VIKRAM BARRETTO- PROBLEM OF INTEREST
Bikeability and Access:
With the growing population in Eugene over the years, the dependency on motor vehicle transport has increased. According to data from 2015 and 2016, only 12-13% of Eugene households did not own cars, while the average car ownership numbers for the rest were just above 1.5. Since then, these numbers have increased.
The increase in vehicle numbers in Eugene only adds to a number of urban issues. In 2019, the “Bikeability” rating in Eugene was amongst the best, ranking 3rd in the nation. In just a few years since then, the Bikeability ranking of the city has fallen to a low of 125.
A detailed analysis of Eugene’s bike path network (BNA) shows areas of high and low stress for bikers in the city (biking comfortableness). What is extremely evident (especially in the zone around our site) is that the majority of the urban area of Eugene is of a higher stress level for bikers with a lot more comfortable biking areas occurring outside the main city zone.
It is easy to correlate this area of comfortability amongst bikers with high vehicular activity in Eugene. Apart from the large presence of vehicular traffic, Eugene’s bikeability is affected by a number of other factors. In terms of accessibility to residences, schools, workplaces, etc. Eugene only averaged a score of 37 out of 100 points, indicating only slightly above-average rates of accessibility via bike paths to certain areas. An increase in the number of protected bike lanes could potentially help decrease high-stress biking zones and increase accessibility.
Something I have noticed myself with regard to this issue is the area along East Broadway. Although East Broadway is directly connected to an intercity highway it is also a major connection to Eugene’s downtown area as well the rest of the city. Having used to live there and cycle a vast amount myself, I can easily say that there are almost no protected bike lanes along that road. As a result of this, bikers are forced to bike on the sidewalk to avoid high-speed vehicles: this causes a disruption in both pedestrian foot traffic (of which there is already limited accessibility) and bike traffic as well.
I believe an increase in the number of protected bike lanes in certain areas of Eugene, especially those with high biking stress will improve its overall bikeability and accessibility. In addition, the reduction of the number of car lanes on roads would also further improve road safety and liveability in Eugene.
https://cityratings.peopleforbikes.org/cities/eugene-or
https://www.eugene-or.gov/489/Bike
how would bike lanes be different at various street locations?
What else could we measure from street address to street address to make biking more accessible and safe?
think about bike culture and use: commuters, recreation, convenience shopping, children, week enders, etc.