Award-winning active modes

In July 2015, Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) in Colorado unanimously adopted their Regional Nonmotorized Modes Plan. Steer Davies Gleave guided the development of the study from 2013 to 2015, with the intention of producing a plan that would not only make a difference in Pikes Peak, but also advance regional active modes planning across the USA.

In October 2015, the Plan received the APA Colorado Merit Award for Sustainable Planning, due to the wide breadth of data that was collected to support the project, and the unique way in which multiple jurisdictions came together to produce the Plan.

The Plan was data-driven from the beginning, and comprised of numerous sub-reports, including:

• an economic impact of cycling report;
• a regional wayfinding paper;
• a design standard guideline report;
• a bicycle master plan for the City of Colorado Springs;
• an active modes plan for the City of Woodland Park; and
• an active modes plan for El Paso County.

Producing a plan in this way allowed us to pool resources, from the regional level to the city and county level, in terms of both public outreach and data sharing. The team used the region-wide data analysis and representation to form the sub-plans for the individual jurisdictions, enabling those with fewer resources to benefit from the wider regional Plan.

Innovative strategies were a key factor in the development of the Plan. From the technology used in the bicycle audit to capture video and surface condition, to the interactive website used to collect comments and encourage regional communication, innovation was at the forefront of the planning effort. 

Technology aside, innovative techniques for measuring the usability of the existing transportation system were used. Each roadway and trail was assigned a bike skill level. For example, Level One for off-road trails and paths, and Level Four for roadways with high traffic and vehicular speeds.

Mapping bike skill levels has not been implemented in Colorado before, but the use of bicycle skill level mapping is a key part of understanding the missing links and major barriers to the system today. Assigning bike skill levels also provides citizens with a new way to look at the transportation system, by usability, rather than by facility type.

Many aspects of the Plan and the planning process can be adapted to other regional active modes plans.

For more information about our project website, please go to www.walkbikeconnect.org 

Find out more about our work on this project