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MetroFuture would double the share of trips made by walking or biking. This would come about through greater connectivity of sidewalk and path networks; better maintenance of sidewalks and bike paths; and closer proximity of new housing, shops, services and schools. At least 200 miles of new off-road multi-use paths would be built in the MAPC region alone.

With improved sidewalks, safety, and site design, MetroFuture seeks to achieve a regional walk/mode share of 25%. (The CTPS transportation model projects that MetroFuture land use patterns alone could increase the regional walk/bike share from 16.7% in 2000 to 18.9% in 2030, without any major changes in pedestrian connections, site design, or gas prices.) People would make nearly 4 million trips by foot or bike each day, a 68% increase from 2000. Most of this increase would result from walking or biking for the shortest trips, which are often the most fuel-inefficient.

Currently, 66% of the region’s streets and roads (excluding limited access highways) have no sidewalk. 69% of the MAPC region population lives more than 1 mile from an off-road multi-use path. If Current Trends continue, more of the region’s growth would be in low-density areas with the most dispersed destinations (shops, services, and schools) and the lowest proportion of roadways with sidewalks. The mode share for walking and biking would increase only slightly, from 16.7% to 17.7%.

Objectives:

• 25% of all trips will be made on foot or by bicycle.
• 60 % of region’s streets and roads (not limited access highways) will have sidewalks on at least one side of the road.
• There will be at least 200 miles of new off-road multi-use paths in the MAPC region.
• There will be a steady reduction in the rate (per bicyclist mile) of auto-bike crashes that result in death and bodily harm.
• There will be a steady reduction in the rate (per pedestrian mile) of auto-pedestrian crashes that result in death or bodily harm.