Laserfiche WebLink
Recreation Destinations and Needs <br /> Recreation bicycling includes children riding to a nearby park, racers riding tours, casual riders <br /> riding in the evening for exercise, and senior citizens riding to a community center. The <br /> common attribute of all of these activities is that they are generally done for the pleasure of the <br /> ride itself, they have a recreational facility as a final destination, they are discretionary by <br /> nature, and they place speed and directness as less important than surroundings or relative <br /> safety. <br /> Recreation bicyclists can generally be dategorized into two groups. The first group is casual <br /> bicyclists who typically have short trips and often include Tess experienced persons, <br /> particularly young children and the elderly. The second group includes more experienced and <br /> athletic riders who generally seek scenic back roads as their favorite domain. <br /> It is important to understand these distinct types of bicyclists because the proposed system <br /> must provide opportunities for both groups. For the person riding for exercise, the needs are <br /> for a relatively quiet route away from automobile traffic, if possible, preferably with visual <br /> interest and shades from the wind and sun. A loop configuration is preferred so that the rider <br /> ends up back at his/her starting point without backtracking. For the person going to another <br /> recreation destination (a park or a shopping mall), the route may consist of fairly direct back <br /> streets that allow arrival with reasonable time through a comfortable environment. For other <br /> casual riders, following a route that leads through interesting neighborhoods, along <br /> shorelines/creeks, and through parks offers the greatest interest. <br /> Commuter And Student Destinations And Needs <br /> Commuter and student destinations include downtown employment centers, office parks, <br /> industrial areas, elementary, junior high, and high schools, and colleges. Targeting bikeway <br /> improvements to commuters is important because most roadway congestion and a significant <br /> portion of air contaminants occur during the a.m. and p.m. peak periods. <br /> 24 <br />