More Trailbuilding Resources

Resources and Library:

Transportation and Urban Trails

Urban trails and shared use pathways; Planning for bicycles and pedestrians; Training for Bike/Ped issues; State and Federal programs; Projects using transportation funding; and design of facilities:

My Kind of Town: Connecting Nonmotorized Plans and Trails
Trails and Transportation: trails could solve the National Parks paradox
Grand Canyon Greenway makes trails a key part of transportation through the park
Tools for Predicting Usage and Benefits of Urban Bicycle Network Improvements
Counting Bicyclists and Pedestrians to Inform Transportation Planning (pdf 1.2 mb)
Pedestrian and Bicycle Data Collection in United States Communities
Guide for Reviewing Public Road Design and Bicycling Accommodations for Bicycle Advocates (pdf 5.4 mb)
Encouraging Bicycling and Walking: The State Legislative Role
Developing a National Bicycle Route Corridor Plan
U.S. Bicycle Route System: networking the best routes and trails (pdf 2.7 mb)
US DOT: Accommodating Bicycle and Pedestrian Travel: A Recommended Approach
Community Cycling Manual: a Planning and Design Guide; Canadian Institute of Planners and Go for Green (pdf 1.3mb)
AK: Anchorage Bicycle Plan: bicycles as a mode of transportation
CA: City of Burbank Bicycle Master Plan (pdf 5.7 mb)
CO: Denver Bicycle Master Plan, 2002 update (pdf 5.9 mb)
HI: Honolulu Bicycle Master Plan
HI: Oahu Bike Plan vision, goals, and objectives
MD: Maryland DOT 20 Year Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Master Plan (pdf 2.7mb)
NV: Transportation Trails Element of the City of Las Vegas Master Plan (pdf 6.1 kb)
OH: Columbus Bicentennial Bikeways Master Plan guides new programs and facilities
OR: Importance of Bicycling and Walking: benefits, accommodation on existing streets, increasing trips
VA: Developing the Loudoun County Bicycle and Pedestrian Mobility Master Plan
WA: Puget Sound Regional Bicycle Network Study
Netherlands: Cycling to Sustainability in Amsterdam (pdf 664 kb)
1992 National Bicycle and Walking Study (Federal HIghway Administration):
- Current Planning Guidelines and Design Standards (pdf 1.6 mb)
- Linking Bicycle/ Pedestrian Facilities with Transit (pdf 1.2 mb)

Multi Use Paths: Where Paths Are Appropriate; Paths Next to Roadways; Oregon Dept. of Transportation
Fundamentals of Bicycle Boulevard Planning & Design (pdf 11.2 mb)
Wisconsin Bicycle Facility Design Handbook (pdf 4.5 mb)
Bike Facility Design Options from 2010 Milwaukee by Bike Master Plan (pdf 22.3 mb)
Urban Bikeway Design Guide from National Association of City Transportation Officials
Albuquerque Bikeways and Trails Master Plan Design Guidelines with emphasis on streets and bikeway design (pdf 5.7 mb)
Bicycling and Walking Attitudes Survey (FL): bicycling facilities and safety
Shared-Use Path Design with emphasis on accessibility
Evaluation of Planning and Design Issues for Multiuse Trail and Highway Crossings (pdf 344kb)
Grade-Separated Trail Crossings (pdf 8 mb), by Loris and Associates and Alta Planning + Design
Contra Costa County Trail Design Resource Handbook: traffic control, intersections, signs (pdf 3.2 mb)
Bicyclist- and Pedestrian-Only Roundabouts, from Public Roads (pdf 868 kb)
Separate bike paths along roads, as found in Holland, are discouraged in the US by AASHTO engineering guidance
International Approaches to Bicycle and Pedestrian Facility Design; from FHWA (pdf 721 kb)
A Resident’s Guide for Creating Safe and Walkable Communities (3.7 mb)
Creating Complete Streets at the Local Level: A Toolbook, South Carolina (pdf 1.1 mb)
Model design manual for living streets; from Los Angeles County (pdf 14.9 mb)
Designing Streets for People: design, management and improvement of streets (pdf 500 kb)
Understanding Equestrian Use of Highways and Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities
Guidelines for the Design and Management of
Bicycle Parking Facilities, City of Toronto (PDF 1.3 mb)
Bicycle Parking Guidelines, from Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (pdf 344kb)
Wayfinding signs and concepts for trails and roads
Finding your way at 8,000 feet, Mammoth Lakes, CA
Wayfinding and signage for Mecklenburg County Greenways, Charlotte, NC
Trail marking with directional signs and safety messages in Middleton, Wisconsin
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is the standard for signs, signals, and pavement markings, including bike/ped facilities

Roadway and Bikeway Maintenance Practices; Pima County, AZ
Maintenance Guidelines for Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities, Arizona DOT
Photos: Pavement markings and warning stencils for trails and bikeways
Traffic Safety Facts 2002 for "Pedalcyclists" from U.S. DOT (pdf 124 kb)
How to Develop a Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (pdf 3.1 mb)
Frequently Asked Questions about Bikeways by Adjacent Residents, Vancouver, BC
Recommendations for Bicycle Related Signs in Chapter 9 of the MUTCD (pdf 2.1 mb)

Questions and Answers from the from webinar on The Third Mode
Webinar on The Third Mode: Connecting Greenways, Trails and Active Mobility
FHWA Course on Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation: 24 downloadable lessons
Experts who provide training
Safe Routes to School National Course is available (fee) from the SRTS Clearinghouse.
Supporting cities in implementing public bicycle schemes

Bicycle sharing systems are automated, public bike rental facilities: questions & answers
Chattanooga expands bike share and Mobile Bicycle Fleet programs
Walk Friendly Communities program seeks pilot towns
Complete Streets: including all the elements to provide multi-modal transportation
Distribution of "Safe Routes to School" funds to states for 2008
Safe Routes to School funding available for states for FY05-09
Safe Routes to School funding will help with kids' health
Active & Safe Routes to School in Ontario
Guiding principles for Safe Routes to School programs
Conserve by Bicycling Program to conserve energy by encouraging use of bicycles in place of motor vehicles
Social and economic benefits of Transportation Enhancements (pdf 680 kb)

Big plan to complete Greater Philadelphia’s trail networks receives funding
The biggest dam bridge of all: a bridge of dreams in Little Rock, Arkansas
CA: Iron Horse Trail Feasibility Study and Master Plan; urban problem solving (pdf 14.3 mb)
Urban trails along the Truckee River in Reno, NV
Bike/Walk Twin Cities is a $21 million federal pilot program that aims to get more people bicycling and walking in Minneapolis-St. Paul

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photo of pedestrian ramps

Wide bike/pedestrian ramps to bring
people from the river trail up
to street level, Portland, OR

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More Trailbuilding Resources

Resources and Library:

Transportation and Urban Trails