[ About ] [ Meeting Minutes & Agendas ] [ Bicycle Suitability Evaluation Project ]
[ 2010 Activities ]
About
Encouraging safe, efficient travel for pedestrians
and cyclists is an important part of SPC's role as a regional transportation
agency. Bicycling and walking offer excellent commuter options that
support our overall mission to reduce traffic
congestion and improve air
quality. Communities that are pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly
are also “livable,” providing residents with opportunities
for recreation and community-enhancing economic development.
SPC’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Committee addresses
issues of concern and pursues priority improvements of regional
significance. This committee is composed of representatives from
SPC-member counties, the City
of Pittsburgh, transit agencies, PENNDOT,
trail organizations, and advocates for pedestrians, bicyclists,
and persons with disabilities.
Meeting Minutes & Agendas
Did You Know?
People around the world recognize southwestern Pennsylvania
as a model of trail development. In a few years, with the
completion of the Great Allegheny Passage and related trail
development, Pittsburgh will be the northern terminus of
a continuous, off-road trail extending from Pittsburgh to
Washington, D.C.
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Bicycle Suitability Evaluation Project
SPC’s transportation planners have undertaken a project to evaluate the cycling conditions of the regional state highway network. Based on the evaluation of a combination of traffic volumes, roadway geometry, and field observations, maps will periodically be created that can be used as a reference tool by cyclists and cycling commuters. The maps indicate the roadways as being above average, average or below average for cycling, as well as other features relevant to cyclists such as significant hills, trails, park-n-ride lots, and bicycle parking. These maps are intended to connect with and build out from the existing Bike-Pittsburgh Bike Map.
Note: The suitability ratings of the roadways apply to cyclists experienced in operating on the roadway network with other motorized vehicles. Inexperienced cyclists looking for facilities free of motorized vehicles should view the SPC bike trail maps.
The preliminary bicycle suitability maps are available for Allegheny County and Greene County. These maps were recently presented to the SPC Pedestrian and Bicycle Committee and are available here for review and comment by cycling stakeholders. Through this process the maps are available to everyone, however, please understand the maps are in their preliminary form and they will be evolving as we strive to improve them based on cyclist input. Periodically, as the project moves forward, new maps will be posted for review for the other counties within the region.
View the preliminary maps and provide comment.
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2010 Activities
In 2010, SPC continued to work with member governments and regional partners such as Bike Pittsburgh, PennDOT, and SPC’s CommuteInfo® Program in the promotion of safe bicycling commuting techniques and practices, through participation in several Car Free Friday events and the development of a Bicycle Commuting Webinar that was presented by CommuteInfo®, the regional rideshare program.
Several communities in the region requested assistance from SPC staff in the development of community plans for pedestrian, bicycle or active transportation in 2010. In accommodating these requests, SPC participated in the development of a multi-municipal plan for several communities in central Butler County; the development of a Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan in Cranberry Township,; served on the Technical Advisory Committee for the Bike Route Signage Plan in the City of Pittsburgh; and, provided technical assistance in the development of an update to the Transportation element of the Indiana County Comprehensive Plan as well as the development of a new Active Transportation plan for Allegheny County.
Continuing efforts initiated in previous years, SPC completed Bicycle Suitability Maps for Butler and Indiana Counties. These maps identify low-volume, low-speed roads that are conducive to safe bicycle use. The maps also identify local roadways that are less suitable for bicycle use due to roadway design, traffic volume or vehicle speed. These maps are developed using an array of inputs, including the PennDOT Roadway Video Logs Roadway Maintenance System (RMS) data, and require considerable input from cyclists and pedestrians familiar with the local roadway network in each County.
To promote bicycle and pedestrian safety in the region, SPC maintains the “Report a Road Hazard” and “Report a Missing Trail Link” features on its website. These reporting features have been used to report a numerous issues, including basic roadway maintenance needs, the need for the removal of storm debris, and the location and nature of misaligned, missing or otherwise dangerous drain grates. Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh and PennDOT have used information gathered through these links to remedy potential safety hazards along local roadways.
In 2010, the City of Pittsburgh was named a “Bike Friendly Community” by the League of American Bicyclists in recognition of city-wide efforts to provide safe accommodations for cycling and encouraging people to bike for transportation and recreation. Four meetings of the SPC Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee were held in 2010.
For more information about the Ped/Bike
Committee, contact Sara Walfoort at (412) 391-5590
x339 or e-mail swalfoort@spcregion.org.
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