PROPOSAL  TO  IMPROVE  BICYCLE  FACILITIES  IN  THE  CHARLESTON  AREA  

PRESENTED  TO  THE  URBAN  LAND  INSTITUTE  

APRIL  24,  2014  

THE UNITED STATES OF CYCLING Cities  and  states  across  the  U.S.  have  increased  planning  for  pedestrian  and  bicycle  facilities  in  recent  years.    

•   36  states  and  47  of  the  largest  U.S.  cities  surveyed  by  the  Alliance  for  Bicycling  and  Walking  have  published  goals  to  increase  bicycling  and  walking.  

• A  recent  report  by  the  Rails  to  Trails  Conservancy  found  that  smaller  urban  areas  actually  experience  levels  of  bicycling  similar,  and  sometimes  higher,  than  levels  in  the  larger  U.S.  Cities.  

   LOCATION  

   POPULATION   WORKERS  

%  BIKE              COMMUTERS  

#  BIKE                COMMUTERS  

NATIONAL  AVERAGE  

HIGH:    Davis,  CA  

LOW:  Chattanooga,  TN  

Charleston, SC 119,834 61,549  

3.0%  

1,834 1.0% 19.1% 0.3%

BEHIND THE TRENDS

WHY  are  cities  devoting  more  resources  to  improving  bicycle  and  pedestrian  facilities?  

• As  a  response  to  the  call  for  public  safety  for  alternative  transport  users  

• To  alleviate  increasing  population  density  issues    

• To  enhance  already  increasing  levels  of  cycling  and  walking  

• To  increase  access  to  business  and  shopping  corridors,  and  art  districts  

• To  improve  existing  transportation  infrastructure  

• To  promote  community  livability  and  general  quality  of  life  

CHARLESTON’S CHANCE to CONNECT Arguably  the  most  important  upcoming  project  to  improve  facilities  and  community  livability  in  the  Charleston  area  is  the  addition  of  a  bicycle  and  pedestrian  path  on  the  Legare  Bridge.  

Charleston  Moves  sees  this  bridge  project  as  a  catalyst  by  creating:  

•  Vital  corridors  within  the  city  that  allow  pedestrians  and  bicyclists  to  regain  access  from  West  Ashley  to  Downtown  and  beyond  

• Opportunities  for  extending  routes  to  complete  existing  facilities  like  the  West  Ashley  Greenway  

• Greater  regional  and  inter-­‐state  connections  to  facilities  like  the  East  Coast  Greenway    

 

FORWARD THINKING Research  shows  that  providing  facilities  for  bicyclists  and  pedestrians  improves  multiple  urban  community  factors  including:  

• MOBILITY  

• HEALTH  

•  SAFETY  

•  ENVRONMENT  

•  ECONOMY