Effect of Street Network Design on Walking and Biking

Abstract

The objective of this research was to investigate whether a relationship existed between street network characteristics and the transportation modes selected in a neighborhood. Factors such as street characteristics, vehicle volumes, activity levels, income levels, and proximity to limited-access highways and the downtown area were controlled for. The results suggested that all three of the fundamental characteristics of a street network—street connectivity, street network density, and street patterns—were statistically significant in affecting the choice to drive, walk, bike, or take transit. Both increased intersection density and additional street connectivity were generally associated with more walking, biking, and transit use. Street patterns with gridded street networks, which tended to have a higher-than-average street connectivity and a much higher street network density, were associated with much more walking and biking. These results suggested that street network patterns were extremely important for encouraging nonautomobile modes of travel. As the United States begins to focus on reducing vehicle miles traveled as a strategy to combat carbon production and cut energy use, it is increasingly imperative that this relationship between the built environment and mode choice be accounted for in the planning and design of the transportation system.

Do Relationships Between Environmental Attributes and Recreational Walking Vary According to Area-Level Socioeconomic Status?

“…24 It was found that low SES areas had higher scores for intersection density and land use mix that are known to be associated with walking for transport. 32,33 Increasing recreational walking may not be feasible in some low SES areas. Promoting walking for transport may be an alternative approach in such areas to address the health gap between SES areas.…”

Evaluating Urban Forms for Comparison Studies in the Massing Design Stage

“…Connectivity assesses the effectiveness of the urban form in facilitating the movement of humans and vehicles between destinations. Simulation studies have shown that a street network of high connectivity, a grid-like street pattern with minimal cul-de-sacs, will reduce fuel consumption [14], discourage driving, and encourage walking [15]. Empirical studies have also been conducted to substantiate these claims [16,17].…”

Network structure and metropolitan mobility

“…Similarly, Marshall and Garrick (2010) showed that fundamental characteristics of street network design such as connectivity, density, and patterns have an extremely important effect on encouraging non-motorized travel. As part of this analysis on metropolitan areas, it is important to quantify the structure of transit and other non-motorized networks, and to see how this affects the performance of the transportation system such as modal share.…”