnearmissesarenottrackedsothetrendsshouldbereviewedwithcaution.

People on Bikes 38bicyclecollisions 8reportedcollisionsidentifiedasevidentinjury,12aspossibleinjury,18asseriousinjury Mostcrashesoccurredonclearorpartly cloudy days with drypavement,duringdaylighthours

People on Foot 58pedestriancollisions 1 reported collision reported noinjury, 34 as evident injury, 22possibleinjuryand1seriousinjury Mostcrashesoccurredonclearorpartly cloudy days with drypavement,duringdaylighthours

Figure 8: WSU Campus and the City of Pullman Reported Crashes 2006 - 2012




Evaluation: Collision and Safety Assessment

Opportunities and Constraints

Identifiedhotspotsinclude:

NECampusStreetnearNEBStreetNE StadiumWay near NE GrimesWayNW State Street near NW DavisWay

These locations would benefitfrominfrastructureimprovementsthat enhance bicycle andpedestrian visibility atintersections and complete thepedestrian network. The greatestnumberofthesecrashesoccurredwhenamotorvehiclemadea leftturn.

Figure 9: Reported Bicycle and Pedestrian Crashes 2006 - 2012 Hot Spot Analysis




Evaluation: Track Implementation Progress

Opportunities and Constraints Itisausefulbenchmarkingactivityto publish an annual reportmeasuring accomplishments andperformanceagainstgoals.

An annual report should includerelevant bicycling and pedestrianmetrics count results, newbikeway/greenway facility miles,major completed projects,pedestrian‐ and bicycle‐involvedcrashes, bike share, number oforganized events, innovativesolutions, new policies and mayalso include information on usersatisfaction, public perception ofsafety, or other qualitative datathathasbeencollected related tocycling. Cumulative bikeway andtrailmileage should be shown todemonstrate long‐term progressin improving infrastructure. TheWSU Sustainability Report Cardcouldbeusedasastartingpoint.

WSU Sustainatiblity Report Card

Minneapolis Bicycling Account

San Francisco Bike Report Card

State of Seattle Bicycling Report

Figure 10: Bicycle Report Cards Help Track Plan Implemetnation




Evaluation: Existing Bicycle/Pedestrian Count Volumes

Current Counts Bicyclist, Pedestrian andLongboard rider counts wereconducted in spring of 2012 attwelve locations on the WSUcampus.

Locations were identified as keyentrancegatewaystocampus.

Thefivelocationswiththehighestcombinedvolumesinclude:

1. ColoradoatCSt2. ReaneyWayatGrayLn3. 1StadiumWayatOrchard4. BStatColoradoAve5. LindenAveatMonroeSt

Longboardriderswerecountedatlowlevelsandarenotincludedonthis map. At all count locations,longboard rider counts averagedtolessthanoneperhour.

Figure 11: Pedestrian and Bicyclist Count Volumes entering WSU Campus (Users per hour in the AM peak hour)




Evaluation: Count Volume Assessment

Conclusions Trends over time Count program expansion

WSUCampustodayisverypedestrianoriented,andthisshowsintheresultsofthecounteffort.All count locations except for one showsignificantly higher pedestrian volumes thanbicyclistvolumes.

GrimesWayistheonlyspotwithamajorityofbicyclists.ThisislikelyduetoitsdistancefromthecoreofWSU,andbecauseitiswellservedbythemulti‐usepathnetwork.

Limited information can be learnedwith onlyoneyearofcountdata.Multipleyearsofcountscan show trends, and allow WSU to trackprogressonencouragingactive transportationmodes.

The current count locations are good forunderstandingaccessintocampus,butarenot as useful for understanding accessthrough campus. Additional locationswithin the WSU Campus can provide amoresolidunderstandingofactivitylevels.

The National Bicycle and PedestrianDocumentation Project providesmethodology for bicyclist and pedestriancounts and surveys. Applying the fullmethodology would provide additionalinsight intowhypeoplewalk andbike inadditiontohowmany.

Washington State University Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan

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