Description:

Organized by the Active Transportation Integrated Committee

A growing body of tools has been developed for separating facilities for pedestrians and people cycling. This conversation is heavily influenced by speeds, spatial need, operations, and, most prominently, accessibility. The latest toolbox includes such approaches as separating cyclists and pedestrians at intersections, using detectable and traversable separation between cycling and pedestrian facilities mid-block, and exploring different tools for providing positive guidance for users and clarifying expected behavior. At the same time, separating users can be challenging in space-constrained locations or where desire lines are complex. Mixing zones and combined-use facilities remain in the toolbox for most practitioners. The key question is: When should we use which approach? Are all facilities always needed? How do we effectively weigh the inevitable trade-offs?