Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan - sacog

• Adequate space for allowing faster traffic to safely pass
• Pleasant environmental surroundings
• Minimal number of stops
For commuter purposes, the cyclist is most likely to place a significant amount of importance on the
first three characteristics mentioned, because they directly affect the energy requirements for making
a trip by bicycle. Lower volumes of motor vehicle traffic and adequate space to allow faster traffic
to safely pass are desirable for utilitarian trips, but may be sacrificed for speed and directness.
A substantial variation exists in the ages, physical capabilities, and riding philosophies of cyclists
currently active in the Sacramento region. This variation results in differences in both the level of
expertise among riders and the types of trips they are willing to make. The planning, design, and
implementation of the bikeway system should serve as much of this varied population as possible.
A.2 Existing Conditions
A.2.1 Physical and Urban Setting
The six-county Sacramento region encompasses 6,562 square miles of land; this includes hills,
mountains, rivers, lakes, wetlands, agricultural land, and open space. While these natural features
enhance the quality of life, the geography of the Sacramento region presents some challenges for
bicycle and pedestrian transportation.
The density of activities plays an important role in determining how and where we choose to travel.
As land use densities increase, per capita automobile usage and trip lengths tend to decrease. People
are more likely to walk or bicycle when they live in mixed-use, high-density neighborhoods. The
more diversity of jobs, retail, and services available in a neighborhood, the less need there is for
people to drive out of their neighborhood to access what they need.
A.2.2 Pedestrian Facilities
Pedestrian facilities include paths, sidewalks, crosswalks, walkways, stairs, ramps, and building
entranceways. Sidewalks and walkways between homes within residential areas comprise the majority
of pedestrian facilities within most communities in the Sacramento region. Many of the pedestrian
walkways that were once included in subdivisions have been abandoned because of crime or the lack
of connectivity with other pedestrian facilities. 17 The original intent of these walkways may have
been lost over time with the development of subdivisions that do not include pedestrian amenities.
Sidewalks are often included in some roadway improvement projects to help fill sidewalk gaps.
Sidewalk improvements depend on the density of the residential area, and may not be required in
some cases, for example, in a one-house-per-acre subdivision. 18 Many residents in the rural portions
of the region prefer to have roadways that reflect a more rural setting, that is, without curbs, gutter,
and sidewalks. For that reason sidewalks often are not constructed in rural areas. 19 Regardless of
17 County of Sacramento Department of Transportation, “Pedestrian Master Plan – Draft Existing Conditions
Discussion Paper,” March 10, 2003
18 Ibid
19 Ibid
Regional Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Master Plan Amended June, 2011 A-6