Bicycle Network Priority Tool

Stylized map of the South Bay

SVBC along with Copenhagenize Design Co. has developed the bicycle Network Priority Tool (NPT) to enable cities and other individuals to prioritize bicycle projects in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. This tool is free and open for all to use.

About the Tool

The objective of the tool is to prioritize bicycle planning projects based on demand, low-stress networks, connectivity to key destinations, and other factors. A low-stress all-ages-and-ability (AAA) network is needed to encourage and enable the majority of people who would like to use a bicycle more often for short trips, but don’t feel safe sharing roads with cars and trucks. The larger goal of the project is to help positively influence local Cities’ Active Transportation Plans, as several cities are updating their bike plans and, in the process, will attempt to prioritize various bike projects. SVBC is aiming to advocate for better cycling conditions in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, armed with the data to show where better conditions are most needed. The Network Priority Tool is based on a comprehensive scoring of 17 criteria that evaluate the importance of corridors in a City’s transportation network for bicycle connectivity. These 17 criteria are grouped into four categories that look at equity and need, destinations, harm reduction and connectivity.

For a macro-level understanding of the Tool, read here: I – SVBC Network Priority Tool – Lookbook: This brochure walks through the development and methodology of the Tool and its testing in Sunnyvale.

Where can the Tool be used

The Tool can be used across any jurisdiction in San Mateo and Santa Clara County. It can be run for a particular city, a County or also across multi-jurisdiction areas. It can be run on all streets of a particular region or also a select list of corridors.

Data Collection Methodology used for the Tool

Data required for this Tool has been collected over various sources and has been compiled into a basefile for ease of use. Read more about the Data Collection and processing here: II – Data Collection Handbook, II_Appendix – Data Collection Handbook: This handbook showcases the open datasets available to use for this Tool, how to process them, and best practices for data communication.

Getting Started

The Tool is based on open softwares like QGIS, GoogleMyMaps and Spreadsheets. To help users who are new to the software and to guide the users through every step, we have a User Manual that provides screenshots and tutorial videos. To start using the Tool, follow the steps below:

  1. Install QGIS for desktop (Preferred Version: 3.10)

  2. Download User Manual Files (This includes your GIS basefiles, and a Master Spreadsheet)

  3. Have the III – NPT User Manual ready to guide you through the steps.

    1. Chapter 1: Explains criteria used for this Tool and their thresholds

    2. Chapter 2 Pg 13-16: Explains the overall process of how the Tool is used and how data for 14 out of 17 criteria has been generated and embedded into the basefiles.

    3. Using the Tool: Step A: Guides you through all the pre-generated layers. (You do not need to conduct this Step to run the Tool, it just shows you data for pre-generated layers)

    4. Step B: Generating Local Data: Mapping Community Destinations and Senior Centers in Google Maps and importing them into the Master File

    5. Step C: Creating a query data layer (a layer that includes the corridors you want to run the tool on). This can be done in two ways:

      1. Use a sourced GIS/kml file from the City/County website

      2. Create a layer using Google Maps/Earth

    6. Step D

      1. Joining the above layer to the Master File

      2. Exporting GIS data into a .csv file

    7. Step E: Importing data to Google Sheets for final scoring and evaluation.

    8. Chapter 3: This Chapter talks about how data layers in the basefile can be updated. (This Step is not required for users running the Tool, it will be done by SVBC every 2 years)

    9. Chapter 4: Design Evaluation: Process to determine what type of bicycle facility would be required for each corridor.

    10. Chapter 5: Readiness Evaluation: Process to provide bonus points for shovel-ready projects

Limitations

  • Cannot model non-existing streets//trails/bridges/development projects

  • It is based on existing situation and does not account for proposed projects or projections

  • The tool is targeted toward roadway analysis and hence trail score comparatively low

 

This tool was tested on the Sunnyvale Active Transportation Plan’s project list in Mar-Apr 2019. Read more here.

Network Priority Tool Forum held on Oct 19

 

Contact sandhya@bikesiliconvalley.org for any questions or concerns.