Land Use Planning
Land use planning can have a powerful influence on the level of bicycle friendliness of a given area. Planning low density, car dependent developments may impact negatively on the attractiveness of cycling as a transport or recreational option. Conversely, higher density, mixed use planning often results in an environment conducive to bicycling, as trip distances are shorter.
The following documents offer an overview of the various land use planning considerations impacting on bicycle friendliness:
Trips and parking related to land use (New Zealand)
17th Jan 2012
The objective of the research detailed in this research report by Transfund NZ was to produce a comprehensive national database of information on trips and parking related to land use in New Zealand and to identify historic trends since the 1970s. This research has revised the original report, updating it to 2010 and comparing New Zealand results with those reported in the UK, USA and Australia. It also reviews trip generation surveys and databases from these four countries. Drawing on parallel research based on the MoT New Zealand Household Travel Survey, there is a chapter devoted to daily trips by all modes and purposes.
Active Design Guidelines (US)
12th Jan 2012
The Active Design Guidelines were developed by the New York City departments of Design and Construction, Health and Mental Hygiene, Transportation, City Planning, and Office of Management and Budget, working with leading architectural and planning academics. The publication was released in 2010 and provides architects and urban designers with a manual of strategies for creating healthier buildings, streets, and urban spaces, based on the latest academic research and best practices in the field.
Urban design protocol for Australian cities (Australia)
02nd Dec 2011
The Australian Government's Creating Places for People—an urban design protocol for Australian cities, was launched in November 2011. The document and website provide a plain-English ‘how-to’ guide and check list for decision makers and professionals whose work affects the built environment as well as members of the public who care about the design of their local community. The protocol is strongly supportive of walkable and bikeable neighbourhoods.
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Car Free Developments Website (UK)
17th Nov 2011
This website provides a guide to some of the new car free and low car provision developments in London.Often designed in conjunction with other congestion reducing measures (e.g. car clubs, lift share schemes etc) carfree housing developments come in a variety of configurations. Where possible entries include links to relevant contacts and further information.
Changes in Physical Activity and Travel Behaviors in Residents of a Mixed-Use Development (USA)
15th Nov 2011
This paper, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in November 2011, reports on a study that examined the physical activity and travel behaviors of individuals before and after they relocated to Atlantic Station, a mixed-use redevelopment community in metropolitan Atlanta. It found that adults who move to a denser, mixed-use neighborhood increase their levels of walking for both recreation and transportation, decrease their automobile travel, and increase their use of public transportation.
How the Dutch got their cycle paths (EU)
21st Oct 2011
This video, produced in October 2011, looks at the social motivations for the development of the Dutch Cycling Network. It traces the citizens' reaction to increasing road fatalities, especially the death of children by motor vehicles, the oil embargo in the 70s and the demolition of old cities to accommodate motor vehicle traffic. Public outrage and protests for change prompted policies to focus from car centric to bike centric planning and development.
State of Australian Cities 2011 (Australia)
21st Oct 2011
The State of Australian Cities 2011 report, complied by the Major Cities Unit, was released by the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport in October 2011. The report aims to inform policy makers, industry and the community about how Australian cities are progressing in terms of productivity, sustainability and liveability. In turn, the data contained in this report will help underpin policy, planning and investment decisions and provide a framework for ongoing monitoring.
Healthy Connected Communities (Australia)
14th Oct 2011
Healthy Connected Communities, released in September 2011 by SA Health, explains the benefits of well-designed Transit Oriented Developments (TODs) in plain language. It is intended for a broad audience, including community members. The report includes a case-study of the Bowden TOD (the first to be rolled-out as part of the 30 Year Plan).
Transit-oriented Developments Through a Health Lens (Australia)
14th Oct 2011
This Guide, released in September 2011 by SA Health, provides planners, public and environmental health professionals, designers and engineers with an agreed evidence base which links the quality and form of the built environment with the health and well-being of the community. It is envisaged that the Guide will be used as a resource by state and local government agencies involved in the implementation of the 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide.
Europe’s Vibrant New Low Car(bon) Communities (EU)
23rd Sep 2011
The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy released this report in September 2011. The report documents the policies and practices employed by eight new developments in European cities that have lead to reduced car ownership and reduced car usage; and increased walking, cycling and mass transit usage. It was researched primarily during 2010.
Revisiting Donald Appleyard’s Liveable Streets (USA)
13th Sep 2011
This film, by Street Films, revisits some elements of Donald Appleyard's ground-breaking 1981 work 'Liveable Streets'. Appleyard studied the neighbourhood environment and the ways planning and design can make life better for city residents. His book explored how people experience their streets and the impact motor traffic volumes have on those experiences.
Designing Places for Active Living (Aus)
01st Aug 2011
In June 2010 the NSW Premier's Council for Active Living (PCAL) released a series of resources to support state government agencies, local councils and the development industry, to build environments that support active lifestyles.
Our Cities, Our Future - A National Urban Policy for a productive, sustainable and liveable future
22nd Jun 2011
On 18 May 2011, the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport released Our Cities, Our Future - A National Urban Policy for a productive, sustainable and liveable future.
Europe’s Parking U-Turn: From Accommodation to Regulation
27th Apr 2011
A report by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, published in January 2011, has shown that innovative parking reforms have been successful in coaxing car drivers into using public transport systems.
Improving integrated transport assessments in New Zealand
27th Apr 2011
Research funded by the New Zealand Transport Agency provides guidance on when and how to carry out an integrated transport assessment.
Development & Active Living: Designing Projects For Active Living
22nd Feb 2011
A Development Assessment Resource & Navigational Tool
James Lette, BBC Consulting Planners & Dr Danny Wiggins
for the Premier’s Council for Active Living NSW, June 2010
The Importance of Quality Streetscapes
21st Jan 2011
Nate Berg, for PLanetizen via Street Science: All Eyes on the Street
Jeanne Haffner, Jan 14th, 2011, Next American City
Bike Score Forum
11th Jan 2011
From the people who brought you Walk Score - for assessing how 'walkable' your community is. Bike Score is now being developed. Bike Score will enable you to assess how cyclable your community is. Bike Score are currently asking you:
"What are the most important factors to include in a Bike Score calculation?"
Here is your chance to have some input into a really useful assessment tool.
How Shared Space Challenges Conventional Thinking about Transportation Design
21st Dec 2010
James G. Hanley & Norman Garrick, 16 December 2010, Planetizen
Shared streets -- the idea that pedestrians, bikes and cars can all navigate together in the same space -- is a fundamental rethinking of the underlying philosophy related to the design and operation of transportation facilities, write Norman W. Garrick and James G. Hanley.
A Woonerf in Harvard Square
29th Oct 2010
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy blog, October 14, 2010, Via Planetizen
Getting the big picture right A guide to large scale urban design
28th Oct 2010
Published in 2010 by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).
Bicycle City
28th Oct 2010
by Kelsey Keith, August 11, 2010, www.architizer.com
Following up on last week’s incredible story of a pedestrian and cycling community based on Zermatt, Switzerland (but located in South Carolina!), we’ve gotten the inside scoop on the appropriately named Bicycle City.
Design – develop a spatial strategy
28th Oct 2010
The design phase is based on one or more intensive workshops that are guided by expert facilitators.
Livability: A Small Town Value
28th Oct 2010
by Angie Schmitt on September 2, 2010
Davidson, North Carolina, population 7,100, isn't the kind of global metropolis that is normally looked to as a cutting-edge example of sustainable transportation planning.
Child and Youth Friendly Land Use and Transport Planning Guidelines
24th Sep 2010
This document, published in 2005 by Richard Gilbert and Catherine O’Brien, is in three parts. The first part provides reasons as to why land-use and transport planning should be made more child- and youth-friendly. The second part sets out 27 guidelines that could be applied in the course of a municipality or other agency becoming more child- and youth-friendly in its transport and land-use planning. The third part provides some discussion of implementation issues.
Sport and Recreation Tasmania
23rd Sep 2010
Sport and Recreation Publications from Tasmania
Active Trails: A Strategy for Regional Trails in South East Queensland
23rd Sep 2010
Queensland Outdoor Recreation Federation Inc, 2007, Office of Urban Management (The Coordinator General), Queensland Government and the Council of Mayors, Brisbane
City Curbs on Cars: Now Accelerating
20th Sep 2010
Will Rescue Plan Simply Serve Sprawl?
20th Sep 2010
Transportation Ethics (9.10 min video)
20th Sep 2010
After a Decade of Focus on Public Spaces
20th Sep 2010
Promoting safe walking and cycling to improve public health: Lessons from the Netherlands and Germany
20th Sep 2010
Why Canadians cycle more than Americans: A comparative analysis of bicycling trends and policies
20th Sep 2010
The European Network for Cycling Expertise
20th Sep 2010
Transport Strategy: A Decision Makers’ Guidebook
20th Sep 2010
National Complete Streets Coalition (US)
20th Sep 2010
Quartier Vauban, Freiburg, Germany
20th Sep 2010
Evaluating Transportation Land Use Impacts
20th Sep 2010
Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, Case Study - How Paris is Beating Traffic Without Congestion Pricing
20th Sep 2010
Mind the Gaps: Connected Street Networks Key to Economic Stimulus
17th Sep 2010
Urban Transport - gTKP
17th Sep 2010
Velo.Info - Cycling and Planning
17th Sep 2010
Velo.Info - Cycling and Urban Efficiency
17th Sep 2010
Incorporating Sustainable Transportation into the Development Assessment Process: Exploring Methods to Estimate Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Public Transit Mode Shares
17th Sep 2010
Parking Spaces / Community Places - Finding the Balance through Smart Growth Solutions
17th Sep 2010
Road Diet Handbook: Setting Trends for Livable Streets
17th Sep 2010
Checklists to Rethink the Streetspace
17th Sep 2010
Integrating Land Use and Transport: Improving Transport Choice – Guidelines for planning and development
17th Sep 2010
Building an area-based travel sustainability tool: rating the residential travel performance of new urban developments
17th Sep 2010
Rating the Transport Sustainability of Transit Oriented Developments: will developments achieve objectives?
17th Sep 2010
Suburban shocks: Assessing locational vulnerability to rising household fuel and mortgage interest costs
17th Sep 2010
Blueprint for an active Australia - Key government and community actions required to increase population levels of physical activity in Australia—2010 to 2013
17th Sep 2010
Healthy Planning Policies A Compendium from California General Plans (USA)
16th Sep 2010
This 2009 document, developed by Planning for Healthy Places, a program of Public Health Law & Policy (PHLP), is a compilation of healthy planning policies used California.
Smart Parking Policy Makes a Difference, Even in Livable Streets Utopias (Germany)
16th Sep 2010
This 2010 article discusses the findings of a then-new study looking at the car parking policies of 'eco-suburbs' Rieselfeld and Vauban outside Freiberg and concludes that eliminating mandatory parking minimums, the data shows, plays an essential role in reducing driving. Link to original study included.
Will Bicyclists And Pedestrians Squeeze Out Cars? (US)
16th Sep 2010
This 2010 article from The National Journal poses questions about the future use of increasingly contested urban space; several opinion leaders respond, including Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR); Bill Graves President and CEO, American Trucking Associations; and Patrick J. Natale Executive Director, American Society of Civil Engineers.
Integrating Land Use and Transport Planning (NZ)
16th Sep 2010
This report has been prepared to identify legal and institutional barriers to the integration of land use and transport planning in New Zealand. The research undertaken for the report was carried out between July 2006 and August 2007, as part of Land Transport New Zealand’s 2006/2007 Research Programme.
Neighbourhood Accessibility Planning (NZ)
16th Sep 2010
Neighbourhood accessibility planning projects aim to give safe access to all ages of pedestrians and cyclists in neighbourhood areas.
Transforming Australian Cities - For a more financially viable and sustainable future
16th Sep 2010
This study was jointly commissioned by the Victorian Department of Transport and the City of Melbourne to establish the potential to transform metropolitan Melbourne to meet the projected population of 8 million by 2050.
Melbourne 2030 (Australia)
16th Sep 2010
Melbourne 2030 is the Victorian Government’s planning blueprint to manage Melbourne’s growth towards 2030. Melbourne is forecast to add 1 million new residents by 2030 and this plan commits to developing a more compact, sustainable city. Reducing car use through the encouragement of cycling is central to this objective.
Designing Places for Active Living (Australia)
16th Sep 2010
This resource developed by the NSW Premier's Council for Active Living proposes key design considerations for urban places in metropolitan, regional and rural areas. These design considerations have the potential to positively impact individual and community health and wellbeing in the broadest sense, thereby meeting multiple health, environmental and social objectives.
10 principles for livable transportation, Jan Gehl & Walter Hook
16th Sep 2010
This article summarises the ten principles detailed in the 2010 Institute of Transportation and Development Policy publication Our Cities Ourselves: 10 Principles for Transport in Urban Life authored by Jan Gehl and Walter Hook.
Housing Plan Sets Off San Francisco Parking Debate (US)
16th Sep 2010
This 2010 article discusses San Francisco’s ‘transit-first’ planning policy, in place since 1973, and its application in a recent affordable housing project in the city.
Your Development - Creating Sustainable Neighbourhoods (Australia)
16th Sep 2010
Your Development is a national project developed in partnership with CSIRO and the Australian Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage, and the Arts. It is a dynamic website providing information on sustainable urban development via fact sheets, case studies, links to other sites, news articles, etc.
Healthy by design: a planners' guide to environments for active living (Australia)
16th Sep 2010
This resource, produced by the National Heart Foundation of Australia in June 2004, is designed to make it easier for planners to incorporate healthier design considerations into daily planning decisions.
Sustainable Australia: Containing travel in master planned estates
16th Sep 2010
This 2005 paper by T Yigticanlar, J Dodson and B Gleeson examines the relationship between urban form and travel patterns. It explains how land use planning can have a strong influence on travel behaviour – with high density, mixed use development acting to reduce car use and promoting alternative modes, including cycling, due to lower trip distances. It recommends a refocus of transport goals, from mobility to accessibility.
Shocking the suburbs: Urban location, housing debt and oil vulnerability in the Australian city
16th Sep 2010
Shocking the Suburbs, a 2006 paper by J Dodson and G Sipe, outlines the vulnerability of Australian communities to rising fuel prices, automobile dependence and housing debt. It has important implications for land use planning, with particular emphasis on the creation of communities less dependent on motor vehicles and an increased role for the bicycle.
Oil vulnerability in the Australian city
16th Sep 2010
Oil Vulnerability in the Australian City, a 2005 paper by J Dodson and G Sipe, documents the precarious position Australians, particularly residents of outer suburban communities, will face with rising petrol prices. It provides a strong case for improvements to land use and transport planning to increase opportunites for people to choose walking, cycling and public transport.
Healthy Urban Development Checklist (Australia)
16th Sep 2010
NSW Department of Health developed this Healthy Urban Development Checklist in 2009 as a guide for health services when commenting on development policies, plans and proposals. This is an extensive discussion laid out in a highly detailed 192-page document.
Healthy Spaces and Places (Australia)
16th Sep 2010
This is a planning orientated website outlining the principles and techniques involved in creating Healthy Spaces & Places.
Active Transport in Brisbane (Australia)
16th Sep 2010
Active Transport in Brisbane: how much is happening and what are its characteristics?, written by Matthew Burke and AL Brown and published by Griffith University in 2007, reports on the South East Queensland Travel Survey 2003/04 dataset covering the weekday travel of 10,931 persons in Brisbane, Australia. The paper demonstrates that household travel survey data can provide quantitative information on the extensity and characteristics of active transport in urban areas, with the potential to examine and compare active transport across cities.
City of Ryde: Integrated Transport and Land Use Strategy (Australia)
16th Sep 2010
This 2007 strategy is an excellent example of sustainable planning and design towards an improved transport future for the City of Ryde. The document is a strategic plan integrating transport options with land use planning requirements. It provides a series of actions and recommendations, structured around a city-wide approach.
Local Government and Shire Association of NSW - sustainable transport (Australia)
16th Sep 2010
This is the Local Governement and Shire Associations of NSW's statement in support of the expansion of public transport and other sustainable transport modes as an alternative to the growth in private vehicle use.
Rating the Transport Sustainability of New Urban Developments (Australia)
16th Sep 2010
This 2005 paper by M Bourke and L Brown discusses a project seeking to provide a diagnostic tool to rate the residential travel performance of large urban land use developments. The project aims to measure the extent of travel made and the modes of travel used by residential populations and to use this information as a means to rate the effect of a development’s location and design on residential travel.
Unsettling Suburbia:The new landscape of oil and mortgage vulnerability in Australian cities
16th Sep 2010
This 2008 academic paper authored by J Dodson and G Sipe was published by the Urban Research Program at Griffith University, Brisbane. The paper has four aims: review the basis for the increases in global oil prices since 2004; present the result of the 2006 VAMPIRE (vulnerability assessment for mortgage, petroleum, and inflation risks and expenditure) and compare them to the 2001 VAMPIRE result; and make observations about the policy implications of the changes in oil and mortgage vulnerabiltiy within Australian cities.
NSW Planning Guidelines for Walking and Cycling (Australia)
16th Sep 2010
These guidelines, published in 2004, aim to assist land–use planners and related professionals to improve consideration of walking and cycling in their work.
Healthy Spaces & Places - creating sustainable communities (Australia)
16th Sep 2010
Healthy Spaces & Places is a national guide for planning, designing and creating sustainable communities that encourage healthy living. This overview provides a summary of the information available on the Healthy Spaces and Places website
Melbourne After a Decade of Focus on Public Spaces
16th Sep 2010
This 2007 posting by Ethan Kent on Streetsblog looks at recent changes to Melbourne's public spaces through the lens of an outside visitor who works in placemaking in New York City.
Cycling interests in planning schemes (Australia)
16th Sep 2010
The purpose of this section of the Queensland Transport and Main Roads website is to articulate the policy of the Department on the state dimension of planning scheme matters relating to cycling.
