Combining Trails and Transit

Cities can expand transit service areas by providing convenient access by bike.

1 minute read

July 15, 2009, 10:00 AM PDT

By drstockman


"The trouble with light rail and subway, some say, is that it only serves a small area around each station, and that vast areas can be left to dependence on cars. Planners consider mass transit service areas around light rail stations and subway stops to be about 1/4 mile - any farther and you'll see significantly diminishing interest in making the trek.

But that's for walking - and not biking.

A Rails to Trails Conservancy report from earlier this year addresses this very issue, noting that 'bicycling in particular has great potential to allow more people to access public transportation conveniently. Accessing public

transportation by bicycle can shorten travel times significantly. Because bicyclists travel about four times as fast as pedestrians, convenient access by bicycle can increase the geographic area served by one transit station 16-fold.'"

The article describes how places such as Minneapolis and Dallas are expanding transit service areas through trails.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 in City Parks Blog

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

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