The document discusses Washington State's efforts to measure biking and walking through various performance measures and data collection. It notes the state's goal to reduce crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians while doubling biking and walking. However, the data shows the number of fatalities and serious injuries involving bicyclists and pedestrians has remained high. The state is working to improve data collection on biking and walking through expanded count programs and surveys to better inform planning and safety efforts.

1. Measuring Biking and Walking –
A State Perspective
Paula Reeves, AICP CTP Manager, Community Design - WSDOT
ProWalk ProBike ProPlace September 2014

2. Community Design
Balancing the regional need for moving automobile traffic with the community need for a vibrant, connected and safe pedestrian environment

3. Overview
•Our general requirements for measuring biking and walking
•What trends and data are we tracking?
•Summary of performance measures
–Main Street Highways and Complete Streets
–Statewide Miles Traveled (“PMT” & “BMT”)

4. Why do we measure bicyclists & pedestrians?
•Governor’s Performance Measurement Program - ResultsWA
•Washington State’s long range goal:
“Reduce fatal and serious crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians, while doubling biking and walking.”
•State Highway Safety Plan –
Target Zero

5. Are we meeting our goals?
In 2012 there were 560 fatal and serious injury pedestrian or bicyclist collisions, accounting for 20% of all fatal and serious injury traffic collisions that year.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Pedestrian and Bicyclist fatalities
Pedestrian fatalities
Bicyclist fatalities
Number of traffic fatalities involving bicyclists and pedestrians
2007-2012, Washington only

6. The young & aging - “At Risk” groups
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
0-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65+
Number of pedestrian collisions and fatalities compared to population by age group
2001-2012, Washington only
Percent of all pedestrian collisions
Percent of pedestrian fatalities
Percent of total population
•769 bicycle and pedestrian traffic crashes involving children in 2012.
•Adults 65+ are 13% of the population, but 25% of pedestrian fatalities.

7. Project Related Impacts
– Cost just under $1 M, will allow the School District to change the school boundary lines which reduced the need for an estimated 8-10 school bus routes by connecting a large family housing area with schools on the other side of a watershed.
Example: Bonney Lake’s Fennel Creek Trail Connection

8. Pedestrian and Bicyclist Mobility Trends
•In Washington approximately
–13% of all trips,
–5% of commute trips, and
–10% of all miles traveled were on foot or by bicycle.
•10% increase in biking and walking statewide over the past 5 years.
Source: NHTS, ACS, Regional Surveys, and WSDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project

9. Counting Biking and Walking in WA
Since 2008
42 cities & 250 count sites in 2013

10. Reasons we count bicyclists and pedestrians statewide:
•Current national & state travel behavior surveys are inadequate
•Regional household surveys vary greatly
•Biking and walking is increasing – especially in urban areas
American Community Survey Question:
How did this person usually get to work LAST WEEK?
If this person usually used more than one method of transportation during the trip, mark the box of the one usually used.
(most of the distance or most of the time)
Beyond the main reason – We track all users of the transportation system…

11. What have we learned so far?
In addition to capturing large amounts of data from across WA in a short period of time at very low cost…
•Improving local, regional and state planning
•Strengthening partnerships
•Raising awareness about the need for better data
•Building a solid protocol for estimating miles traveled by bike and on foot.

12. Washington’s 2014 Student Travel Survey
WSDOT, Dept. of Health, Office of Public Instruction Partnership
–It is a random representative telephone survey of parents who have children in grades K-8.
–It asks how students travel to and from school and about barriers to walking, biking and taking the school bus.

13. Main Street Highways
Research identified approximately 500 miles of “Main Street” highways bisecting 180+ cities based on criteria applied consistently across the state.

14. Pedestrian and Bicyclist Collisions and Fatalities on Main Street Highways 2010 through 2012
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Percent of Fatalities
Percent of Collisions
Percent of Highway Miles
State Highways that also serve as City Streets in core commercial areas or “Main Street Highways” – serve as both thoroughfares and community access routes.
Main Street Highways

15. Other important trends…
Millennials are driving less – from 2001 to 2009 down 23 percent
K-8 children walking to school increasing – from 2007 to 2012 up 27 percent increase
Commute trips make up less than 20% of all vehicle trips during peak hour - from 1969 to 2009, down from 45%
Changes in “utilitarian” biking and walking are uncertain.

16. Resources…
WSDOT’s Websites… http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Bike/count.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Walk http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/LocalPrograms/Planning
WSDOT Contacts…
Paula Reeves
Manager, Community Design
Reevesp@WSDOT.WA.GOV
360-705-7258
Charlotte Claybrooke
Safe Routes to Schools Coordinator
ClaybrC@WSDOT.WA.GOV
360-705-7302
Ed Spilker Community Planning and GIS Spilker@WSDOT.WA.GOV 360-705-7387