FHWA Course on Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation
LESSON 9: BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIONS TO TRANSIT (INSTRUCTOR'S NOTES)
Objectives:
Upon completion of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Describe the problems related to the lack of pedestrian and bicycle connections
to transit.
- Cite examples of how pedestrians are being accommodated by transit services.
- Cite examples of how bicyclists are being accommodated by transit services.
- Describe the elements of programs wherein pedestrian and bicycle travel
has been successfully integrated with transit.
Pre-Instruction:
Components |
Activities |
Motivation |
Ask the class to present the results of their inquiries
regarding how well
your local transit agency accommodates pedestrians and bicyclists. |
Objectives |
Present and explain the four lesson goals listed above
(V-9-1). |
Information Presentation:
Components |
Activities |
Information Sequence |
Outline the presentation of the lecture (V-9-2 and V-9-3).
|
Information |
Describe the problems and opportunities related to providing
good bicycle and pedestrian connections to transit.
Discuss examples of how some cities are providing good connections to
transit services for pedestrians.
Explain why and how bicycles should be integrated with transit (V-9-4
and V-9-5). Cover the various concerns of both the transit agency and
bicyclists (V-9-6 and V-9-7).
Describe the “bikes on buses” and “bikes on rails” programs.
Describe different types of bicycle parking facilities.
Cite the elements of successful bike-transit programs (V-9-8).
|
Example(s) |
Show multiple examples (e.g., slides, videotape) of some
of the methods cited in the Student’s Guide regarding how transit agencies
accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists. |
Student Participation:
Components |
Activities |
Practice |
Use either of the exercises presented at the end of the
Student’s Guide section.
|
Feedback |
Provide comment and feedback to the class as appropriate. |
Follow-Up:
Components |
Activities |
Enrichment |
Assign reading for Lesson 10.
Have the students locate information on biking and walking trails in the
area. Ask them to consider both functional (i.e., home-based work, home-based
shopping, non-home-based shopping) travel and recreational (both home-based
and non-home-based) travel needs.
|
Review |
Review
Provide a summary of Lesson 9 (V-9-9).
|
Exercise |
Ask the students to complete the exercise at the end of
Lesson 9 in their workbooks. This exercise is reprinted below for your
convenience.
9.12 Exercise
Choose a local transit station (or individual transit stop) and determine
the potential catchment area. Design a program for increasing bicycle
and pedestrian access to the transit station, including both design improvements
and education/promotion efforts. For physical improvements, include both
the immediate vicinity, as well as connections to origins that lie in
the catchment area.
Alternate Exercise
Choose a nearby transit stop or park-n-ride station and ride a bike or
walk to it. Document the problems along the way, as well as those you
experience when you arrive at the station/stop. Given your knowledge of
the community, what would it take to get people to bicycle and walk to
this site? |
Lesson Objectives:
- Describe the problems related to pedestrian/bicycle
connections to transit
- Cite examples of how pedestrians are being served
- Cite examples of how bicyclists are being served
- Describe the elements of successful programs
Lesson Outline:
- Problems and opportunities related to providing bicycle and pedestrian
connections to transit
- Examples of good connections to transit services for pedestrians
- How and why bicycles should be integrated with transit
- Transit agency and bicyclist concerns
- “Bikes on buses” programs
- “Bikes on rails” programs
- Bicycle parking facilities
- Elements of successful bike-transit programs
Why Bicycles Should Be Integrated With Transit:
- Significant amounts of the population live near transit stations in urban
areas
- Improvements for bicycle access lead to increased ridership
- Vehicle modifications and station access improvements can be made at modest
cost
How Bicycles Should Be Integrated With Transit:
- Bike racks on buses
- Transporting bikes on light and heavy rail, commuter rail, and intercity
rail vehicles
- Bike parking
- Station design improvements
- Links to transit stops
- Bicycle-ferry programs
Transit Agency Concerns:
- Schedule adherence
- Safety and protection of transit property
- Equipment procurement
Bicyclist Concerns:
- Fares
- Permits
- Fees
- Restricted hours
- Parking
- Access
Elements of Successful Bike-Transit Programs:
- Demonstration project
- Advisory committees
- Marketing and promotion
Lesson Summary:
- Providing good links to transit for pedestrians and bicyclists is essential
- Providing good facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists at transit stations
is essential
- Linking pedestrians and bicyclists with transit can increase transit ridership
