Page 135 - TransportationPlanUsetsGuide

Active Transportation Elements

Active transportation refers to human-powered travel, including walking and bicycling. Public transit is also a
component of active transportation because accessing transit stops usually involves walking or bicycling. Wide-
spread use of the term began as transportation policy placed increased emphasis on non-automobile modes and
as the links between human health and transportation planning became more evident.

Active transportation modes are essential components of the overall transportation system, meeting a variety of
societal, environmental, and economic goals. These include:

• Environmental stewardship and energy sustainability: Replacing gasoline-powered automobile trips
with active trips reduces the emission of greenhouse gases, air toxins and particulates, helping to
maintain air quality and address energy sustainability.

• Congestion alleviation: People who walk, bike and use transit reduce the number of motor vehicles
vying for space on roadways and in parking lots. The active mode share for commuting from Wash-
ington County is currently estimated to be about 11% for work-related trips. Reduced congestion
6
improves air quality, livability and economic vitality.
7
• Health: “Obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges the country has ever faced. ” The con-
ditions in which we live explain in part why some Americans are healthier than others and why Ameri-
cans are generally not as healthy as they could be. The social determinants of health include five key
areas: Economic Stability, Education, Social and Community Context, Health Care, and the Neighbor-
hood and Built Environment. The TSP sets the framework for future decisions about the Neighborhood
and Built Environment component. Due to the connection to public health and healthy outcomes, it is
necessary that public health and active lifestyles are considered as we make these choices. The trans-
portation system is necessary to provide access to health care and emergency services. Furthermore,
the transportation system provides the environment for an active lifestyle. Infrastructure that enhances ADOPTED TEXT
pedestrian, bicycle and transit networks also enhances opportunities for physical activity within our
communities. This may in turn help address obesity and other public health related issues.

• Safety: As walking and bicycling trips increase, so does the relative safety of those modes. In
Portland, for example, the bicycle crash rate (reported crashes normalized by counted bicycle trips)
has shown a general downward trend in the past decade, even as daily bicycle trips have more than
doubled. This can be partly attributed to increased attentiveness on the part of motorists as they
8
see more bicyclists on the road. The same trend applies to pedestrian safety.
• Efficient travel: For many trips, active transportation choices are the most sensible and efficient
mode. For very short trips, such as a quarter-mile trip to a convenience store, walking can be the
best choice. Trips in the one- to five mile range are often ideal for bicycling.
• Cost savings and social equity: Some people in Washington County and nationwide cannot afford to
or choose not to own or operate a private vehicle. For those who need or want to reduce their trans-
portation costs, active transportation is a common solution. A younger millennial generation that is
less interested in cars and driving than their parents were.

• Attractive, efficient urban form: The popularity of neighborhoods designed around a higher density
urban form with active transportation facilities shows this type of community is increasingly desir-
able. From the historic, tree-lined streets of Forest Grove to the rapidly-growing Orenco Station neigh-
borhood, active transportation facilities like sidewalks, bike lanes and frequent transit are drawing
residents and businesses. Walkable neighborhoods tend to be compact, using urban land efficiently
and helping to meet other regional land use policies such as agricultural preservation.
6 American Community Survey 2010 One-Year Estimates, U.S. Census Bureau, 2011.
7 F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2010, a report from the Trust for America’s Health.
8 2011 Bicycle Counts Report, Portland Bureau of Transportation, 2012.

PART 3: TRANSPORTATION MODAL ELEMENTS 117
Effective November 27, 2015 • Updated December, 15 2016