2. Neighborhood Greenways for Houston
85% connected by 2020
Jay Blazek Crossley
Houston Tomorrow
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Livable Houston Initiative at H-GAC

3. is an independent nonprofitis an independent nonprofit
organization that works toorganization that works to
improve the quality of lifeimprove the quality of life
for all the peoplefor all the people
of the Houston region throughof the Houston region through
research, education, and discussion.research, education, and discussion.
Quality of life.Quality of life.

4. 4
Houston Tomorrow’s 2036 VisionHouston Tomorrow’s 2036 Vision
On its 200th birthday, theOn its 200th birthday, the
Houston region is home to theHouston region is home to the
healthiest, happiest, most prosperoushealthiest, happiest, most prosperous
people in the United States.people in the United States.

5. Obesity Falls with Increased
Walking and Cycling
Pucher, J., Buehler, R., Bassett, D., Dannenberg, A. 2010. “Walking and Cycling to Health: Recent Evidence from City, State, and
International Comparisons,” American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 100, No. 10, pp. 1986-1992.

6. 25%
27%
30%
55%
49%
56%
52% 53%
56%
60%
49%
56%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
USA UK Canada Denmark Germany Netherlands
Percentoftripsbywomen
Cycling Walking
Women’s Share of Bike and Walk
Trips in Europe and North
America
Source: Pucher and Buehler (eds.), City Cycling. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press,

7. Photo Susan Handy

8. 15
11 12 10 9
32
24
20 20 21
31
17 19 22
30 31
19 18
13 13 13
18 21 24 23
19 21
28
3
0.8 0.8
0.7 0.5
2
2
2
1 1
15
7
7
9
10 10 32
20
14 14 15
15
15
40
25
21
22
23
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
5-15
16-24
25-39
40-65
65+
0-16
17-29
30-59
60-65
65+
0-17
18-25
26-45
46-60
60-65
65+
10-19'
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70-84
0-17
18-25
26-44
45-64
65+
Percentoftripsbyfootandbike
AgeGroup
Walking Cycling
USA Germany Denmark NetherlandsUK
Bike and Walk Share
of Trips by Age
Group
Source: Pucher and Buehler (eds.), City Cycling. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press,

10. Less Time on the Road
How the region would spend $100 to improve the region’s transportation system

26. 26
Low-income workers are least likely to travel by single occupant
vehicle
67% 69%
74%
81% 84% 84% 85% 84%
17%
18%
17%
12%
10% 9% 8% 7%
4%
4%
3%3%
3%
5% 4% 3% 2% 2% 3% 3% 4%
Less than
$10,000
$10,000 to
$14,999
$15,000 to
$24,999
$25,000 to
$34,999
$35,000 to
$49,999
$50,000 to
$64,999
$65,000 to
$74,999
More than
$75,000
Worked at home
Other
Walked
Public Trans
Auto-carpool
Auto-alone
Means of Transportation to Work by Annual Earnings, 2006-2010

27. Pedestrian Safety Challenges for Communities of Color and
Seniors
27

30. Portland’s Bike Boulevards become
Neighborhood Greenways
At this point in the presentation, we watched a streetsfilms
video about Portland’s Neighborhood Greenways program.
You can watch It here:
http://vimeo.com/16552771

31. Convenient bike cut-thru for cyclists
Foto by Peter Berkeley

34. Seattle
Neighborhood
Greenways
“Formed in August 2011,
Seattle Neighborhood
Greenways are a rapidly
growing volunteer coalition
to plan and advocate for
safe and comfortable streets
connecting us to the places
we use, whether we walk,
drive, ride a bike, push a
stroller, or move by
wheelchair.”
seattlegreenways.org

35. Dallas Complete Streets Guidelines - Current:
Bicycle Boulevards
Description
Bicycle boulevards (also called “Neighborhood Greenways”) are streets
with low motor vehicle speeds that are designed to allow bicyclists to
travel comfortably in a low-stress environment. Bicycle boulevards often
give priority to bicycle use and discourage through traffic by motor
vehicles. Ideally, they are designed to minimize the number of stops that a
bicyclist must make along the route. Separated bicycle facilities (i.e. bike
lanes) are not necessary on bicycle boulevards because motor vehicle
speeds and traffic volumes are low. Bicycle boulevards are typically
designated by special wayfinding signs and pavement symbols.

36. Dallas Complete Streets Guidelines - Current:
Bicycle Boulevards
Application
• Bicycle boulevards are usually more feasible in neighborhoods with a
gridded street network (one street is chosen as the bicycle boulevard), but
can also be accomplished by combining a series of road and trail segments
to form one continuous route.
• At major street crossings, bicycle boulevards may need additional
crossing measures for bicyclists, such as quick-response traffic signals with
bicycle-sensitive loop detectors, crossing beacons, median refuge islands,
and/or curb extensions.
• Traffic calming measures can be used to maintain low speeds (20 mph
or less) on bicycle boulevards.

37. Dallas Complete Streets Guidelines - Current:
Bicycle Boulevards
Considerations
• Ideally, bicycle boulevards should not carry more than 1,000 motor
vehicles per day to be compatible with bicycling. Diverters and other
traffic management devices are typically used to discourage motor vehicle
through-traffic while still enabling local traffic access to the street.
• Bicycle boulevards should be long enough to provide connectivity
between neighborhoods and common destinations.

40. Current and Expected Growth in Population and Jobs by Sectors
Data: H-GAC 2035
Regional Forecasts

43. 2005 Activity Intensity with the 2012 light rail system

44. 2035 Activity Intensity with the 2012 light rail system

49. Síclovía in San Antonio

50. Thank you!
Jay Blazek Crossley
jay.crossley@houstontomorrow.org