TACTICAL SITE INTERVENTIONS
Fig. 1 Lane + Road Diet
Fig. 2 Bike Infrastructure
Fig. 3 Open Streets
Fig. 4 Community Bike Ride
There are many inexpensive projects that communities can undertake to help expand pedestrian and bike culture. These include lane diets, which reorganize space allocations to include bike lanes or side walks on existing pavement surfaces through striping, as shown in Figure 1. Road diets reconsider the extents of pavements and reorganize the right-of-way through more extensive and permanent construction, such as eliminating a travel lane to provide space for street trees and expanded sidewalks. Inexpensive bike infrastructures in Figure 2 include bike stands that enable cyclists to make simple repairs and inflate tires, and bike racks that permit safe bicycle storage. Both help overcome common obstacles that can otherwise deter ridership. Many communities have adopted Open Streets events (Figure 3) that temporarily close thoroughfares to allow pedestrian activity only, and Community Bike Rides (Figure 4) that help overcome anxiety about urban bike ridership and increase visibility of cyclists to motorists.
PRECEDENTS Market Square Knoxville, TN
Market Square is a pedestrian-only plaza in downtown Knoxville. Bucking the 20th century cannon that pedestrian malls are not economically viable, this vibrant urban space is free of auto obstructions, creating a safe area that invites foot and bike traffic from all over downtown. The space also plays host to special events, including a farmer’s markets, movies and concerts, which draw even more pedestrian traffic and economic activity.
Whitwell Multi-Modal Whitwell, TN
The purpose of this grant-funded project is to address the needs of nonmotorist users including pedestrians and cyclists. The project will add 4,850 feet of sidewalk along rural Highway 28, thereby increasing connectivity and accessibility along the corridor, and beginning to provide a delineated zone for pedestrians.
INCREASE PEDESTRIAN + BIKE ACCESS 85