Pedestrian & Bicycle Committee

[ About ] [ Meeting Minutes ] [ Bicycle Suitability Evaluation Project ]
[ 2008 Activities ]

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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.

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Meeting Minutes

• November 12, 2008 (PDF)

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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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2008 Activities

In 2008, SPC continued to work with member governments and regional partners such as Bike Pittsburgh, PennDOT, SPC’s CommuteInfo program, and a number of regional trail groups in the promotion of safe bicycle commuting, pedestrian safety, and infrastructure design for pedestrians and bicycles.  SPC also sought out new partners in 2008, including the Beaver and Lawrence County Trails and Greenways program, the City of McKees Rocks, and the North Side Civic Development Council in the City of Pittsburgh, providing training and education in the areas of bicycle facilities planning and Smart Transportation.

Activities initiated in 2008 include the preparation of Bicycle Suitability Maps for Allegheny, Beaver and Greene Counties.  These maps identify low-volume, low-speed roads that are more conducive to safer bicycle riding, and also inform riders about roads that are less suitable for safer bicycling. 

To promote bicycle and pedestrian safety in the region, SPC has been a leader in the consideration of design requirements for the rehabilitation of the Freeport Bridge in PennDOT Districts 10 and 12, and the Memorial Bridge in Connellsville (PennDOT District 12). 

SPC has completed more than a dozen Pedestrian-Bicycle Checklists for highway improvements in PennDOT District 11, and was an active participant in PennDOT’s pedestrian and bicycle safety events held in 2008.  Using the “Report a Road Hazard” link on SPC’s website, pedestrians and cyclists can report items that might create a safety hazard for cyclists and pedestrians, such as obstructive roadside debris, inaccessible or malfunctioning pedestrian signals, and missing and misaligned sewer grates.   SPC provides this information our regional partners to assist them in the remediation of these issues.

SPC staff worked with regional partners in the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County on the completion of bicycle counts along major cycling corridors, and the initiation of a public steps condition and connectivity assessment as part of a larger regional efforts to advance an “Active Transportation” initiative.  This effort also included increased outreach with regional trail groups in Armstrong, Butler and Westmoreland Counties. 

Three meetings of SPC’s Pedestrian-Bicycle Committee were held in 2008, with individual meetings highlighting the federal CMAQ program, bicycle parking issues and opportunities, and a wide variety of federal transportation legislation. 

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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