Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in ...

chapter 2urban designProvide safe walking and bicycle paths between densely populated areas andgrocery stores and farmers’ market sites.Design grocery store layouts and parking to accommodate pedestrians,cyclists, automobiles, and loading trucks safely and conveniently.Include sufficient bicycle parking outside supermarkets. Provideconveniences such as drinking fountains.2.7STREETCONNECTIVITYo b j e c t i v eEncourage walking by maintaining a network of interconnected streetsand sidewalks. In recent studies, higher street connectivity—as measuredby small block sizes, for example—has been associated with increasedpedestrianism. 57,58s t r a t e g i e sIn large-scale developments, design well-connected streets with sidewalksand keep block sizes relatively small.Try to provide pedestrians with the most direct possible routes betweendestinations and with a choice of routes. Avoid long, continuous blocks. 19Where current connectivity of the sidewalks and streets on a building siteis poor, provide pedestrian paths through existing blocks to increase thearea’s walkability.Where block sizes are large, consider retrofitting the area with pedestrianpaths and crossings that form a grid with intersections every 200 to 300 feet.Avoid creating pedestrian over- and underpasses that force walkers tochange levels.In the case of existing over- and underpasses, increase visibility to enhancea sense of safety. 52 Maintaining a constant sidewalk level is also consistentwith Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.Maintain dedicated pedestrian and bicycle paths on dead-end streets toprovide access even where cars cannot pass. 59Minimize addition of mid-block vehicular curb cuts on streets with heavyfoot traffic.While corner curb cuts are required for ADA access, mid-block curb cutsfor vehicles may interrupt pedestrian continuity and impede use by peoplewith disabilities.Design vehicular driveways and ramps to minimize contact between carsand pedestrians.a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o nFor a list of relevant legal and design references, please consult Appendices Band C of the NYC DOT Street Design Manual.active design guidelines 37