United States Department of Transportation
i
Toward Accurate and Valid Estimates of Greenhouse Gas Reductions From Bikeway Projects
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2016-07-31
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[PDF-2.19 MB]
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NTL Classification:NTL-PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLES-Bicycles
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Abstract:We sought to accurately and validly model emissions generating and activities, including changes in traveler behavior and thus GHG emissions in the wake of bikeway projects. We wanted the results to be applicable to practice and policy in California. We created a life cycle assessment model for GHG emissions resulting from bikeway construction and use by those who formerly used cars, used transit, cycled on other routes, walked, or did not make trips. We conducted intercept surveys at 20 new bikeway facilities across Los Angeles County to understand the changes in travel induced by the bikeway. We also aggregated before and after count data from across the country to understand the range of observed changes in annual cycling volumes that result from a new or upgraded bikeway, and perform statistical tests on the correlation between Census variables and bikeway volume outcomes. Though far less GHG emissions are attributable to cycling than driving, not all bikeways reduce life cycle GHG emissions. But many do. We specify the conditions under which a bikeway is more likely to reduce GHG emissions. We also make recommendations to the Air Resources Board and Strategic Growth Council to adjust an existing method used to estimate reductions in GHG emissions from bikeway projects. This research can play a key role to support future decisions to use revenues from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for expenditures on high performing individual bikeway, bikeway networks, and bike related programs.
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