Gambles Mill Eco-Corridor
The University of Richmond may hold the key for safe passage between the Huguenot Bridge and the Near West End and Henrico County with the implementation of its plan to develop a trail along Little Westham Creek.
“The finished Eco-Corridor will also feature a multi-use recreational trail between Westhampton Way and River Road,” according to the plan for the Gambles Mill Eco-Corridor.
Filed under Urban Planning
During my three-day visit to Durham, N.C., for the East Coast Greenway’s Southeast Greenways and Trails Summit, I learned plenty of new and inspiring information about bicycle and pedestrian trails and how to make safer and more successful spaces for people to travel without a motorized vehicle.
With all due respect to Durham, this is a no bull kind of story. Here are some thoughts and observations from the summit. Continue reading
Filed under Urban Planning
Can video evidence replace data when it comes to bike and pedestrian planning? I love this concept. Data collection is hard with bike/ped, and perhaps observing conflict areas over a dedicated period of time could prevent conflicts to vulnerable users…and unnecessary injuries and deaths.
A recent article by Next City detailed a planning process happening in certain cities that is helping to speed up processes in creating safer environments for pedestrians and bicyclists in key transportation areas.
Filed under Urban Planning
Statistics can be an important tool. Understanding statistics can help you assess the quality of studies and the validity of their conclusions.
As a planner, statistics are vital to assessing areas of need. As a bike and pedestrian planner, it can be difficult to measure certain aspects of our infrastructure and how people navigate our transit networks. Giving policy makers factual statistics to enhance work study is commonplace. Continue reading
Filed under Urban Planning
I am a transportation planner. My job is primarily focused on bike and pedestrian planning, which I love. But planners cannot wave a magic wand to create the infrastructure needed to better accommodate those modes of transit.
Planning requires data and information to quantify projects. Everything costs money and elected or appointed officials are not likely to blindly approve projects because somebody wants them built. But how do you best account for pedestrians and cyclists? Continue reading
Filed under Urban Planning
“The Nation lost 35,092 people in crashes on U.S. roadways during 2015, an increase from 32,744 in 2014. The 7.2-percent increase is the largest percentage increase in nearly 50 years. The largest percentage increase previously was an 8.1-percent increase from 1965 to 1966.” – U.S. Department of Transportation
After reading an overview of the 2015 Motor Vehicle Crashes Report from the USDOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and sifting through some of the statistics, it would seem that our country has a long way to go toward safe transit. And as our population continues to rise, it will only get worse if we don’t take action to stop the killing.
Filed under Urban Planning
Cars driving in a buffered bike lane on 9th Street in downtown Richmond.
I like to ride my bike. I don’t always have the time to ride, but I’ve made it a habit to ride my bike on errands and on my bike commute to work.Despite the cold winter weather and snow, as of Feb. 13, I’ve ridden about 125 miles this year, with about 25 percent of those miles coming in Henrico County, where I live. I’m healthy and able-bodied, but not all of us are so lucky.
Sports Backers’ Bike Walk RVA organization is helping encourage localities to become more active and friendly to biking and walking. It is hosting four informal “Bike Walk Talk” happy hours throughout Henrico this month. Continue reading
Filed under My life, Uncategorized, Urban Planning
Phil Riggan 